The armoured car which escorted General Michael Collins on the day he was shot at Béal na Bláth has been restored.
An important piece of military heritage Sliabh na mBan the restored armoured car which escorted General Michael Collins on the day he was shot on 22 August 1922 is unveiled.
The jewel of the Defence Forces...
As it is driven through the Curragh, Taoiseach Enda Kenny describes it as the most historical and evocative vehicle in the State.
This report includes a clip from a documentary 'Shadow of Béal na Bláth' broadcast in 1989 which features re-enactments of the ambush.
Sliabh na mBan was used by the Defence Forces until after the emergency in the 1940s and since then three generations of the Lynch military family have helped to maintain it. Pat Lynch, formerly of the Cavalry Corps speaks about the difficulty in getting spare parts for the restoration.
Lieutenant General Sean McCann Chief of Staff of the Defence Forces comments on the importance of restoring the vehicle for future generations. It is also envisaged that Sliabh na mBan will play an important role in the 1916 Centenary Commemorations.
An RTÉ News report broadcast on 3 September 2011. The reporter is Joe O'Brien.
