A PLAQUE will be unveiled in London next month honouring the Irish revolutionary leader Michael Collins.
It will be located at Barnsbury Hall in the London Borough of Islington, where Collins, a leading figure in the fight for Irish independence, was sworn into the Irish Republican Brotherhood (IRB) in 1909.
Barnsbury Hall was the venue for secret meetings of the IRB - an underground oathbound society dedicated to the establishment of a free and independent republican government in Ireland - during the nation's struggle for independence from Britain.
The Hall is part of Islington’s Irish Trail, which honours the history of the vibrant Irish community that exists within the area.
In March the council celebrated those connections by revealing a new mosaic honouring the “huge contribution of Irish people to life in the borough”.
Islington Council will formally reveal Collins’ plaque on Friday, July 14, they confirmed to the Irish Post.
The ceremony will take place at Barnsbury Hall from 1pm-3pm and will be attended by members of the Terence MacSwiney Committee (London) who have been involved in planning the memorial, as well as members of Michael Collins' family.
Regarding the council's confirmation of the plaque unveiling, the organisation said: "The installation of this plaque is a momentous achievement for the Irish community in London and the Committee wishes to thank Islington Council wholeheartedly for recognising this important historical event.
"It is a measure of the contribution of the Irish community to Islington and a welcome recognition of the Irish diaspora in London as a whole."
They added: "In this centenary year of the conclusion of the Irish Civil War, the Committee notes that the legacy of that time remains contested, but it is our hope that this will be seen as an event that can draw support from all shades of opinion.
"The Committee wishes to thank everyone who has lent us their support in pursuing this plaque.
"We invite the Irish Community in London, and further afield, to join us on Friday, July 14 for this historic unveiling.
"We anticipate a big turnout and a high level of interest, particularly from London GAA Clubs given the involvement of Michael Collins and Sam Maguire in the GAA.
"The unveiling will be attended by elected representatives, renowned historians, community activists, and members of the Collins’ family. All are welcome."
Further details regarding the plaque and its unveiling will be shared nearer the time, Islington Council confirm.
