We’re all archaeologists with fairly different backgrounds. I - @DrJamesBonsall - specialise in geophysics & remote sensing; Dr Marion Dowd is a multi-period cave archaeologist; Robert Mulraney @cavesofireland is a cave archaeologist with a background in environmental science.
Who were Sligo’s #NobleSix? They were IRA men who were shot & killed by the National Army on mountains north of Sligo in September 1922: Divisional Adjutant Brian MacNeill, Brigadier Seamus Devins, Capt. Harry Benson, Lt. Patrick Carroll, Vol. Joseph Banks & Vol. Thomas Langan
Their deaths were controversial: they surrendered to the National Army and were killed whilst in their custody. At the same time, other IRA were arrested on the mountains and taken to Sligo Gaol. Their deaths shocked both pro- & anti-Treaty supporters.
They also shocked the nation and made front page news headlines around the world. Why? Because one, Seamus Devins, was a sitting TD (Teachta Dála, member of the Irish parliament, Dáil Éireann) and another, Brian MacNeill, was the son of the Education Minister Eoin MacNeill.
Most people in Sligo know of the Noble Six, but other than the manner in which they died, few people could tell you about their lives. That is what prompted us to write #TheSix - to tell the stories of these men, the lives they lived and the things they did.
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We thought we’d outline why we wrote a book about six IRA men killed on the Sligo mountains…
This year, we carried out the first ever archaeological excavation of a Civil War site – the Glencar Hideout – a cave that sheltered up to 34 IRA in Sept./Oct. 1922
(thread)
We were delighted to discover the names of people hiding in the cave. As archaeologists, we typically examine the remains of human activity, the things they left behind (‘material culture’). It’s very rare to know the actual names of people that used/lived at a particular site.
Marion and Robert - the Cave Archaeologists - directed the excavation. James set out the excavation grid and began researching biographies of the known IRA men that hid out in the cave and the women that provided their support network in the local area.
Most of the men @CWBluejackets will be looking at enlisted in America, but not all. This is the USS Kearsarge, which recruited in ports around the world as she hunted for the CSS Alabama. One place she did so was in Queenstown (Cobh), where she sparked a diplomatic incident!
Despite a British law that forbade the foreign enlistment of their citizens, the Kearsarge took on quite a number of local men when she stopped into Cork Harbour. Unfortunately for the U.S. ship, a local Confederate agent informed the Government of their actions.
When back at sea, the Kearsarge learned that their Irish recruiting had caused a major diplomatic incident, with the British Government calling in the U.S. Ambassador. They were forced to turn around and bring the men back, dubiously claiming they were "stowaways".
Good morning and welcome back to Day 3 of @irelandbattles Irish Regiments in the British Army series.
Today we will take a look at our second regiment; the Royal Irish Regiment.
(“The Royal Irish Regiment”, from the Gale and Polden postcard series)
2/ As noted in yesterday’s thread, the Royal Irish Regiment's origins lie in the recruitment of independent companies of musketeers and pikemen stationed in Ireland during the Interregnum and reign of Charles II.
In 1684, several of…
(“King Charles II” by John Michael Wright)
3/…these companies were combined to form a new regiment on the Irish establishment (during this period, the British Army consisted of English and Irish ‘establishments’ - regiments were often hidden on the Irish establishment to hide their expenditure from the Treasury).
Good morning and welcome back to Day 2 of @irelandbattles Irish Regiments in the British Army series.
Today we will be briefly introducing the history of Irish regiments in the British Army before looking in detail at our first regiment; the Irish Guards.
(NAM 1983-11-101-1)
2/ The first Irish Regiment to be raised for service in the 'modern' British Army was formed by the Earl of Granard in 1684. By the reign of William III, this regiment had been retitled the ‘Royal Regiment of Foot of Ireland’.
(NAM 1989-05-21-1, see ALT for description)
3/ Irish soldiers would see extensive service within the British Army for much of the next 300 years, although Irish soldiers could also be found amongst the ranks of Britain’s enemies, including the armies of France and Spain.
Good morning everyone, many thanks to @irelandbattles for lending me the digital keys to the Irish At War account!
Over the next fortnight I’ll be sharing with you brief histories of the Irish infantry…
(“The Irish Regiments of the British Army, 1897”, NAM 1973-11-137-1)
2/…regiments which formed part of the British Army in 1911. In doing so we will assess the Census Returns for battalions that were serving overseas at the time of the Census was undertaken.
(Cover Cover for 1/Royal Irish Regiment, 1911)
3/ This was the first census in which units of the British Army overseas were enumerated. A range of demographic data was recorded, including a soldier’s name, age, rank, marital status, unit or arm of service, their occupation and place of birth.