Johnny McEvoy - Michael Collins (Live)

[TheJonsul]

As a member of the 32 County Sovereignty Movement and a supporter of the RIRA's fight for freedom I believe that Collins was sold out and had he lived our fight would have long since ended. TAL

[soldierbhoy]

Can some of you people hear yourselves. Mick got the best deal he could at the time. Dev should have went himself but he sold out Mick. If the big fella had lived Ireland would have got the 32 counties back a long time ago.

[bmfoneill]

legends



[ciaranmcglinchey]

Why could he not have held the deal out for a 32 county Ireland?? Then this song could have been different........... but a great song other wise

[irishandy11]

i wonder what ireland be like if he had lived and we hadnt been subjected to dev's 50 years of church above state.

[inisboy1]

@irishandy11 dev as you call him, fought for the people off the north off ireland were mr collins sold us off an we are still fightin for r freedom

[jamy1968]

GREAT SONG, MANY MEMORIES I USED TO LISTEN&WATCH U WHEN YOU WERE ON THE T.V. WITH MY FATHER THANKS

[arontcba]

poignant listening to this now......the Queen has been & gone & no trouble thank Jesus......but the reception she got from the Rebel county says it all about how far us all have come...& Michael.....you got us there......

[peterjkeohane]

I was goin to comment about all the bitching over a song about a man who died fighting for his country. But no i wont. because i've more respect to all the people who lost their lives north or south east or west fighting for their country. R.I.P. Ps think the video rating say's it all

[pbruen]

who wrote the song

[TheSegan5]

@sharetheluck I agree, if Collins saw the scumbag so called IRA of today, he'd have them taken out one by one and shot dead for some of the terrible things they have done. The old IRA were great, but Sonny O'Neill shot Ireland in the head when he killed the big fellow

[inisboy1]

@TheSegan5 so you agree with the brittish army burning us people in the north off ireland out off our homes, and expect us not too fight back!! i take it ur a west brit - free stater who was prob waiting to shake the hand off the queen.

[TheGlenmanusskinhead]

@inisboy1 very well said m8 ;) i applaud u ... sometimes these folk need to hear the truth ;) and ofc it hurts them ....

[EmmetOg1803]

i do not like commenting on public sites but here goes. sharetheluck, what difference to see between Collins' IRA and the Provisionals? What Collins adopted was a guerilla warfare he learned from the Boers in their war with the British, strike and run. What Collins set out is what the Provisionals used up to the ceasefire. If you believe there were no IRA ASUs in England in the time of Collins, then you sir are ignorant. The IRA were successful then and as in modern times. Truely the Undefeated

[dvspace]

heard this song in Donegal pub, The Reel Inn, sung by a local tenor with a great voice. if you knew the story it was enough to make you shed a tear for the struggle experienced by the Irish people.

[Mutley2k10]

johnny mcevoy what a man :) :)

[FreedomSaoirse]

Collins paid a huge part in part of this countrys long fight for freedom, however i feel his actions will always be tainted by acuiring and using british heavy artilrery guns against his one time comrade republicans in the Four Courts.

[STAG6700]

@FreedomSaoirse That's very harsh. Collins did everything he could to avert the civil war. In the end he had no alternative; the British were breathing down his neck with their promise of "immediate and terrible war", and the Irish electorate voted overwhelmingly for the treaty. Anyone who attacks Collins (and I am not suggesting that you did) or labels him a traitor is ungrateful for his inspiring contribution to the Irish cause, and deeply ignorant of the position he was put in.

[amimillie]

The Great Man - De Valera sold him down the river.

[kathyturner100]

Absolutely heart rendering. Very moving. The good always die young.

[josparkes1]

This is so beautiful, so moving and emotional, I just love it to bits, wonderful singing.

[JuanMacready]

Michael Collins was a terrorist who got the violent ending he deserved. I would have hanged him after the Easter Rising.

[josparkes1]

@JuanMacready You are a bastard of the lowest order !

[tedobrien98]

@JuanMacready SHUT YOUR GOB!!! Michael Collins was a great man and you know it!

[tedobrien98]

@JuanMacready and besides! they had gotten rid of the hanging penalty at that stage. 

