“My grandfather, William (Willie, Liam) Langley, who was born in Sydney, Australia in 1888. His father, originally from Athenry, had left Ireland to work on the ‘diggin’s’
in Queensland. In 1892, he and his wife, along with Liam, made the arduous journey back to Ireland, arriving back with little or nothing following the theft of most of their belongings in Southampton en route. The family settled in Tuam, County Galway, where Liam attended the Presentation Convent and then the local Christian Brothers school. He was very interested in the Irish language, history and folklore. As a member of the Gaelic League he came into contact with many important figures of the era. In 1911 Liam started a branch of Na Fianna Éireann in Tuam, later setting up a unit of the Irish Volunteers in the town. Liam was also a leading member of the IRB in North Galway. He organised the Volunteers in Tuam to come out during Easter Week 1916, and continued the fight further south in Galway, in Athenry, with Liam Mellows. After being arrested
in Tuam, Liam was incarcerated in a number of prisons, including Richmond Barracks, Dublin; Frongoch, Wales; and finally Reading, England, where the main leaders and men considered extremists were held. Following his release in December 1916, Liam relocated to Dublin, where he continued his involvement with Na Fianna and the Volunteers. Liam was involved in the War of Independence, and worked closely with Michael Collins in the newly established Department of Finance. Liam took the Anti Treaty side during the Civil War and was captured in August 1922. He was again imprisoned, this time in Mountjoy Jail and Newbridge Camp, and released in December 1923. Liam married Molly Kelly in Fairview church in 1927, and they had six children. In 1933 Liam was reinstated in his old job in the Department of Finance, where he worked until retirement.”
(1935)
Submitted by Eimear Cremen