Sir, - The film Michael Collins is indeed a masterpiece of cinematography. True, the producer does at times, take liberties with historical fact and the sequences are at times rather superficial. However, Neil Jordan did not set out to produce an historical documentary so much as to entertain. Here he succeeds brilliantly. It is a movie that can be enjoyed by all and sundry, by the erudite, and by those whose knowledge of the "Big Fella" and his era may have hitherto been slight, or even nil.
The Treaty of 1921 was not the ideal solution to the age old struggle between Ireland and the sister isle. Neither was it a guarantee of lasting peace in Ireland. It was a compromise. But Michael Collins and his colleagues achieved as much political independence for this country as was possible in all the circumstances of the time (1921). What other alternative would have brought peace to the troubled land?
At the time of the London Settlement, the military situation of the guerilla forces was parlous; it could only have got worse if hostilities were renewed. During The Treaty debates in 1922 the then Chief of Staff of the Irish Army, General Richard Mulcahy, asserted: "We are not in a position of force, either military or otherwise, to drive the enemy from our ports. We have not been able to drive the enemy from anything - but from a fairly good sized police barracks. We have not that power; (Portrait of a revolutionary: General Richard Mulcahy by M. G. Valuilis, 1992).
Granted the Irish plenipotentiaries were not able to obtain all their demands in the Treaty negotiations, nevertheless one historical fact cannot be denied. As a result of the Anglo Irish Agreement signed in London by Michael Collins, Arthur Griffith and the other delegates on December 6th, 1921, a self governing. Irish state with a popularly elected parliament was established in this country for the first time in its turbulent history.
Today, in southern Ireland, we have a democratic, independent republic, which is honoured and respected all over the world. We have political stability and public order, with increasing prosperity. Above all, we have peace - a peace that has endured for 75 years.
Michael Collins has been vindicated by history. His premature death was a disaster for the country. He will, however, be always regarded as the founding father of modern Ireland. - Yours, etc.,
Ballynoe Court,
Bray, Co Wicklow.