Margaret Langley (nee Cavanagh) - Liam's Mother

Kathleen,and May Langley Liam's 2nd cousins
with Margaret Langley

For mother's of the era life was not easy.  For Liam's mother it was particularly hard as she had no family in Ireland to support her and Liam was an only child.  Margaret left for Australia in 1866 as a baby.  On the journey over her mother passed away and was buried at sea, her father who was heading to 'the diggings' gave her up for adoption.  In 1892 Margaret, Michael, Liam's father,and Liam came back to Ireland and settled in Tuam.  Following Michael's death in 1906, Margaret was supportive of Liam's activities, she often had Liam Mellows stay and allowed their home to be used to store Na Fianna and Irish Volunteer uniforms, ammunition, guns and incriminating documents. She was arrested along with Liam on May 8th 1916 but released after questioning.  During Liam's time interned in England, May 8th - 24th December 1916 she was supported by Liam's 2nd cousins who lived in Loughrea.  The Langley's of Loughrea, cousins William, Joseph, James, John Vincent, Mary (May), Catherine (Kathleen) and Elizabeth were all very close to Liam and Margaret, they were the only family he had in Ireland.

Following release from Reading Jail, December 1916, Liam relocated to Dublin.  By April 1917 Margaret and Liam were living in Phibsborough.  Again she supported his endeavours and got to know other mothers of the Volunteers and Na Fianna. During Liam's period of internment in Mountjoy and Newbridge, August 1922 - December 1923 Margaret wrote many letters to him, took home  his washing and sent him parcels.  Having no family in Dublin she became close to the Gary and Paddy Holohan's mother who lived nearby.  Liam's friends and associates in Na Fianna and the Volunteers (IRA) were very supportive of her during his incarceration. 

Margaret's house was ransacked by the Free State Army shortly after his arrest.  She was alone at the time.  All of Liam's  belongings were taken out of the house and dumped on the street.  Documents and personal belongings were confiscated.  Subsequent to this event Margaret got a large dog or a 'four footed beast' as she described him.  In one of her letters to Liam, in prison, she says she was 'thinking about getting a set of harness and a small trap' for the dog to 'carry all the parcels from place to place'.  Fittingly Margaret called her new cormpanion 'Kangaroo'!

Margaret was constantly in correspondence with her family and friends in Australia.  She missed both dearly  and always wanted to return to her home in Australia.  When Liam married Mollie they cared for Margaret in Avondale Ave until she passed away in 1929 never having fulfilled her dream to visit Australia again.