[JuanMacready]

@tedobrien98 Is that why those homosexual paedophiles Patrick Pearse and Roger Casement were hanged after the treasonable pro-German Easter Rising?

[tedobrien98]

@JuanMacready right. you have got your facts wrong! 1. What are u talkin about homosexual paedophiles? where did you get that from? 2. They were shot and 3. It wasnt Pro German! it was just anti British and at the time germany were Pro British so Ireland thought it would be a good idea to get guns from them, thats all they had to do with germany! And even then the british bastards had to stick their noses in and sink the Aud!

[ryanabu1]

Sorry guys Michael might have done his b it for the Irish Free State , he certainly did,nt do it for IRELAND.Just in case you free staters forget there are 32 counties in Ireland..

[sainglain]

@ryanabu1 - 100% True there are 32 counties in I.R.E.L.A.N.D

[tedobrien98]

@ryanabu1 well it was either 26 or nothing! we should be happy with what we got! if that hadnt been achieved we could still be part of the united kingdom

[JuanMacready]

@tedobrien98 Bankrupt southern Ireland was far, far better off as part of the UK, rather than a slave of the EU needing £85 billion from the IMF and a £7 billion loan from the UK.

The treasonable wartime Easter Ridsing was funded by the Germans and the gay apedophile Peasrse actually priased the Germans as "gallant allies" of the so-called Irish Republic, despite the fact that tens of thousands of Irishmen had been fighting the Germans for the past 18 months.

[tedobrien98]

@JuanMacready But all that is now! Thats all due to the stupid bollixes Fianna Fáil and the bankers! Saying we were flying it during the Celtic tiger and we would never again see recession! Nobody listened to the few people who saw it coming! But what this discussion is about happened 90 years before all this started! thousands of irishmen were fighting against the germans as they thought it might help their chances of home rule (which the House of Lords didnt pass in 1914)

[tedobrien98]

@JuanMacready because if they were helping out the Brittish it might increase their chances of getting home rule before the 2 year period was up. And the Germans only provided the guns! But there is one thing that I am wondering about. Why would you go looking up videos like this if you are completely against Ireland! Do you just like trouble and stirring up shit? And I'm not going to bother giving out about your spelling mistakes which are at best Elementary. But you were probably typing fast.

[JuanMacready]

@tedobrien98 Churchill should have ovverrun all of the Irish Free State in 1940 in response to their overt support for Nazi Germany.

[tedobrien98]

@JuanMacready there was no "overt" support! the only thing they had to do with germany was getting the guns. And you still havent said why you looked up this video! But lets take a step back now. I said Michael Collins was a great man, which he was. Are you saying that he wasnt great for Ireland, even though you dont like him. I think alot of English historical figures were good too even though some were completely anti-Irish.

[JuanMacready]

@tedobrien98 Michael Collins was a stupid uneducted terrorist who got the violent death he deserved. I'm glad a dum dum bullet exploded inside his head, causing his skull to break. Southern Ireland is a joke now, just like its alcoholic prime minister.

Is it just a coincidence that Roger Casement and Patrick Pearse were both homosexual paedophiles?

[tedobrien98]

@JuanMacready Your uneducated if you can't spell uneducated right! Whatever the fuck they are teaching you in school is aload of shit. And yes, The republic of ireland is a joke now, but that is nothing to do with Michael Collins or anybody who was around back then! And we have got a Taoiseach! dont call our Alcoholic Taoiseach a Prime minister!

[JuanMacready]

@tedobrien98 The truly great hero General Sir John Maxwell should have hanged de Valera and Michael Collins after the Easter Rising.

[tedobrien98]

@JuanMacready why dont you just go masturbate to a picture of "The Great Hero" General Sir john Maxwell so if he's so great!

Your having a fight with a 12 year old who has an answer for everything.... and your losing... miserably

[JuanMacready]

@tedobrien98 I have a framed portrait of the Lord Protector on the wall.

[tedobrien98]

@JuanMacready right. now look at it, have a wank, and feel like a right dip shit. when your done, come back to me.

[JuanMacready]

@tedobrien98 Oliver Cromwell is the greatest man who ever lived.

