Irish Volunteers Tuam 1914

Tuam Battalion Irish Volunteers drilling in Parkmore Tuam 1914 under
S. Shaughnessy & P. Flanagan

Liam Langley left almost at end of the line with 'straw hat'

Handwritten caption by Liam Langley

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 Gaeilge Training Camp Portmarknock 1920

Na Fianna Irish language training camp
Portmarknock 1920
Photo taken by Liam Langley

In his role as Director of Organisation and Education (1918-1921) Liam Langley taught the Irish language. In 1920 he organised an Irish Language training camp in Portmarknock. Fianna members learned the Irish language and Irish history as well as participating in drill and route marching. Fianna members also learned signalling, first aid and other scouting skills such as map reading, path-finding and camping.




Langley took numerous photos of Na Fianna.  He liked people to be 'doing something' in the photos. Note the men back row one with a mallet, the person to his right pouring a cup of tea.  There are also two people 'playing frying pans'. Many of those in the picture have a badge in their right lapel, this may be The Fáinne, a gold pin worn to signify fluency and identification with the Irish language.

Na Fianna Officers Training Camp Loughlinstown 1921

Na Fianna Officers training camp Loughlinstown 1921

 Liam Langley left of centre standing talking to another officer head down on left 

Countess Markiewicz

Countess Markiewicz in Fianna Éireann uniform

Photo taken by Liam Langley possibly in her home Surrey House, Rathmines.

Held in Langley Private Collection

Copywirght

COUNTESS MARKIEVICZ

Countess Markievicz (Polish: Markiewicz; née Gore-Booth; 4 February 1868 – 15 July 1927)  founder of Na Fianna Éireann, a revolutionary, nationalist, suffragette, socialist, and  an Irish Sinn Féin and Fianna Fáil politician.  In December 1918, she was the first woman elected to the British House of Commons, though she did not take her seat and, along with the other Sinn Féin TDs, formed the first Dáil Éireann. She was also one of the first women in the world to hold a cabinet position (Minister for Labour of the Irish Republic, 1919–1922).

Tuam early 1900's

This picture features of group of men from Tuam early 1900's.    Liam Langley is in the second row second from right. Langley worked as a bookkeeper in McTigue's, Maher's and Fahy's stores in Tuam in the early 1900.  This may be a photo of the staff from one or other of these shops.

Another Tuam group outside Fahy's shop.  Liam Langley centre front.

Old Postcard of Tuam early 1900s

Seamus Nestor Na Fianna Éireann

Seamus Nestor

‘C’ Comp 2^nd Batt Dublin Brigade 1916-21 Fianna Éireann

1^st Batt Dublin Brigade IRA 1921/22

Seamus Nestor C.1930
Photo Liam Langley

'While a pupil in St. Patrick’s School, Drumncondra, Dublin, Seamus Nestor joined Fianna Éireann upon it’s re-organisation after the Easter Rising in 1916.  He was attached to Sean Heuston Sluagh, afterwards ‘C’ Company of the 2^nd Battalion, Dublin Brigade.  For almost three years he was just an ordinary member of the Fianna.  After passing through all his tests and being noted for punctuality and regular attendance on parades at lectures and camps, he was appointed Quartermaster of his Company at the end of 1919; in this capacity he attended classes in Musketry Instruction held by the I.R.A., afterwards imparting these instructions to Fianna on the use of small arms and grenades.  About this time he took part in a raid for cycles on the Central Telegraph Office.  Fifty machines were taken from the stores.

In 1920 he was appointed 1^st Lieutenant.  He was then one of the squad told off for special intelligence work in connection with enemy spy activities.

In May 1921 he was in an armed engagement with Crown Forces:  Accompanied by two others they served as covering party opposing a raid by British Military on a Fianna Camp at Finglas.  Armed with revolvers their fire held off the enemy until all the Fianna in camp, about sixty, had escaped.  Seamus visited the area on the following day and found the British Military still in the vicinity of King James’s Castle.  As he was returning he met a Dispatch Rider, whom he know, attached to the Department of Home Affairs, on his way to shift a dump at the Castle.  Despite the warning and advice given by Seamus the other insisted in taking a chance, having first handed over his dispatches which were addressed to Austin Stack, The Minister of Home Affairs, and were duly delivered.  At the time the capture of these documents would have been a very serious matter indeed.  The Dispatch Rider was arrested by the British Military, court-martialled and sentenced to a long term of imprisonment.  This arrest took place on 24^th May 1921.

Following these incidents the services of Seamus Nestor were immediately requisitioned by Commandant P. Holohan and he was transferred as Assistant Battalion Quartermaster to the 1^st Battalion, Dublin Brigade of the I.R.A.  In this capacity he was responsible for the purchase, custody and distribution of arms and the inspection of arms dumps in the area.  He had also to ensure that Company Quartermasters submitted full returns of arms and ammunition after armed attacks.  He served in this capacity to the end of hostilities.

During the Truce, his works as Q.M’s Assistant, if not so risky, remained just as heavy.  There was Camp Training at Mulhuddart, night manoeuvres and duties in connection with carnivals as a fund raising campaign, as well as continuing to purchase arms whenever possible.  Following on the Belfast purge, as part of his duties, he was responsible for the billeting and feeding of refugees from that city.  He took part in many raids for Belfast goods and did much duty at Fowler Hall.

During the last occupation of the Four Courts he was responsible for the transport of arms to and from there for Battalion use.  During the attach and bombardment of the Four Courts when the street fighting commenced in the area, Seamus, under the supervision of Quarter Master Corliss, undertook the collection of arms and ammunition from dumps and distributed them amongst the different garrisons.

On the 28^th June 1922 he reported to 44 Parnell Square and during the week he served at the Duke of Leinster’s house in Dominick Street and at Jenkins’ of Capel Street where the Garrison surrendered.

He was imprisoned in Wellington Barracks, ‘B’ Wing, Mountjoy Prison and transferred to Newbridge Barracks in January 1923; he took part in the mass hunger strike and was released in December 1923.

He joined the Irish Press staff in 1931, later becoming Limerick Branch Manager until he retired through ill health in 1954.  His death took place in Limerick on 23^rd March 1956.

Liam Langley
Battalion Commandant 2^nd (North Dublin) Battalion
Staff HQ Director Organisation and Education

23.7.57

Extracts from the account of Sean Nestor typed up by 

Liam Langley dated 23 July 1957

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.  

Above is the original of the 'selfie',  Liam lined up his camera and took this photo of himself!

Daughter Ita c.1933

Son Jarlath c.1930

Unknown people, old glass plate from Liam's collection
Possibly Tuam c.1915

   LANGLEY FAMILY C.1942

Liam's wife Mollie standing, her sister Bree sitting
Children L to R Brendan, Nuala, Ita, Mairead, Jarlath 
Photo Liam Langley

With eldest daughter Ita around 1952

Family

Liam with daughter Ita late 1940s

Sons Brendan front centre, Jarlath left
Tuam 1941 25 Anniversary of 1916 Rising

Liam right with sons Brendan & Jarlath 1941

Jarlath, Ita, Mollie, Mairead, Nuala, Brendan