FROM THE ARCHIVES:The Free State army marked the first anniversary of Michael Collins' death and winning the Civil War with a victory parade through the centre of Dublin. – JOE JOYCE
THREE THOUSAND troops of the National Army, horse, foot, and artillery, with eight generals riding at their head, took part in an imposing military spectacle in Dublin yesterday.
It was the first anniversary of the death of General Michael Collins, and the military display was a Bothar Buadha, or victory march, in celebration of the accomplishment of the military task which he had set himself to accomplish, and in the performance of which he lost his life. It was the most elaborate function of the kind seen in Dublin since the days of the great British military reviews many years ago.
By 12 o’clock the troops were drawn up in battalion formation in the Fifteen Acres in the Phoenix Park, with General McMahon, Chief of General Staff in command, and Colonel Padraig O’Connor, director of the parade.
The colour lent to many such scenes on the same spot by the brilliant British uniforms of the past was missing, but the dark green, with the sheen of the polished brown leggings, was quite effective to look upon. Overhead droned and manoeuvred a squadron of seven machines of the Irish Air Force.
At a few minutes to twelve a bugle call announced the arrival of President Cosgrave, who was accompanied by his Aide-de- Camp, Colonel Joseph O’Reilly. Then the Rev. Dominick Byrne, Chaplain to the Corps of Engineers, blessed a new Army flag, the green, white and orange, heavily fringed and tasselled with gold . . . The President handed the flag to General McMahon, who gave it into the charge of Captain Glennon, officer of the colour party. [. . .]
The portion of the day’s proceedings was carried out in a perfect deluge of rain, . . . but rain does not prevent the carrying out of military ceremonial. It was over in a few minutes, and the sun shone again, and remained shining for the rest of the afternoon, except for an occasional heavy shower.
The change from the line into columns of fours was done with a precision which brought forth the admiration of old British Army officers who were onlookers. As the troops swung through the large crowd of spectators they were regularly and heartily cheered. The men carried themselves well, the intervals were well kept, and the horses of the officers and cavalrymen looked very well, indeed. [. . .]
Huge crowds gathered on the line of march all the way from Island Bridge, and windows were everywhere crowded to see the soldiers pass by. There was an immense concourse on O’Connell Bridge and in Sackville street, where even the statues and public monuments were pressed into service as view points. One photographer took his records of the scene from the top of the Nelson Pillar. Almost as a regular thing men in the crowds raised their hats as the colour passed by. Nowhere for the eight miles was there a sign of anything but admiration for the troops.
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