[tedobrien98]

@JuanMacready oh sweet jesus would you ever just shut up and get a life! you have no idea what your talking about, your looking up videos, to purpously make a nuisence of yourself and piss off people who would like to enjoy the video! Just please, go and read some more about it all, read books from both points of view, and then you will understand it all but until you do dont be talking bullshit about fucking nothing! youve been shitting on about this for the past week. just face it! your wrong!

[JuanMacready]

@tedobrien98 An 85 billion euro bailout and a £7 billion loan from the UK? Ha ha ha ha ha!!!!!!

[tedobrien98]

@JuanMacready yes, that is very funny..... YOU STUPID PRICK!!!

[tedobrien98]

@JuanMacready Tá tú díreach tar éis fuck uneducated atá cuí a fhios aige go léir! Níor thug tú Fuair a clue faoi pholaitíocht na hÉireann! Tá tú déag! An bhfuil tú aon rud níos fearr a dhéanamh le do chuid ama ná labhairt faoi na rudaí a bhfuil tú aon leid faoi! Ba chóir duit a bheith ag amharc ar na físeáin ceoil mhiotal Heavey agus rudaí nó amach le cailíní seachas ag caint faoi stair na Gaeilge! Póg mo thóin!

[sainglain]

Dev. said who ever had of went to london would have got the same (Dead) - it just happened to be him!

[spoofer14]

@sainglain No Dev went into hiding 

[ryanabu1]

MICHAEL

Was the foundation stone of Fianna gael.The partionist party

I cannot see Enda taking a bullet for Ireland, any way may he rest in peace with Bobby, Francis, Raymond and Joe Mc.

[sainglain]

@ryanabu1 - Dev. said who had of when to london would have got the same (Dead)

[Mhairecobhthaigh]

Michael Collins was th epithomy of love for the name Eire. How many in his era knew what it was the Irish needed to aspire to independence and what the establishment would never give them, without a fight!

[englishsandy]

this is brilliant,immotive,heartrender­ing and most of all so bloody trajic.The man was the truest patriot that Ireland will ever have.God Blee the "Big Fella"

[TheMonahansr]

Just love it great but very sad story Johnny McEvoy what a singer

Tom Monahan USA

[jordanfarrell2010]

That comment about Michael selling us out just proves the ignorance of a person that knows nothing. And Newsflash, SF are not selling us out either. Tiocfaidh 'Ar L'a.

[inisboy1]

get a grip, he sold us out, just like sf r doing to us now.

[TheODubhthaigh]

@inisboy1 An ceart agat a bhuachaill.

[tillyireland]

a classic song from a living legend,and a gentleman, what song,s this man has written.

[barny307]

I cant fathom ,why did DEV walk out start a cival war and then go back and join the same Dail tha he walked out of ,why.

[FreedomSaoirse]

@barny307 Mick Collins in his history was no friend to Ireland....Why why why

[barny307]

@FreedomSaoirseThey all played thier part on Irelands journey to Saoirse and we are still on that road,however the journey is not finished yet and there is still much work to do ,we must move forward and not let old differences devide us,keep the candle burning.

[dubbigot]

@FreedomSaoirse , c'mon man , your a republican as i am , i would never have taken his side in the civil war as you wouldn't either , but he did start a huge movement that may never have started without him , ,,,,,,, believe me ,, as you know i'm not pro- free state ,,,,,,,,,,,, but i do still have appreciation for collins ,,,,,,,,, and my comments are an example of how personall the " irish on irish " war got , i'll talk to ye later lad , stay well my friend , dub ,

[muintir]

One line in that song betrays the whole PIRA Republican struggle ...."the flame that you held high has now passed to other hands and is carried through the land by some who are not even fit to speak your name"....there is no difference to the war that Michael Collins led than what 10 brave men died for in the cages of Long Kesh!...Tiocfaidgh Ar La

[TheODubhthaigh]

@muintir

I thought that line referred to the Blueshirts who hijacked the mantle of Collins but that was possibly naive of me. I suppose we would need to know the politics of the songwriter and I seriously doubt that it was Johnny McEvoy.

[TheODubhthaigh]

There are two sep[arate debates here: one is the historical mystery that surrounds the life of Michael Collins, the other is the business of how we interpret modern day events that are not nearly so mysterious. My own view is that the Provos sprang naturally from a community under attack. What choice remained after Bloody Sunday?

