EASTER WEEK 1916

It is easy to forget that all around the country in small towns and villages Volunteers had drilled and practised for a Rebellion for more than two years.  The Volunteers in Tuam were no different, despite a depleted group following the ‘split’ and not having a great deal of local support the Tuam Volunteers still came out for manoeuvres during Easter Week 1916. MacNeill’s countermanding added confusion to the situation, communication difficulties and surveillance by the R.I.C. forced the Tuam Volunteers to disband at daybreak Wednesday 26^th April 1916.  The following is an account of their activities and Liam Langley’s involvement during that week.

Barney Mellows, Gary Holohan, Sean Heuston, Liam Langley

The situation in Galway was no different to that in the rest of the country in the week prior to Easter Sunday.  Rumours were rife that something was happening although no firm word was coming through as to what exactly the plans were. Dispatches crisscrossed the country with messages and instructions. .  One courier to arrive in Athenry was Margaret Brown (later Mrs Sean McEntee) who came on Holy Thursday with a dispatch from Sean MacDiarmada (WS322).  Witness statements suggest that the plan was to take control of local RIC barracks and to use the captured weapons in any ensuing military action. According to John Hosty’s statement there was confusion over the order, a meeting was held of commandants and captains of the Irish Volunteers (all were also IRB members) to decide what to do, Liam Langley (Centre, IRB Circle North Galway, O/C Tuam Company, Galway Brigade IV, VP Na Fianna Éireann)  was in attendance. John Hosty was dispatched to Dublin on the mail train at midnight to see Eoin MacNeill (Irish Volunteers) and confirm whether the order was genuine or not. However George Nichols (Solicitor and IRB Centre Galway) secretly requested Hosty to go straight to Pearse and advise him what was happening in Galway and get clear instruction as to how to proceed (IRB) (Hosty, WS373). However by Saturday night most battalions in Galway were aware that they were being called out for major muster on Easter Sunday.

Eoin MacNeill’s subsequent countermanding on Holy Saturday night put a stop to activities. His message was published in the national papers on Easter Sunday morning, it read, ‘all parades of Volunteers arranged for the weekend were cancelled’.  On Saturday evening/night dispatches were also sent around the country by McNeill with the order.  McNeill’s order led to confusion and uncertainty in Galway, Tuam and around the country in general (Dunleavy, WS1489).    

Irish Volunteers Tuam 1914

Tuam Battalion Irish Volunteers drilling in Parkmore Tuam 1914 under
S. Shaughnessy & P. Flanagan

Liam Langley left almost at end of the line with 'straw hat'

Handwritten caption by Liam Langley