“Mick’s Conversion.” Air. Music and lyrics of a satirical popular song regarding Michael Collins’s support of the Anglo-Irish Treaty

“Mick’s Conversion.” Air. Music and lyrics of a satirical popular song regarding Michael Collins’s support of the Anglo-Irish Treaty

1921

Michael Collins led the Irish guerrilla warfare against the British during the War of Independence, became part of the delegation negotiating with the British, and agreed to the treaty terms that acceded to the division of the island and retained an oath of allegiance to the British crown. He was viewed as an apostate by former supporters. There has been a long Irish tradition of popular songs either extolling or mocking public figures.