Two elaborate memorials, including a 37-ton marble headstone and a new nine-foot-high structure, have become a focal point of controversy at Shiregreen Cemetery in Sheffield, England.
The latest memorial honors Michael Collins, who died in December 2021. It is situated near the grave of his brother, Willy Collins, known as the 'Traveller King,' whose burial in 2020 was marked by a 37-ton, £200,000 marble headstone and a 22-carat gold coffin. Willy Collins died at age 49 in Majorca, Spain.
Sheffield City Council had previously stated that Willy Collins's gravesite violated planning rules, leading to a dispute with the family. Now, Michael Collins's memorial has appeared, featuring white statues atop a black marble base, adorned with images of Coca-Cola bottles and heartfelt inscriptions. Nearby, Willy's memorial displays Irish flags, flowers, and the inscription 'KING.'
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The sheer scale and opulence of the memorials have drawn strong reactions from local residents. Some have compared the site to 'haunted crazy golf,' while others question whether the new memorial was erected with the necessary planning permission, especially given the prior dispute over Willy's grave.
'It is there because the council did not take action against the first one,' one resident commented, suggesting a disparity in rule enforcement. Another stated, 'So if they didn't get permission the first time, why is this allowed? One rule for them because they don't want any trouble and another rule for the rest of us.' Some locals believe such large shrines are inappropriate for a council-run cemetery.
The memorial for Michael Collins, built this month, stands at nine-and-a-half feet tall and includes two life-size white statues of the father-of-four. One statue is flanked by figures resembling Jesus Christ. The base features a marble pint of Guinness, a can of Guinness, and a bottle of Budweiser. Another statue sits on a bench, accompanied by a tribute and a photograph of the 'Sheffield Collins Brothers.'
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Also part of Michael's memorial is a working Bluetooth marble jukebox inscribed with 'Legend Michael Collins,' alongside Irish flags and a CD case featuring his photograph. A sculpture resembling a Ford Transit van and a tribute from his family are also present. A giant sculpture of a watch on a chair is positioned to the left.
Michael, Terry, and Anthony Collins are all buried at Shiregreen Cemetery. Terry Collins died at age 52 in September 2024, and Anthony Collins passed away at 22 in 2002 following a stabbing incident. The family is known within the Sheffield traveller community.
One relative described Michael as a 'loving father, uncle, brother, husband and son and grandfather' and the 'true blue of Sheffield and one of a kind.' His daughter, Paris, shared that her father was a devoted family man who doted on his grandchild and that he is now 'in heaven now with his brother, Willy, sister-in-law, Josie, and Willy's oldest daughter, Bonnie.'
Memorials of this nature typically require a permit, and Sheffield City Council has been approached for comment.