It is my considered opinion that in the fullness of time history will record the greatness of Michael Collins and it will be recorded at my expense.

The economic and social problems would tend to become, like the military situation, more and more difficult as time went on and we became more and more isolated.

Here, in Cork district, you have in combination all the dangers which war can inflict.

We hope that the plain people - the labourers and small farmers - will take this opportunity of coming together and working out the National programme.

When we have done our best, we can, as a united people, take whatever may befall with calm courage and confidence that this old nation will survive and if death should come to many of us, death is not the end.

The part which American friendship played in helping us to win the freedom we enjoy in this part of Ireland has been gratefully recognized and acknowledged by our people.

Partition is after all only an old fortress of crumbled masonry - held together with the plaster of fiction.