Account Na Fianna Sluagh Tuam in The Irish Volunteer Newspaper Feb 1914

The Irish Volunteer First Edition 7 Feb 1914 Page 12
Account of Fianna Éireann John McHale Sluagh Tuam

On 7 February 1914 The Irish Volunteer movement launched its official newspaper titled The Irish Volunteer. The Irish Volunteer was a weekly newspaper mainly aimed at the membership of the Irish Volunteer organisation.  Along with providing news and political commentary, it had an important official function in disseminating official orders and announcements.  Developments of Na Fianna are given on page 12 of the first issue.

Liam Langley was a founder member and organiser of the Tuam Fianna Sluagh. The Tuam Sluagh was one of the first to be set up outside Dublin,, it was set up in 1911.  A report on the Sluagh written by Liam appeared in the newspaper of 7 Feb 1914:

The Irish Volunteer 7 Feb 1914

'The Tuam Fianna, called after JohnMcHale, are also making good progress.  A big sports, comprising 16 events, including the 100 yeads championship of Connacht, were brought off last October and proved a great success.  The sports for the year are now being organised, it being intended to hold them earlier in the year, probably during May.  A dramatic class is a great feature of this Sluagh, 'The Eloquent Dempsey' being the last piece staged.'

In his papers Liam Langley adds that 'An Examination Board consisting of Captain Padraic O'Riain, Lieutenant Sean MacAodha, Lieutenant A. De Faoite and the organiser (Liam Mellows) have been appointed to examine the boys throughout Irealnd in the Fianna Tests in order to secure uniformity.'

The full first edition of the newspaper can be accessed here.

Na Fianna Éireann Activities Tuam

Liam Langley was a founder member of Na Fianna Tuam, and continued to organise and train the Sluagh. Some of these activities are outlined in the reports below. In the year 1915/1916 Liam was Vice President of the Fianna organisation in Ireland.

The following reports were written by Liam Langley and published in the Irish Volunteer paper.

Report on Na Fianna Sluagh John McHale, Tuam Irish Volunteer Vol 1 14^th March 1914

‘The above held an interesting debate in ‘Freedom’ Hall, Tuam on Sunday 22 February 1914 at 8pm.  The subject was ‘The Fianna promise and to keep it’, the first of a series to be continued until the summer season calls the members once again to their natural element, the open air.  The proceedings were opened by the president.  A short concert then followed in which many of those present took part.  Before dismissal the members were reminded that drill took place on Wednesday and Friday evenings; football practice on Sunday mornings; route marching in uniform on Sunday afternoons and debate and concert on Sunday night, a record of the attendance of each member being accurately kept.  ‘Our Duty to Motherland’ was fixed as the subject of the next debate’ 

A further report is noted in a later edition of the paper:

'The members of Tuam Fianna have started the season’s work in earnest.  On Sunday week over thirty assembled for football on the Drill grounds at 10.30am where after match after match was played until 2pm.  At 3.30pm the Fianna left Tuam for Cloonasgra in two companies, one under the leadership of the President and the other under the command of Captain P. O’Daly; No. 1 Company arriving on the battleground half an hour before No.2, the enemy garrisoned on the hill, run up their colours, placed look-outs, and after taking cover cautiously approached the hill from different directions.  After half an hour’s fighting, several men having been lot on either side and many prisoners taken, the garrison was over-powered, the colours taken and the No.2 company declared victors.

An interesting debate took place in the Fianna Hall after Vespers, the subject being ‘Ireland’s and England’s Heroes: a Comparison’, P. O’Daly dealing with the first part and A. Leneghan with the second.  Such things as the recent Wexford Lifeboat tragedy, the Sidney Street battle and the baton charge in Dublin on Black Sunday came up for discussion.  The ranks are swelling and it is up to the boys of Tuam to stick to such a worthy organisation as the Fianna.'

Cover courtesy of Dublin City
Library on line collection

Guidelines for training Na Fianna were issued from Headquarters in Dublin.  This Fianna Handbook contains an introduction by one of the founders of the organisation Constance Markeivicz.  Instructions on drilling, handling a Lee-Enfield, first aid, and scouting are contained therein.

Notes on Na Fianna Training from Irish Volunteer December 18th 1915

Organising Na Fianna Éireann 1913

Postcard sent to Liam Mellows C/O Liam Langley at his home in Tuam.  The card was sent by Charles Branigan, Dundalk, in November 1913.  Liam Langley was a founding member of Na Fianna Éireann, Tuam, he set  up  the John NcHale Sluagh in 1911,  this was one of the first Sluagh set up outside Dublin following the founding of Na Fianna Éireann in 1909. Liam Langlay was made an officer in January 1912.   Liam Mellows often stayed in the Langley home in Tuam, Mellows helped organise and train the Sluagh in Tuam in the early days.