[malachy1847]

I suppose also the events of 'The Falls Curfew' July 1979 might as well been seen as 'the crossing of the Robocon' ....in so far that 'hearts and minds' was off the table.. and the British Forces were seen as being a mere tool of repression to be used by the Stormont government against the minority Community....

[josparkes1]

Absolutely without question, a brilliant song about a brilliant super hero !

[paulineD111]

beauitful song just dont like who it was wrote bout johnny @ his his best

[irishpaddy99]

Johnnie Mcevoy must be one of irelands best balladeer's; so many great songs.

[donnas98]

really nice song

[kingkong5011]

my da sang this the day before he died.... it is a brilliant song!!!!!

[barrackbuster]

collins founded the IRA and yes he tried to stop the irish man again the british but that will never happin as long as the brits are here

[dubbigot]

@barrackbuster , how are doin eddie , have to pick you up there , collins didnt form the IRA , he was a volunteer in easter week and did reorganise when he was released from prison , but he was not an original founder , if he was he most likely would have been shot to rags in kilmainham , have ye been there recently? i was home a couple years back and went over , still amazin to be in that place ,

[josparkes1]

@dubbigot I visited Kilmainham jail last august and it was an awesome experience. I took pics of Grace Gifford's wedding chapel and a cell and the steps, and lots more. We also visited MC grave at Glasnevin, which was covered in flowers.

[barrackbuster]

What i meant was Under the leadership of Michael Collins, Richard Mulcahy, and Harry Boland, the traditional IRB policy of insurrection was replaced by a guerrilla strategy hence the Term Ira not coming to effect till after 1919.

[TheODubhthaigh]

Its a strangely constructed song and I have to admit I'm baffled. 'Though a thousand years may pass, we'll never know' and 'was it friend or foe who shot you down' and also 'those not fit to even speak your name' who was the author referring to?  I'm genuinely seking enlightenment here and I have no axe to grind so far.

[dubbigot]

everbody has an axe to grind in this story unless they just dont givea fuck , you commented so you do give a fuck , friend or foe refers to the fact that it is possible that collins was killed by friendly fire , or a richochet , no one knows , either way , he wasn't killed by a specific bullet fired at him personnaly , the battle lasted about 10 hours , it wasn't a quick skirmish.

[TheODubhthaigh]

To dubbigot: So far, despite all the talk, documentaries and songs, the man's life and death remain a mystery. Sean McBride said in a TV interview that he had positive knowledge that Collins was on his way to meet Liam Lynch when he was shot. The purpose of the meeting was to arrange a ceasefire and stage a military coup against the Free State government. The new military government would then proceed to free the six occupied counties.

McBride was not a man to spread baseless rumour.

[dubbigot]

@TheODubhthaigh , thanks for the insite , never heard this version of the story before , i'm sure there will be more again , all the best

[TheODubhthaigh]

To dubbigot :I enjoy intelligent debate about history. Not slanging matches between orange, green and the brits. None of us were responsible for what we grew up with.

All the best to you too and we will communicate further.

[malachy1847]

The Ambush of Collins by republicans who having cut the two roads out of Bandon to Cork Meant Collins had to return Via .'Bael Na mBlagh' the trap was sprung at approx 8-00pm and lasted a mere fifteen to Twenty minute to twenty minutes, as most of the Republican forces were lightly armed with only a few Clips per man it had to be 'Hit and Run' the really major battle in Co Cork was 'The Crossbarry Ambush' by Barrys Column during the war of Independence which was approx 60 minutes long

[cooraclare1]

This song was written by one of our best Singers and is only one of many that he has composed on various aspects of Irish Life and History as he sees it. Enjoy the Singer and the Song and Stop Bickering. Well done Johnny. A beautiful ballad and delivered to perfection as usual.

[sharetheluck]

IRA thugs and criminals of today have no claim on Collins. He would, I'd imagine hold them in the same contempt he did the British establishment of his day..

[nedicuss]

@sharetheluck

Of course he would. Collins was all about protecting the people from brutish mistreatment.

[matinee310]

@sharetheluck

"Thugs and criminals"!!!!! where have you've been all 37 years of your life? Oh I get it EAST BELFAST with opposite "thugs and criminals" It was a war arse hole- all prisioners got out as part of the peace process- One piece of the jigsaw that helped end the war in the North- Second thought a loyalist probably wouldn't even write that -your probably a Brit living in Ireland.

maybe Adams is the Collins of today!

