Sons of the Sod: A Tale of County Down

Based on actual events in mid-Nineteenth Century County Down, Sons of the Sod tells the story of how a young man from the Carrowdore area is falsely accused of the attempted murder of a local squire. First published in 1886, the book proved an instant success locally as it dealt with affairs still within living memory and referred to many colourful characters and families of the neighbourhood. The importance of the work today is not least because it provides possibly the best account of what life and the language of the ordinary folk, or “Sons of the Sod”, was like at that period. An attempted eviction, a funeral, a wake, a wedding, sport and dances are all described within its pages. This new edition includes an introduction to the author and his work, footnotes, and a select glossary of words.