The card reads:

A Cara Díl,

I received your letter this morning and I may tell you that matters are looking better as far as the Fianna in Dundalk is concerned.  Seosamh is stopping until next Saturday 18th.  I will (talk) to you after our meeting on Wednesday night and explain our position. Cathal Brannigan Charles Branigan

An Evening of Entertainment Tuam December 1915

The Connacht Tribune 1 January 1916

Despite the fact that membership in the Irish Volunteers was severely depleted and they had to train almost in secret in Tuam following the split in the force, the support for nationalism was still evident in Tuam (Langley WS805).  Local organisers, including Liam Langley, ran events under different guises.  One such event is recorded in the Connacht Tribune on 1st January 1916.  They report that an 'entertainment' event was held in the Town Hall under the 'auspices of the Tuam Sports Committee' on 19th December 1915.  Irish dancing, recitation, a short drama, and musical performances were all on the programme for the the evening.The local Stockwell sisters were active in performing that evening.  There were a number of performers  from Athenry who had obviously come to support the 'Irish Ireland' cause in Tuam.  Liam, showing his cultural interest in Ireland, had a part in the short drama and recited a poem 'Brian Boy McGee' by Ethna Carbery.  

To the right is the full newspaper account of the evening's entertainment

The Connacht Tribune Front Page
1 January 1916

Setting up The Irish Volunteers Tuam Feb 1914

Notice sent by Liam Langley inviting people to a meeting to discuss setting up the Irish Volunteers in Tuam 1st February 1914.  The Irish version of Liam's name, U (Uilliam) T. O' Laonglach was used on this notice.

Liam Langley often wrote up extracts of interest relating to the progress of the Fianna and the Irish Volunteers in north County Galway from various publications.

The following is an extract from 'The Irish Volunteer'  of  21 February 1914.  An account of the above meeting is recorded in this extract.

At a Volunteer meeting held on Sunday, 8^th February 1914, the following were present: Messrs Butler, Stafford, O’Malley, Nolan, and Walsh, representing the A.O.H., Messrs Burke, Stockwell and Fahy, representing the I.N.F.;  Messrs Hare, Browne and Creedon, the G.A.A.;  Mr T. Sloyan, The U.I.L., and Messrs P. Daly and W. Langley, Na Fianna Eireann; Dr. T. B. Costello, Messrs McHugh, Donnellan, Cannon, Mullins, Roche, Kennedy, Forde & co.

Dr Costello presided and explained the business of the meeting.

Mr. Sloyan, the Secretary of the North Galway U.I.L. said that the League would back the movement to a man, and he added that he was sure the same spirit was abroad in Ireland today as that which fought in Clontarf, at the Yellow Ford and on the field of Fontenoy and which started the Volunteer movement in 1782, and he urged them to go ahead in Tuam and fall in with their rest of their countrymen.

A committee was then formed to start the Volunteers in Tuam on a firm basis. (Vol. 1; No. 3; 21 February 1914)

A.O.H Ancient Order of Hibernians
I.N.F. Irish National Foresters
G.A.A. Gaelic Athletic Association
U.I.L. United Irish League

Irish Volunteers Training Camp An Coosan, Athlone 1915

To give themselves practice in simulated fighting conditions, the Volunteers regularly held manoeuvres.  To this end in September 1915 Liam attended a three week training camp which  was held at Coosan, Athlone.  Here intense training was undertaken by participants.  

'The first week was devoted to simple drill movements and  tactical exercises, scouting expeditions as well as communications and signalling.  The second week was spent on strenuous marches and much more vigorous drills and exercises. The Volunteers marched to the vicinity of Galway City where exercises were staged with the local Volunteers. On route there was even some real life drama.  One day after a tenant gave the Volunteers permission to pitch camp, his landlord ordered them off the site.  They refused to move and serious sentry duty was required that night to ensure their safety' (Gialanella Valiulis 1992 p.10). 

BMH Statement WSO563 Michael Cremen

Portrait of a Revolutionary: General Richard Mulcahy and the Founding of the Irish Free State
 By Maryann Gialanella Valiulis 1992

AN COOSAN TRAINING CAMP SEPTEMBER 1915

L to R: William Mullins, Richard Mulcahy Sean Lester, Unknown, Donal Barrett, Terence McSwiney, John Griffin, Pierce McCann, Liam T Langley, Austin Stack.

Reprinted from: Maire MacSwiney Brugha, History’s Daughter, A Memoir from the only child of Terence MacSwiney, P.280.

Bottom two photographs An Cosantoir, The Irish Defence Journal, February 1989

Tuam Stars GAA Club and the Irish Volunteers March 1914

Tuam Stars Gaelic Football Team

Liam Langley standing left in suit and hat.

In the absence of photocopiers and scanners Liam often typed up items and articles that interested him.  He typed up many extracts from the 'Irish Volunteer' relating to the progress of the Fianna and the Irish Volunteers in North County Galway.

