Poem written in Reading Jail Dec 1916

Liam Langley was interned in Reading Jail from 11 July 1916 until 24 Dec 1916.  He was arrested in Tuam on Sunday 30th April 1916.  His route to Reading brought him through Tuam Barracks, Galway Prison, Richmond Barracks Dublin, Wakefield Prison, Frongoch North Wales and finally Reading.

The following poem was an entry in the Autograph Book of John Scollan a fellow internee.  The Autograph Book is held in the National Library of Ireland.

READING JAIL

22/XII/1916

Poem written in Reading Jail 1916

Oh, comrade dear, you’ve asked me here

To write a line for you:

This toast I’ll write, that when the fight

Will start, my comrades true

Will do or die, but never fly

Before a hireling band,

But will fight on, till breaks the dawn

Of Freedom o’er our land:

Here’s to the dear little Isle of Green,

And the men who would set her free;

Here’s to the day that will see her Queen,

Champion of Faith and Liberty.

And here’s to the downfall of England,

And the men who will strike the blow;

For long has she tried hard to crush us

To Hell! with vile Albion – our foe.

Liam T. Langley

Cptn I.R.A. & V.P. Na Fianna Eireann

Cloontho Road,

Tuam,

Co Glaway