Postcard from Richmond Barracks May 14 1916

Liam Langley was arrested at 4.30am on Monday May 8th 1916 in his home in Tuam.  He was transferred to Richmond Barracks Dublin on Friday 12 May.  This is a postcard he wrote on Sunday 14 May 1916 to his mother, Margaret, a widow, left on her own  in Tuam following her son's arrest. 

The contents of the card are very interesting as Langley makes many references to his fellow comrades from Tuam and Galway telling his mother what has happened to them.  His reference to the 'sea side' is alluding to the Volunteers who were arrested around Galway and held on the British ship HMS Gloucester which was moored in Galway Bay during East Week 1916.  

TRANSCRIPT OF POSTCARD

Wm. T. Langley (of Tuam)

C/O Officer I/C Prisoners

Richmond Barracks

Dublin

Dear Mother

Got here on Friday, things looking brighter. Asquith and Redmond here yesterday, so we are now allowed to write and receive letters and parcels addressed as above. P Dunleavy* here, yet Joe C (Cummins)* sent to England, no news of J Forde I met ??? brother from Clonmel and I see a brother of P. O’Daly** has been deported.  An officer came and said we would be allowed legal aid, so I gave him Mr H Concannon’s name, and he has been written to and may be tried on Wednesday next.  It looks as if a Good Home Rule Bill is only a question of days.  You might send me a collar & tie. How is everybody in Tuam?  Have any more been taken to the seaside? We got Mass at 11 today in the Barrack Square. Things are much better than in Galway Prison and the officers and men are as nice as can be expected.  Several men let home today.  So hope on. With best love I am yours 

                                                             Willie

                                                             Sunday 14 May 1916

*Patrick Dunleavy and Joseph Cummins were both arrested on in the early hours of Easter Wednesday morning as the Tuam volunteers were making their way to Athenry.  

John Forde (later Sean)  was born in Tuam, friend and comrade of Liam. A member of Fianna Eireann and the Irish Volunteers Forde was active in Dublin during the 1916 Rising, 

**P. O'Daly (Paddy or Patrick) spent time in Tuam 1913/14. Fought under Ned Daly in 1916. Interned in Frongoch. Later became leader of Michael Collin's Squad and Major General Irish National Army 1922-24.

Liam Langley Arrest Following Easter Rising - Tuam May 8th 1916

"Sensational Arrest at Tuam" - Western People Newspaper, 13th May 1916

Western People Newspaper 13 May 1916

On Saturday 29 April, five days after the rising in Galway had begun, the remaining 350 men in Limepark were advised to return to their homes protecting themselves as best they could as they went.  Liam  Langley remained in Limepark with Mellows to ensure he got out safely.  Langley points out that Mellows and his men's escape was made possible as a result of the activities of Langley and his men in Tuam. Their presence and activities kept extra Police in the Tuam area who would otherwise have been sent to intercept the late Liam Mellows and his men (Langley written account).  At  4.30am on Sunday 7th May the Langley home surrounded by R.I.C men they arrested Liam and his mother Margaret.  Guns, ammunition and Sein Fein documents were confiscated in the raid. Both were brought to Galway for questioning, Margaret Langley was released and Liam taken into custody. (Note: police records show date of arrest as May 7th).

Liam's own account of arrest and internment.  

Liam added in writing 'my revolver and some ammunition taken at the same time

From  Galway Jail. he was moved to Dublin  He arrived in Richmond Barracks Dublin on Friday 12 May 1916 (as per Postcard written to his mother from Richmond Barracks).  On June 1st he was marched to the quays with many other prisoners, there they were loaded on cattle boats and shipped to England. They were then sent to various prosons across England.

INTERNMENT
Liam Langley’s next  destination was Wakefield prison where he arrived on June 2nd 1916 (Records).  In Wakefield Langley was kept in solitary confinement with Terence McSweeney and John McBride.  He was kept apart from the other prisoners when being sent to Frongoch (Langley written account).  On the 11 July Liam was moved to Reading Prison where he was interned under the Defence of Realm Act (Prison Record:Ref:P/RP1/1/9) . Reading was the prison of internment to between thirty and forty men who were considered by the authorities to be the leaders and extremists of The Rising of Easter Week 1916; they thus required more supervision than other prisoners (Murphy, M., 2014, Political Imprisonment and the Irish 1912-2; Eamon Morkan, WS411).  In Reading Liam Langley was interned with people such as: Ernest Blythe, Arthur Griffith, P.T. Daly, an old Fenian organiser; Thomas McCurtain, Terry MacSwiney, Seamus Robinson, Tom Craven, Frank Burke, Darrel Figgis, George Nicholls (Solicitor, Galway & IRB Centre, Galway), Sean Milroy, Peadar, O’Hanrachan, Alderman Cole of Dublin, William O’Brien, Alfie Cotton, Dennis McCullough, Pierce McCann, Hertbert Moore Pim, Michael Brennan, Eamon O’Dwyer, Joe Robinson, Dr Dundon, Henry Dixon, Ginger O’Donnell, Sean T. O’Kelly and Peadar O’Hannrachan (Blythe, WS939).  Liam organised Irish languages classes in Reading for the Internees.  He also became involved in planning the next stage of the fight for Irish freedom.   Liam was released on 24 December 1916 under a general amnesty.