[Crimelord2k10]

@sharetheluck Damn right, why can't the IRA see that today

[claymoreman90]

@sharetheluck rubbish...In his day collins was branded a terrorist by the establishment and its minnions,people like you like to denigrate the men and women who fight the fight, to cover the fact your a coward whod rather skulk along head bowed to your master..rather than holding them in contempt he'd be leading them today. read about his life,then read about men like francis hughes joe mcverry and jim lynagh to name a few..these men were in the same mould as collins..now fuck off .

[TomBarry192I]

@sharetheluck Collins went to war with the IRA of his day you stupid traitor. That's why the IRA shot the bastard. Collins was armed by the British establishment if you cared to read a bit of your own history.

[TheGlenmanusskinhead]

@sharetheluck wind your neck in m8 ;) omg i have heard many statements .... but yours beat the lot ...the ira freedom fighters are on a ceasefire ... in case u didnt know ? .... and they and they alone will see a united ireland ;)after all they have taken a back seat and let sinn fein lead us to freeedom ;) micheal collins (god bless his soul )may have started the revolution ... but sinn fein will finish it ;) i have faith in marty and jerry ;) ... dont u ? ...

[066mickey]

Pretty Shit

[a32Unity]

I wonder as Enya could make her amazing music in your war country ???

[adrianmoore]

History is a tale everyone should learn. Especially the Irish. Collins was a good man cut down before his time by people jealous of his genius. He got us the Republic we have now thanks to Colllins. But then DeValera shot him. But also least ye forget the IRA was formed out of British repression. You reap what you sow !.

[greenrepublick]

Michael Collins was on the free state side dont forget.he was killed by those who beleived that violence could solve the problems in the north.The ira is a criminal orginisation who kill innocent people needlessly for their own gain.

[2field3]

go and read up on your history

[2field3]

collins fought within the ranks of the IRA up until partition and the formation of the free state. war is a savage buisness and collins was as savage as the next man in his cause for freedom. the tan war was savage. the civil war was savage and the campaign over the last 30 years has been no different. injustice is injustice be it 800 years past, 100 years past or yesterday. yes the republican movement have made mistakes and innocent people have lost their lives but that is war the world over

[moosemanthestump]

mike was a good man. I.R.A!!!!!

[moosemanthestump]

mike was a good man. I.R.A!!!!!!!!!

[MrBrendan893]

some song,some man

[sharetheluck]

Tears well up in me every time I hear this song. He was one of the greatest men of all time. Our current leaders should take a leaf out of his book. theboyfromhere should listen to the last verse!

[MrBrendan893]

some song,some man

[ghw1985]

i had to sing this song at a funeral ....

[Derrymaid1]

A beautifully written song about a very sad time in history. No one writes these songs better than Johnny.

[theboyfromhere]

Piscesgal..who the fuck do you think you are..its people like you that will sing rebel songs when drunk, yet hate the fight for freedom, remember the country michael collins fought for,well 6 countys remain occupied by micheal`s foes, so dont ever sit there in your comfort zone telling people to knock it off...onwards to a 32...

[MizzCarlisleCullen]

Does anyone have the chords for this song?

[irishbrumy]

Michael Collins was a great man and got freedom from the British Empire i think he does deserve to get credit! Long live his memory. Its a shame that he was killed in his hometown Cork by an Irish Man.

[malachy1847]

Many outher Munster men died during that 'Civil War' So many at the hands of the 'FreeState' Look at the events in Kerry Ballyseedy, Caherciveen, and Countess Bridge near killarney also in March1923 34 Republicans were killed in Kerry on the orders of Richard Mulcahy only five were killed in Battle the rest just taken away and shot![ Local commander was Brigadier Paddy Daly] .one of 'The Squad' also know as Micheal Collins 'twelve apostles' he served under him during the war of Independence.

[JuanMacready]

@irishbrumy Do you seriously call being a bankrupt slave of the EU "freedom"?

Germany controls southern Ireland now.

[tedobrien98]

@JuanMacready FUCK YOU!!!!!!

[Piscesgal315]

Johnny is the man! I'm soooooo glad i discovered him and please all you political analysts out there--knock it off!

