Birthplace of Michael Collins

Clonakilty, County Cork, Republic of Ireland

Birthplace of Michael Collins - Mike Searle - cc

Visiter Birthplace of Michael Collins.

A historic 20th-century farmhouse where the great Michael Collins, famous for his nationalist struggle in Ireland, was born and raised.

Clonakilty remains a highly historic place since it was the birthplace of Michael Collins, a 20th-century Irish nationalist hero (he helped create an Irish Free State, while ceding Northern Ireland to the British). In addition to the many museums dedicated to this important figure in local history, there’s also the Birthplace of Michael Collins (also known as Woodfield House), where you can visit his birthplace. It’s an opportunity to recall the houses of the time, and to better understand the origins of this Irishman who led a real revolution in Ireland.

History of the Birthplace of Michael Collins

The house where the great Michael Collins grew up

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Woodfield House is located in Knockanoran, a peaceful rural area near Clonakilty, County Cork.

The farm consists of two small dry-stone houses: one is still intact, while the other – the oldest – perished in a fire started by the English in 1921 (in retaliation for Collins’ actions).

This is where Michael Collins was born in 1890. He would have spent his childhood there, living in more than modest conditions… but never starving. His parents, Marianne O’Brien and Michael John Collins, were farmers who lived and worked the land.

They instilled in Michael Collins a taste for effort, hard work and determination, essential values which undoubtedly helped shape the man he became during his fight for Irish independence.

Historians suggest that Michael Collins’ childhood on a small farm in County Cork exposed him to a variety of social situations, helping to shape his nationalist ideology.

His life in this rural setting, steeped in the culture and realities of Ireland at the time, would have played a key role in the emergence of his nationalist convictions. The British presence on Irish soil, the prevailing misery, coupled with social injustice, would have awakened in him a thirst for independence.

Visit Woodfield House

A living symbol of Ireland’s rural and political history

In Ireland, Michael Collins’ birthplace has become a reference point for understanding not only the man himself, but also the historical context in which he evolved.

The house is open to the public: admission is free, and the site is more of a monument than a tourist attraction.

However, visitors are welcome to explore the house and its surroundings. You can even explore the interior, with its organization, fireplace and unique atmosphere.

Local guides can accompany you (for a small fee) to explain the history of the house, and share with you detailed accounts of Michael Collins, his childhood and his major role in Irish history. Ask at the Clonakilty center: they’ll have guides available.

The house, which was partially renovated in 1989-1990, has nevertheless managed to retain its authenticity.

It offers visitors a valuable insight into rural life in Ireland at the end of the 19th century. You’ll discover a house with very thick stone walls, pierced by 3 doors and small, narrow windows.

Authentic in its own right, it is not only a window on Irish living conditions at the time, but also a testimony to the life of one of the greatest protagonists of Irish history. A house that gives a better understanding of the man who contributed to Ireland’s independence.

Don’t hesitate to take a stroll in the surrounding area: the countryside is pretty nice and ideal for a family outing.