Sean O'Neill in his witness statement recounts a visit to Dublin of the Tuam Sluagh Na Fianna Éireann organised by Liam Langley (WS1219):
'Under the leadership of Liam Langley about twenty of
us went to Dublin. When we reached the city and saw O'Connell's tower as we
passed Glasnevin and the big buildings, it was an awe-inspiring sight. Our
guide insisted that we must see the monuments. We saw a great bulky man with a
cloak on him on an edifice in Sackville Street who we were informed was "O'Connell, the Liberator".
Burke and Father Matthew were here too and Oliver Goldsmith. Parnell was impressive. His dignified
demeanour and with his right hand extended seemed to greet us. The towering
pinnacle of Nelson - the one-eyed English Admiral, was a challenge to all this,
and we felt we could have blasted him out of the centre of the city!
It was only when we reached the home of, Countess
Markievicz of Rathmines, that my mental equilibrium returned to normal. Here
all of us from Tuam were entertained and put up for the night. And as that
vivacious lady conversed with us, and principally with our leader Liam Langley,
we felt we were in a sort of paradise. I
can recall one memorable remark, "I hope the day is not far distant when I
shall see those Red Coats swept into the Liffey".
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| Liam Langley (top) Con Colbert 1913 |
Indeed, before we met the Countess we saw scores of
those red-coated soldiers sitting on the Liffey wall or hanging over O'Connell
Bridge, or swaggering around, cane in hand, at street corners in their gaudy
dress of Saxon red. Our Chief Scout - Madame – kept the Tuam Sluagh enthralled
with her conversation and stories. I clearly remember the face of James Connolly there. He was pointed out to me by Liam
Langley.
During our stay in Dublin we visited Fianna
Headquarters. Here we
met Con Colbert. To me Colbert was, what I might term, a keen, energetic
sort of genius who meant business, business without frills. Seán Heuston we also met, and with his genial
smile he greeted us, and happiness radiated from his
countenance when we entered the office. They were both in Fianna uniform.
We also held
a picnic on the Hill of Howth overlooking that beautiful bay.
At night we attended a concert in the Mansion House.
And here I saw for the first time a man smartly dressed in Volunteer uniform. For
no other purpose, I presume, than to show himself or, more precisely, his
uniform he stepped out smartly before the footlights and got a thunderous
applause. His uniform was, I think, of dark green material made up in the
fashion of an American or Canadian outfit. A pair of green puttees and Sam
Browne belt completed his attire. The Volunteer Officer (or Private) was, I
think, Pierce Beasley.'
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| Barney Mellows, Gary Holohan, Sean Heuston, Liam Langley 1915 Na Fianna Ard Fheis |
