Commemorative cross erected in Sligo, honoring those who perished during the Civil War.
Memorial Cross Erects in Sligo Cemetery for Youngest Civil War Soldier
Get ready for a poignant moment as a memorial cross is due to be unveiled today at the previously unmarked grave of a young soldier who lost his life during the Civil War in Sligo cemetery.
At just 15 years old, Private James Byrne met a tragic end when he was struck by a sniper's bullet while leaving Sligo Gaol. This heart-wrenching event took place during the first week of the Civil War, as confirmed by the National Army Headquarters website.
Leas-Cathaoirleach for Sligo County Council, Cllr Edel McSharry, will be laying a wreath in remembrance, as today marks the 103rd anniversary of the conflict's onset.
The memorial cross, crafted by diligent members of Sligo Men's Shed Group, is set to be placed on the previously unmarked grave, not only of Pte James Byrne, but also another unsung hero, Sergeant James Skeffington. This non-political event has been organized by the National Collins 22 Society.
Sergeant Skeffington, a 32-year-old native of Sligo town, was a seasoned Connacht Ranger and World War I veteran. Tragedy struck him on the steps of Sligo Town Hall during an Anti-Treaty raid.
Meanwhile, Pte Byrne, a 15-year-old labourer who joined the army in May 1922, is known as one of the youngest Free State soldiers to perish in combat during the Civil War on July 3, 1922. His family will be present for today's touching ceremony, honoring his memory.
Private Jack Sweeney, a 17-year-old baker's apprentice, is also believed to be buried in Sligo Cemetery. However, the exact location of his grave remains uncertain. Pte Sweeney succumbed to wounds sustained at the Rockwood Ambush on July 15, 1922. Before enlisting in the National Army, he had worked on the family farm in Ballynamona, Calry.
Several other soldiers, including Cmdt Sean Adair and Pte Henry Conlon, also rest in peace within Sligo Cemetery. It is widely known that 22 National Army soldiers and 13 anti-treaty IRA soldiers lost their lives in Co Sligo during the civil war. The story of the so-called Noble Six on Benbulben still resonates to this day.
Over the past century, the National Army Plot within Sligo Cemetery remained neglected. However, recent efforts have emerged from the National Collins 22 Society to remedy this, as they tirelessly search for and document the graves of soldiers who perished during the Civil War. They take pride in tending to graves from both sides of the conflict at Glasnevin Cemetery on the first Saturday of every month, as part of their legacy initiative within the Decade of Centenaries.
To further honor those who served and sacrificed their lives, the Defence Forces have diligently digitized and released all Military Service records spanning 1916-1923, along with Pension Collection records. These invaluable records are available online through the Military Archives website, where a map shows the location of each fatality during the Civil War. Although the map does not record every death from this period, it does visualize the locations of the deceased soldiers whose dependents made applications for Army Pensions, those for whom posthumous applications for a Service (1917-1921) Medal were made, and those who died during the period and have files relating to them elsewhere in the Collection. The Military Archives have explained that their work on the Collection remains ongoing, and there may be further additions in the future.
As the memorial cross is set to be unveiled, marking the grave of Private James Byrne, a 15-year-old soldier who lost his life in the Civil War, people gather in Sligo Cemetery for a poignant remembrance ceremony. Meanwhile, the general-news unfolds about Sergeant James Skeffington, a World War I veteran and Connacht Ranger, who perished during an Anti-Treaty raid in Sligo Town Hall, and the sports enthusiasts remember Private Jack Sweeney, a 17-year-old baker's apprentice who was a soldier in the National Army, all buried in the same cemetery.