Slainte!

Lidia

[brianlaw1888]

why did DEV walk out of dail erin only to go back in four years later , what was that all about , he caused a cival war only to go back in under the original terms ,can anyone explain it please .

[berrier123]

the ira of 1950 and before where good people fighting for a cause and im not saying they didny rob banks and stuff to partly fund there operations but they didnt sell drugs.and even in my part of dublin were i live in the 1990s the ira where shooting and torturing young drug dealers yet on the other hand they were getting a lot of money from the big dealers who are the real scum.fucking ira scum up the united ireland dont kill civillians you northy cunts just fucking kill real targats.

[moosemanthestump]

fuck u ass hole. I.R.A RULES!!!!!!

[newfiebygarge]

excellent!! what a voice.what a song!!got a get out of the house lol!!

[acoyle1983]

savage it is awful that it was irish men that killed him

[bikerbp]

johnny dong what he is good at,singing with feeling

[CelticSummerRain]

I love his accent! Thanks for posting! This is awsome!

[biggunm]

magical

[berrier123]

up the old ra. not them filthy drug dealing northreners who gave the ira a bad name

[cult54]

go and fuk urself u wee freestate sell out bastard!!!! the old ira were involved in illegal activities as were some of the provos, but only a small majority!! the old ira robbed people by force, and dealed illegal substances, learn ur history u wanker!! that is the most ignorant ting i heard, my da fought and he wasnt a drug dealer!! ur not a republican, go and read some books u idiot

[lewis1916]

RIP big man.

We all knew that treaty was the best deal we could get.

Our day will come .

[berrier123]

daraghphelan....spot on

[Travers54]

A very deeply and moving music video,of the tragic death of Michael Collins, a true irish hero and legend!. 5***** Thanks Russ for this video share.

[brianthedon]

im not a collins supporter,i cud not hav signd dat treaty,but this is a brilliant song

tiocfaidh ar la

[DaraghPhelan]

DeValera knew that treaty was the best for Ireland so he got Collins to go and use him as a scapegoat as much as the two of them were great men, without Collins all of Ireland would still be under British control.

[xxxKerrygoldxxx]

Johnny at is best an most humble..Great Stuff.

[parakarter]

Like so many other twists and turns in history - if only.......

Excellent rendition by Johnny.

[ferfecksake7]

Awesome song---keep em' coming!

[foreverspring]

There was, and never will be, another Michael Collins! How I wish he had lived! When I was a kid I wrote a poem to Michael that started off with the plea, "Michael, please don't go to Cork". Aaaah! Irish history and heroes!! Michael has certainly always been mine! And isn't John McEvoy quite the insightful songwriter! Great song, great singer!

[berrier123]

RIP michael,Eire will always love you...tiochfaidh ar la!!!!!

[madfortrad5958]

great video thanks for posting

[colld86]

You have a beautiful voice!

[vaksmik]

Love this song whit Johnny McEvoy it bring tears in my yes a verry sad song.

Thanks Johnny

[kerrygold1916]

Very nice Ballad

[obbjob112]

michael collins would be ashamed today . of the murder and the gangsterism of todays ira. he fought for irish freedom but not for irish men killing each other. he sacrificed himself to bring peace, not war.

[cult54]

and wat have the provos done now??? did they not want peace, u never lived bak den or in the north!!! the ira have always got money from illegal activities!!! most people bak den, even the irish believed collins to be a murderer!!! but its changed now, british media exposes the pira to be gangsters as they did to collins bak in the 20s. and the shit ting is most people in the republic are unionists. not republicans , yas dont want the north.. which is very sad!

[jjmcgo]

When Major League Baseball hired George Mitchell to deal with the steroid mess, I said if he does for baseball what he did for the Catholics in Northern Ireland, baseball is f***ked.

The peace he brought merely legitimized the illegal occupation and lopsided representation and kept the country divided.

Can't blame any Catholic there for feeling screwed and sold out.

[Justinetranssexual]

Pooor Michael Collins. Shot dead through anger, not thought through. What a beautiful song. Long live Michael Collins, a true son of Ireland. From:Australia.

[someneck]

fabulas

[nktacm]

ABSOOLUTELY BRILLIANT