LIAM LANGLEY: Family

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Saturday, 14 May 2016

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.

Monday, 26 October 2015

Margaret Langley (nee Cavanagh) - Liam's Mother

Kathleen,and May Langley Liam's 2nd cousins
with Margaret Langley

For mother's of the era life was not easy. For Liam's mother it was particularly hard as she had no family in Ireland to support her and Liam was an only child. Margaret left for Australia in 1866 as a baby. On the journey over her mother passed away and was buried at sea, her father who was heading to 'the diggings' gave her up for adoption. In 1892 Margaret, Michael, Liam's father,and Liam came back to Ireland and settled in Tuam. Following Michael's death in 1906, Margaret was supportive of Liam's activities, she often had Liam Mellows stay and allowed their home to be used to store Na Fianna and Irish Volunteer uniforms, ammunition, guns and incriminating documents. She was arrested along with Liam on May 8th 1916 but released after questioning. During Liam's time interned in England, May 8th - 24th December 1916 she was supported by Liam's 2nd cousins who lived in Loughrea. The Langley's of Loughrea, cousins William, Joseph, James, John Vincent, Mary (May), Catherine (Kathleen) and Elizabeth were all very close to Liam and Margaret, they were the only family he had in Ireland.

Following release from Reading Jail, December 1916, Liam relocated to Dublin. By April 1917 Margaret and Liam were living in Phibsborough. Again she supported his endeavours and got to know other mothers of the Volunteers and Na Fianna. During Liam's period of internment in Mountjoy and Newbridge, August 1922 - December 1923 Margaret wrote many letters to him, took home his washing and sent him parcels. Having no family in Dublin she became close to the Gary and Paddy Holohan's mother who lived nearby. Liam's friends and associates in Na Fianna and the Volunteers (IRA) were very supportive of her during his incarceration.

Margaret's house was ransacked by the Free State Army shortly after his arrest. She was alone at the time. All of Liam's belongings were taken out of the house and dumped on the street. Documents and personal belongings were confiscated. Subsequent to this event Margaret got a large dog or a 'four footed beast' as she described him. In one of her letters to Liam, in prison, she says she was 'thinking about getting a set of harness and a small trap' for the dog to 'carry all the parcels from place to place'. Fittingly Margaret called her new cormpanion 'Kangaroo'!

Margaret was constantly in correspondence with her family and friends in Australia. She missed both dearly and always wanted to return to her home in Australia. When Liam married Mollie they cared for Margaret in Avondale Ave until she passed away in 1929 never having fulfilled her dream to visit Australia again.

Friday, 25 September 2015

Mollie Langley (nee Kelly)

Liam married Mary Kelly (Mollie) on 4th July 1927 in the Church of Our Lady of the Visitation, Fairview, Dublin 3. His friend Barney Mellows was his best man.
Liam and Mary had 6 children, one of whom died in infancy. Two of his children married, there are 14 grandchildren.
Currently there are 29 great grandchildren and 2 great, great grandchildren.
During his time interned in Newbridge Mollie sent many letters to Liam. She did her best to keep his spirits up in extremely difficult times. Mollie and her sister Kathleen kept watch for Liam's release, firstly outside Mountjoy where Liam was help until 31 Dec 1922. Instead of release he was sent to Newbridge internment camp on New Year's Eve 1922. Both women kept up the watch going to Amiens Street train station on a daily basis to see if he appeared on the train bringing released prisoners up from Kildare. Mollie and Kathleen took turns with one of them watching the afternoon train and the other the evening train. The prisoners were released without warning and thus could not advise relatives that they were on the way home. Liam's release did not come until after he spent time on hunger strike along with other Republican internees. Liam was released from Newbridge Internment Camp on 14 Dec 1923.

Mollie and Liam Wedding Photo 4th July 192

Mollie, centre back, with her parents,
brothers and sisters
(Photo Liam Langley)

Mollie and Liam late 1950s

Monday, 20 April 2015

Wedding Photos

Liam married Mary Kelly (Mollie) on 4th July1927 in the Church of Our Lady of the Visitation, Fairview, Dublin 3.

Wedding Party
Liam and Mollie seated centre,

Seated front right Lawrence Kelly, Mollie's Father;

Seated second from left Margaret Langley (nee Cavanagh),

Liam's mother; best man Barney Mellows left of Liam

Mollie and Liam bride and groom,
Kathleen Kelly (sister Mollie) bridesmaid,
Barney Mellows bestman

Friday, 17 April 2015

CONNECTING PAST AND PRESENT

Richmond Barracks local School Flag presented by Great Granddaughter of Liam Langley

As part of the 1916 celebrations each primary school in Ireland is being presented with a Tricolour and Proclamation at a special ceremony in the school. Richmond Barracks local school was presented with theirs by Capt Ciara Ní Ruairc great granddaughter of Liam Langley, she also read the Proclamation. This is a reminder of the time Liam was imprisoned in Richmond May 12th until June 1st 1916 after which he was interned in Frongoch and Reading.

“If the saga of Easter Week is seen as a drama – the first act of which is centered on the GPO and the last act of the executions in Kilmainham Gaol, then the penultimate act was played out in Richmond Barracks.”

Photography

From an early age Liam was a keen photographer. He took many photographs of friends and neighbours in Tuam and later of his family. A number of his glass plates have survived the various raids on his home by both the RIC and Free State Army as well as the many house moves during his life.