Michael Collins devoted his life to honouring Ireland but Ireland has never properly honoured him.

For 17 years, his remains lay in a simple plot in Glasnevin cemetary. In 1935, one of his former comrades, who had become a millionaire through the Hospital Sweepstakes bought a quarter of a ton of marble and both he and Collins family fought for four years for permission to erect a simple cross on it.

Then Taoiseach Eamon de Valera finally relented but with a number of stipulations. The cross was not to be of marble but limestone and not cost more than £300. There was no publicty, a simple inscription in Irish would be approved by de Valera and only one relative or friend, Collins brother Johnie, was allowed to be present at the blessing ceremony.

The blessing was attended by Johnie, a priest, an altarboy, the foreman gravedigger and a gravedigger who happened to be passing at the time. The latter had attended Collin’s grave since 1922 and, shocked at the absence of press coverage, asked a passing tourist to take a picture.

Memorial card kindly given by Siobhán McDermott great-niece of Michael Collins.