Na Fianna and Volunteers Composite Council 1920

As the War of Independence escalated it was recognised that a common military policy would be of benefit to both the Volunteers (now the official army of the Republic) and Na Fianna. Negotiations between the Department of Defence and Fianna Headquarters Staff  resulted in an agreement between the two groups in December 1920.

As a result of this agreement a Composite Council was set up comprising three G.H.Q. Officers of the Fianna - Barney Mellows, Adjutant-General, Garry Holohan, Q.M.G.  0/C. Brigade and Liam Langley, Director of Organisation; and three G.H.Q. Officers of the Irish Volunteers -  Dermot O’Hegarty, Gearóid O’Sullivan, and Bob Price. The function of the Composite Council was to ensure smooth co-operation between the Volunteers and Na Fianna. The meetings of the composite council were presided over by the Minister for Defence, Cathal Brugha, or someone nominated by him. The council at once addressed itself to the situation in the capital and instructed that Na Fianna’s Dublin Brigade be re-organised into five Battalions corresponding to the structure of the Volunteers in the city.

It also discussed in detail the practical implications of the partnership, agreeing procedures which were circulated to all companies by Fianna’s Adjutant General, Barney Mellows.   Within a month of the companies receiving Mellows’ memorandum the British had captured documents of Collins that referred to the Council decisions and were aware of the imminent ‘linking up’ of the two organisations.

Account of Composite Council typed and signed by Liam Langley

Witness statements Joseph Reynolds WS 0191 and Gearoid Ua h-Uallachain WS0336, 

John Watts, A Case Study of a Political Youth Organisation Na Fianna Éireann, University of Glasgow.

Statement Arrest Sean MacDiarmuid Tuam May 1915

Liam Langley's statement to the Bureau of Military History 1913-1921 in relation to the arrest of Sean MacDiarmuid.  This is the only statement Liam gave despite being involved in activities from the early 1900's up to the end of this period.  He maintained a dignified silence in relation to his involvement.  However a careful reading of this statement gives an insight into the difficulties encountered by the Nationalist movement in Tuam following the split in the Volunteers in the time preceding the 1916 Rising

Bureau of Military History

Mentions of Liam T Langley in Witness Statements

National Activities North Galway 1913-1921 John D Costello click here

Statement  Liam Langley re arrest Sean MacDiarmuid Tuam May 1915 by R.I.C.

Statement  Activities of Tuam Company, Irish Volunteers Tuam Battalion, Irish Volunteers, Galway 1914-1921 Thomas Nohilly

Statement of Patrick Dunlevy activities of Irish Volunteers Tuam Battalion Galway 1916

Statement John Hosty activities Galway and Tuam 1910-16

Mrs Austin Stack biographical note on her husband - An Coosan IV Training Camp Athlon 1915

Statement of Michael O'Droighneain Galway 1916

Statement  Michael Ryan Tuam Battalion 1916

Statement  William O'Brien Reading Jail 1916

Statement  Ernest Blythe Reading Jail 1916

Statement  Sean Saunders activities 1917-1921

Statement  Sean Saunders re Dept of Local Government 1919-1921

Statement  Gary Holohan activities 1917-1921

Statement  Joseph Reynolds 1917-1921

Statement  Michael McDunphy 1921

Statement Harry Colley 1917-1921

Statement Major General Hugo MacNeill Organisation Na Fianna Éireann 1917-1921


Irish Volunteers, Tuam, Galway, 1913-1921 Sean O'Neill.  This is a very detailed statement consisting of 112 pages.  It is also an excellent social history of the era.