Celebrating Heritage: Award-Winning Book Explores Irish Civil War Dugout We are thrilled to announce that ‘An Irish Civil War Dugout: Tormore Cave, County Sligo. Archaeology, History, Memory’ has won the Sligo County Council Cathaoirleach’s Award for ‘Heritage and the Irish Language.’ Co-authored by Dr. Marion Dowd, Robert Mulraney, and Dr. James Bonsall, this groundbreaking work highlights the first archaeological excavation of an Irish Civil War site. Featuring nearly 200 artefacts and untold stories of anti-Treaty IRA fighters, the book blends archaeology, history, and community memory, shedding light on Sligo’s past. Available in hardback and as a free PDF, it’s a treasure for history enthusiasts and specialists alike.
Science Week at Carbury National School
Step into the world of archaeology like never before! Using drones and special geophysical tools, archaeologists can uncover ancient tombs, hidden ruins, and mysterious patterns beneath the ground—all without digging. Learn how these high-tech tools are transforming how we explore Ireland’s incredible history and help protect it for the future!
Publication: Finding Mesolithic lithics in my garden during COVID-19
Late Mesolithic distally-trimmed blade (2021C2:1). Photograph by James Connolly. I'm a co-author on a new publication, led by Cian Hogan. ‘A prehistoric chert assemblage with a Late Mesolithic component from Castlegal, Cope’s Mountain, Sligo’, has just been published in the Sligo Field Club Journal, Vol. 8. The assemblage is from my garden. Marion Dowd (ATU… Continue reading Publication: Finding Mesolithic lithics in my garden during COVID-19
Book Launch: The Six – The Lives and Memorialisation of Sligo’s Noble Six
We held a book launch for The Six - The Lives and Memorialisation of Sligo’s Noble Six on the 20th September 2022, 100 years to the day that the Noble Six were killed.
Europe’s Lost Frontiers Project
Europe's Lost Frontiers, is a major ERC-funded research project exploring the lost landscapes that were inundated at the end of the last Ice Age. I was the Chief Scientist on board RV Celtic Voyager, directing marine geophysical surveys in the Irish Sea which were used to create new high resolution maps of the submerged landscape.… Continue reading Europe’s Lost Frontiers Project
Great Connell Abbey Exploration Project
Project: Great Connell Abbey Exploration Project Directors: James Bonsall, Earthsound Archaeological Geophysics & Dr. Thomas Loughlin, Irish Hellenic Institute, Athens, Greece. Location: Great Connell Abbey, Newbridge, County Kildare, Ireland Year: 2012-2014 Funding: €3,900 (Kildare County Council Community Heritage Grant €2,400, Kildare Archaeological Society Research Grant €1,500) Aim: This project examined the use and demise of Great Connell Abbey by tracing the… Continue reading Great Connell Abbey Exploration Project
Forensic Geophysics
One of the things I find most enjoyable about my work is that I can apply my geophysical knowledge to a variety of situations, working in new disciplines and answering questions that don't always have an archaeological aspect. A good example of this is my work on forensic investigations. From time to time I've been… Continue reading Forensic Geophysics
Sligo Community Comes Together Post Storm Éowyn
On the 24th of January 2025, Ireland was battered by Storm Éowyn, a weather event that left a significant mark on our landscapes and communities. With ferocious winds, snow and rain, the storm caused widespread damage, particularly through falling trees and downed electrical powerlines. In my local area of Sligo, Sligo County Council immediately began… Continue reading Sligo Community Comes Together Post Storm Éowyn
Irish Civil War book wins Literary Award
We are thrilled to announce that An Irish Civil War Dugout: Tormore Cave, County Sligo. Archaeology, History, Memory, co-authored by Dr. Marion Dowd, Robert Mulraney, and Dr. James Bonsall, has been given the prestigious Literary Award at SUICRO 2024. This annual symposium, hosted by the Speleological Union of Ireland (SUI) and the Irish Cave Rescue… Continue reading Irish Civil War book wins Literary Award
Irish Civil War Research
Our research team have written two books exploring the Irish Civil War in Sligo. 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… Continue reading Irish Civil War Research
Books for SADOE Members:
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… Continue reading Books for SADOE Members:
Publication: Contribution to the Atlas of the Irish Civil War: New Perspectives
I'm pleased to share that the Atlas of the Irish Civil War: New Perspectives, available on bookshelves now, includes a contribution by Robert Mulraney, Dr Marion Dowd and myself. This comprehensive and richly illustrated volume offers significant new insights into the Irish Civil War. About the Book: This book, edited by John Crowley, Helene O'Keeffe,… Continue reading Publication: Contribution to the Atlas of the Irish Civil War: New Perspectives
Publication: Tormore Cave – An Irish Civil War Dugout
New Book Reveals Hidden History of Ireland’s Civil War: An Irish Civil War Dugout: Tormore Cave, County Sligo. Archaeology, History, Memory I'm proud to announce the publication of my latest book, An Irish Civil War Dugout: Tormore Cave, County Sligo. Archaeology, History, Memory, authored by Dr. Marion Dowd, Robert Mulraney, and myself, published by Archaeopress,… Continue reading Publication: Tormore Cave – An Irish Civil War Dugout
Publication: Insights into Ireland’s Younger Dryas and Early Holocene Fauna
In the new book "World Archaeo-Geophysics," my chapter focuses on the role of soil science in archaeological prospection in Ireland. It addresses the challenges posed by Ireland's geology and soils and offers six case studies demonstrating the integration of soil studies into archaeological projects. The book, edited by Carmen Cuenca-Garcia, Andrei Asăndulesei, and Kelsey M. Lowe, features contributions from 74 experts across 18 countries and emphasizes the synergy of geophysics and archaeology on a global scale. I advocate for increased collaboration among geophysicists, excavators, and soil scientists to improve methodologies and teamwork in utilizing soil science in archaeology. The book is available for free download, promoting shared learning and cooperation in the archaeological community. My chapter and the entire book are also available for open access download.
Historic Legacy Data (148 BBY) from Brendok revealed
A recently broadcast video has afforded the opportunity to study Legacy Data and fieldwork practices from a previously unrecorded historic geophysical survey expedition. It illustrates the challenges associated with assessing Legacy Data archives particularly where there is no context or detail for the survey methodology. A team of Jedi were dispatched to the planet Brendok… Continue reading Historic Legacy Data (148 BBY) from Brendok revealed
Dr James Bonsall 