If you are interested in purchasing a copy of either of the books featured in James Bonsall’s talk for SADOE, please see the links below
This multidisciplinary study combines archaeology, military history, community memory, and landscape studies, shedding light on the use of dugouts by the anti-Treaty IRA during the brutal Civil War that broke out in 1922. Tormore Cave in County Sligo was one such dugout, providing refuge to over 30 Republican men for six weeks during the conflict.
Dowd, M., Mulraney, R. & Bonsall, J. 2024. An Irish Civil War Dugout: Tormore Cave, County Sligo. Archaeology, History, Memory. 420 pages. Archaeopress. Printed ISBN 9781803277691. Digital ISBN 9781803277707.
In September 1922, the National Army closed in on the anti-treaty IRA headquarters at Rahelly House, north of Sligo town. After an intense firefight, approximately 60 men evacuated the house, making for the iconic mountain of Benbulben, with the intention of crossing the uplands to reach the safety of Tormore Cave – better known as the ‘Glencar hideout’. Several IRA men were captured on the mountains and imprisoned by the National Army. The Six focuses on six men who were shot and killed at two different locations in the uplands. These men – Divisional Adjutant Brian MacNeill, Brigadier Seamus Devins, Captain Harry Benson, Lieutenant Patrick Carroll, Volunteer Joseph Banks and Volunteer Thomas Langan – became known as Sligo’s Noble Six.
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Bonsall, J., Dowd, M. & Mulraney, R. 2022. The Six – The Lives and Memorialisation of Sligo’s Noble Six. 307 pages. Glencar Press, Sligo. ISBN 9781739139605.
Dr James Bonsall 