A memorial cross has been unveiled at a previously unmarked grave of the one of the youngest soldiers killed in combat during the Civil War in a Co Sligo cemetery.
Fifteen-year-old Private James Byrne was killed during the first week of the Civil War when he was struck by a sniper's bullet while leaving Sligo Gaol, the National Army Headquarters.
The Leas-Cathaoirleach for Sligo County Council Councillor Edel McSharry lay a wreath in remembrance on a day that marks the 103rd anniversary of the conflict.
A wooden cross, made by members of Sligo Men's Shed Group, was placed on the previously unmarked grave of two National Army Soldiers - Private Byrne and Sergeant James Skeffington as part of a non-political event organised by the National Collins 22 Society.
Sgt Skeffington, 32, of Sligo town, a former Connacht Ranger and WW1 veteran was shot on the steps of Sligo Town Hall during an Anti-Treaty raid.
Pte Byrne, 15, from Sligo town is known as one of the youngest Free State soldiers to be killed in combat during the Civil War on 3 July 1922.
He was a labourer before joining the army in May 1922. His family will be in attendance this morning.
Another soldier, Private Jack Sweeney, 17, is also buried in Sligo Cemetery, but his grave location is unknown.
Pte Sweeney died of wounds received at the Rockwood Ambush on 15 July 1922.
He was a baker's apprentice and had worked on the family farm in Ballynamona, Calry, before joining the National Army.
Also buried in Sligo Cemetery is Cmdt Sean Adair, 20, who was killed during the Rockwood Ambush and Pte Henry Conlon, 22, who was killed in an accidental shooting at Arigna Barricks.
It is known that 22 National Army soldiers and 13 anti-treaty IRA soldiers died in Co Sligo during the Civil War, including the Noble Six on Benbulben.
The National Army Plot in Sligo Cemetery has remained unmarked and unattended for most of the last 100 years.
Kieran Gillen, from the National Collins 22 Society, said the National Graves Association take care of the Republican dead but added, there was never a similar group to look after those who died on the Pro-Treaty side from the Civil War, approximately 750 soldiers.
Mr Gillen told RTÉ News the society is currently trying to locate, catalogue, and record the graves of soldiers of the National Army who died during the Civil War nationwide.
He said the event forms part of a legacy project of the decade of centenaries.
Watch: Memorial cross unveiled to remember Civil War soldiers in Sligo
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On the first Saturday of every month, the National Collins 22 Society choose a grave from either side of the Civil war in Glasnevin Cemetery and tend to the plot.
As part of the Decade of Centenaries, the Defence Forces digitised and released all Military Service between 1916-1923 as well as Pension Collection records.
These records, part of the Military Service (1916-1923) Pensions Collection, are available online through the Military Archives website.
The Military Archives have created a map that displays the location of each known fatality during the Civil War.
The records released detailed on the digital map are representative of deceased soldiers whose dependents made an application under the Army Pensions Acts, 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 Fatalities Map does not record all deaths from that period found in the Military Service Pensions Collection.
Deaths excluded consist of those not recognised as having taken place during, or arising from, active service; deaths of civilians and deaths not explicitly stated to have taken place as a result of the conflict.
The Military Archives have said as the work on the collection is ongoing, there may be further additions in the future.
The map currently shows the location of 1,077 people that were killed in the conflict including 662 Pro-Treaty and 415 Anti-Treaty casualties.
Rita Finn, a niece of James Byrne, said she learned about him after her father passed.
"It was a lovely ceremony. James lay in an unmarked grave for 100 years," she said.
Ms Finn said her sisters and brother "were able to have a plaque made in his name for the grave", adding the Sligo Men's Shed Group made "a beautiful cross in memory of all the dead".
Ms Finn’s sister, Jacinta Clarke, said the event meant a lot to her family.
"It’s lovely to see him remembered here and all the people that were killed in the war at the time," she said.
"It was a tough time on people," she added.
A member of the National Collins 22 Society said the work will continue as they plan to use the records released during the decade of centenaries to continue searching graveyards throughout the country for similar plots.
Kieran Gillen said: "The National Graves Association takes care of the republican side who died from Wolf Tone to the Anti-Treaty side during the Civil War.
"This is an attempt to remember the Pro-Treaty, Free State soldiers who died during the Irish Civil War."
Sligo County Librarian Dónal Tinney said each year the local authority supports a programme of events.
Mr Tinney said this event "was a legacy event from the Civil War period".
"We were able to realise today’s event with the help of Sligo Men’s Shed and local historian Kieran Gillen in commemoration of those who died," he said.
He added work will continue with another programme this year "such as the centenary of the 1925 local Government elections".