Extract from the ‘Irish Volunteers’  Vol.1, No. 8 March 28 1914

Tuam Football Club Enrolls

A meeting of the above club was held in the Town Hall on Friday March 13^th.  In the absence of the President, Mr. P.M. Ryan, the chair was taken by Mr. Denis Creedon, V/P. Also present:  Messrs. F.Fore, M.Naughton, Tom Nipton, Tom Commins, E. O’Connor, T. Ryan, Frank Farrell, James Burke and W. Cannon, Hon. Sec.

The following resolution was passed on the motion of the Secretary seconded by the Chairman:-

“That as the National Volunteer movement in its contribution and aims merits the support of every member of the G.A.A., it is henceforth made a rule that every member of the Tuam Star Football Club shall become a member of the Tuam Volunteer Corps, attend its drills and bear arms in pursuance of its objects”.

After some discussion it was decided to hold the next meeting in the Town Hall on Friday evening at one o’clock.

Na Fianna Éireann Football Match

Na Fianna Éireann Tuam
going to a match
Photo from Tuam Stars: 

Thomas Nohilly (WS1437) in his witness statement recounts the journey from a Fianna Éireann match, perhaps this is the team on the cart above!

'We travelled about a good deal to football matches and concerts, and on those journeys we were always followed by two members of the R.I.C. on bicycles.  On one occasion, after a football match in Dunmore, we were returning to Tuam by brake, accompanied as usual by two R.I.C. on bicycles.  One of the two hung on to the brake as he cycled along, to hear what was being talked about, but one of our number carrying the tricolour hit him with the flagstaff until he was forced to let go of his hold.' 

Na Fianna Éireann Ard Fheiseanna

Na Fianna Eireann Ard Fheis July 1913

Liam Langley standing 3rd to left of Countess Markievicz

Behind Sean Heuston

Close up of Fianna Ard Fheis 1913

Liam Langley 2nd row with girls hands 

on his shoulders standing behind 

Sean Heuston

Na Fianna Eireann Ard Fheis
July 1915 Mansion House Dublin
Laim Langley second row seated fourth
from left arms folded

Ard Fheis 1915

Left to right Barney Mellows, Gary Holohan

Sean Heuston, Liam Langley

Ard Fheis 1919

Liam Langley middle row standing 2nd from rigtht

Activities of Tuam Company, Tuam Battalion, Irish Volunteers, Co. Galway, 1914-1916

Liam Langley was a central figure in the preparation leading up to and the maneuvers in Tuam during Easter Week 1916.  An account of their activities is given in the Witness Statement 1437 of Thomas Nohilly,  Company Captain. Battalion Adjutant.

‘My first association with the national movement was in the year 19l14 when I joined Fianna Eireann in Tuam. Liam Mellows was the first organiser of the Fianna in Tuam, and when he had complete the organising work, Liam Langley, afterwards head of the Fianna in Dublin, took charge. Our strength was about thirty-five, and the majority were apprentices serving their time as shop assistants in various business houses in the town. We did our training about a mile outside the town, near the village of Cluainthoo, in a field owned by William Concannon who charged us no rent. Our training was under the supervision of Liam Langley, and consisted of some foot drill and arms drill with .22 rifles. We also had target practice once a week with the .22 rifles. We organised football matches and sports meetings. At one of our sports meetings in Tuam, I remember that special trains were run from Galway City, Gort and Claremorris. I remember that, on this occasion, Larry Lardner from Athenry afterwards one of the leaders of the County Galway Volunteers during Easter Week 1916 was handicapper. We had a revolver as one of the prizes.

Meetings of the I.R.B. were held in Connolly's forge in High Street. I cannot remember anything of the meetings except that Liam Langley presided at them. As far as I know, he was head centre for the whole North Galway area. Other members of the I.R.B. I remember from that time were Thomas Kilgarriff, afterwards Brigade I.0., North Galway brigade, Con Kennedy of Dunmore and John Costello of Killower, and two brothers named Connolly who owned the forge where the meetings were held.

Reading Jail - Prison Record 1916

PRISON RECORD - READING PRISON
11 July 1916 - 24 December 1916

Langley was arrested on Monday May 8th 1916 at 4.30am.  The local RIC surrounded his house on Cloonthoo Road Tuam and brought both his mother and Langley to the barracks for questioning.  Margaret Langley was released, Liam was then transferred to Galway prison.  On Friday 12 May he was moved to Richmond Barracks, Dublin.  On June 1st he was marched up tehe quay in Dublin with fellow prisoners and loaded on cattle boats which were bound for England.  On June 2nd he arrived in Wakefield Prison, from there he was moved to Frongoch, North Wales.  On 11 July Liam Langley was moved to Reading Prison where he was interned under the Defence of the Realm Act |(DORA).  On Christmas Eve 1916 he was released from Reading.