ALLEGIANCE - AN INTRODUCTION

In October 1921, Michael Collins, who had been a commander of the IRA in the Irish War of Independence against Great Britain, reluctantly travelled to London as part of a Sinn Fein delegation to negotiate a peace treaty between Britain and Ireland.

This idea was to end historic hostilities between Britain and Ireland and to create an Irish state - after 800 years of British domination and colonisation of Ireland.

The event attracted a huge amount of media and public interest at the time, and Michael Collins, the Irish gunman, found himself a London celebrity.

Winston Churchill was among the leaders of the British delegation negotiating with Sinn Fein. The conference itself encountered many obstacles between the British and Irish viewpoints, notably the Oath of Allegiance to the King which the Imperial power demanded.

Initially, Churchill and Collins disliked one another, and what each other represented. But one evening they got together privately, and began drinking a great deal of whisky, brandy and champagne. By the end of the night, according to Lord Birkenhead, they had become "bosom pals" and were fascinated with one another.

Thereafter Churchill steered the legislation which created the Irish state through parliament in the teeth of much opposition from Tory diehards and Ulster Unionists: he also stood by Mick Collins to the end, and received a touching message from Collins before the Irish leader's fatal shooting in August 1922.

"Allegiance" is the story of Winston and Michael's friendship, based on historical research.

Book Shops and Individuals can buy the Collins-Churchill text directly by contacting Mary directly on
mary@mary-kenny.com.

Also available by post at
Kildare Street Books
P.O. Box 10073
Dublin 2

ISBN of 'Allegiance' is 0-9550167-0-3