Editor says, what if Michael Collins had survived the assassination attempt and changed Ireland forever? Please note that the opinions expressed in this post do not necessarily reflect the views of the author(s).

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Editor says, probably a coincidence Kevin Costner was offered the part of Michael Collins who has been described as Ireland's Robin Hood, but the desire to portray him in a more mythological role might have suited Costner.

Eric Oppen commented on 2010-04-13 06:01:08 ~ I don't know if the Big Fellow could have, or would have dared to, go after the pedophile priests. At the time in question, child molesting was very hush-hush, and the RC Church was in a nearly-unassailable position in Ireland, being seen as one of the pillars of Irish nationalism. That said, someone with that amount of clout uncovering those scandals (as well as the abuses in the Magdelene Laundries) and going head-to-head with the Church would have been fun...sort of an Irish version of _King Kong vs. Godzilla._

Stan Brin commented on 2010-04-13 06:52:17 ~ Michael Collins is a mixed Collins cocktail that is similar to a Tom Collins, but is made with whiskey instead of gin and with more sugar. It is often served with a single pearl onion. It is often associated with the Irish Civil War, but was in fact invented at the New York Knickerbocker Hotel by an English bartender who hunted pigeons.

Rurri Heakin commented on 2010-04-13 15:05:37 ~ Man would be 106 in 1996. He had almost died of Spanish flu, there were questions about his health. If you look at his pictures his weight balloons. Beyond that your taking Irish history 1921 onwards as read. If Dev doesn't write the 1937 constitution there is no, office as Taioseach per se. Ditto, If CnG do not implode in 1932. There is no Fine Gael. Mulachy never recovered from the Civil war, though it should be a lot less bloody if Colins lives. So the 1930s are more open. My guess is the Anti treaty side, do come back in, but are somewhat weaker. CnG splits with some going to the Liberals ( Now basically Tories-or Republicans Law and order Low taxes etc) There has to be an election by 1940. Which may get a national unity Government. Than its anyone's guess. Ireland ( Whatever the name of the state is, I guess the term SE is dropped at some point) Neutrality was very popular. OTOH with Collins alive, its harder to paint the opposition parties as Protestant English stooges. You basically need an Irish government needing/willing the risk of Dublin being destroyed for American money. If they gamble, then Ireland grows rich on transhipment. In OTL they entered credit. Basically problem was in Ireland is people could get a good living, but enough. You either governed for everyone being kind of poor. Or a few people get rich, and you hope it trickles down. NATO membership, and WW2. probably gets the UK to dump Derry, and Fermagh and Tyrone. Also, its unlikely FG leave the commonwealth. So there is a chance of if nothing happens with regard to NI, and it blows up on Schedule. A face saving commonwealth peace plan can be drawn up Re Paeodphilla 1 Don't know if the problem was as wide in the 1920s 1a People throughout the Anglosphere were being committed to mental hospitals and jails for homosexuality, sex outside wedlock. 2 You mention the Civil war, than people ignore it. Pope sent a delegation to Dublin, to stop the civil war. The Prov G sent him home again. Dev was excomunicated twice. He still won. He stopped the Boycott in Wexford as soon as he heard about it. 2a. People ignore the real issue. Even under Crown rule. x amount of the Irish school, and social security net, ( Hospitial's charities etc ) Were provided by the RC Church. Who was going to replace this? Bertie Ahern mentioned this. Who replaces this? Who pays for this

Chris Oakley commented on 2010-04-13 15:33:08 ~ Wasn't it actually Liam Neeson who played Collins in the movie?

Scott Palter commented on 2010-04-15 11:48:54 ~ Rurr, we agree on what Collins would have meant to WW2 but you left off Eire getting Marshal aid such that the Celtic Tiger comes decades earlier.

Jared Myers commented on 2011-06-03 02:10:00 ~ My question is, would Collins have tolerated a divided Ireland (North and South) had he lived, or would he have used any means possible to unite the island?