A new bronze statue of Michael Collins has been unveiled on the Grand Parade in Cork city this afternoon - at the scene of one of his most famous public orations.
The near life-size statue was unveiled during a public ceremony outside Cork City Library.
It shows Collins standing alongside a bicycle, in a nod to the image of him taken with a Pierce bicycle in Wexford in 1922 - a reminder of the time when he used to cycle around Dublin despite there being a bounty on his head.
The piece has been described as a "monument for the people, from the people", having been funded through a crowdfunding scheme spearheaded by the Michael Collins 100 committee.
The name of everyone who made a contribution towards the fundraising drive is in a "time capsule" which has been placed in the plinth of the statue.
The statue was cast in Germany, and the final coat of bronze patina was applied in Macroom.
It is set at ground level as a nod to Collins running the War of Independence among the people, and is surrounded by a carved limestone paving with information on Collins' life.
The site was chosen given its historical links, with Collins having delivered a passionate speech at a rally on Grand Parade on 12 March 1922 attended by tens of thousands of people.
Collins’ convoy would have also passed the spot early on the morning of 22 August 1922 on route to Béal na Bláth where he was shot dead later that day.
Sculptor Kevin Holland was commissioned to create the new statue. He previously created the landmark statue of Collins in Clonakilty.
Members of the Collins family and the Michael Collins 100 committee were in attendance for the unveiling, in addition to a number of Cork sporting legends.
Fidelma Collins, grandniece of Michael Collins and his closest living relative, said that she was thrilled to attend the unveiling.
"The Michael Collins 100 committee were superb and a driving force to work with. Thank you to everyone who made this happen," she said.
Michael Collins 100 Committee chairman Tim Crowley said it was "hugely important" to have a statue of Collins in Cork city centre.
"What the Council have given us here is the exact spot where he spoke to 50,000 people. Michael Collins spent the last night out his life in the Imperial Hotel around the corner."
