Michael Collins died during Ireland's Civil War at a place called Béal na mBláth - not far from Woodfield, Clonakilty, Co. Cork where he was born just over 31 year earlier. The ambush was commanded by Tom Hales and Liam Deasy, both of whom were former friends and comrades in arms of the ‘Big Fella’. During the War of Independence, Tom Hales had undergone sadistic treatment at the hands of British Intelligence Officers rather than betray his friend Michael Collins. Liam Deasy later wrote, “When I first met Michael Collins over fifty years ago, I considered him then to be the greatest leader of our generation. I have not since changed that opinion”. A fitting epitaph.