Typescript accounts by Riobard Langford of active service in Irish Volunteers and IRA
TitleTypescript accounts by Riobard Langford of active service in Irish Volunteers and IRA
ReferenceU156/03
Date
April 1916 - March 1923
Production date 1916 - 1923
Scope and ContentTypescript account by Riobard Langford of active service in Irish Volunteers and Irish Republican Army. Ten periods are described.
Period One (23 April 1916); he recalls that he was 'officially gazetted' as a Lieutenant of Company C, 1st Battalion, Cork No. 1 Brigade in the 'Irish Volunteer'. Describes aborted Volunteer action in Cork at Easter 1916, including trip to Macroom, a plan to derail an armoured train, armed duty at Sheares Street Hall, the surrender of arms to the government following representations of Bishop Coholan and the Lord Mayor, and his loss of employment at the Cork Examiner due to his Volunteer activity. Notes that the men were 'hourly expecting to fight. . .and were bitterly oposed to enforced inaction'.
Period Two (1 April 1916 - 22 April 1916); he recalls activities in the build up to Easter week including transfer of guns to the custody of Sean Moylan of Kiskeam, armed duty of the Volunteer Hall protecting Commandant Terence MacSwiney who were sleeping on the premises, 'hourly expecting news from Dublin Headquarters'. Says he attended an officers' training camp, and 'personally mobilised every available man. . .for parade. . .on Friday night for the purpose of making final arrangements for duty on Easter Sunday'.
Period Three (1 April 1917 - 31 March 1918); Continuous Active Service; Member of F Company, Dublin Brigade, in possession of a rifle which was received from Liam Archer, attended meetings of the Irish Republican Brotherhood at 42 Parnell Square, returned to Cork where he intensively trained 'C' Company including Dan Donovan, Tom Crofts and Florrie O'Donoghue. Personally oversaw the Grammar School Raid which captured 47 rifles from an officers' training corps building. Also carried out organising work in West Cork representing Cork Headquarters.
Period Four (1 April 1918 - 31 March 1919); mentions plan to put the railway tunnel at Glanmire Road out of commission, administering Oath of Allegiance to Dáil Éireann by all members of the Company and the landing of arms in West Cork.
Period Five (1 April 1919 - March 1920), in seeking supplies of Petrol, Langford was arrested and detained in Baltimore R.I.C. Barracks, but was released and managed to source some 'gun cotton' from IRA officer Eugene Dunne, some of which was used 'in blowing up of King Street Barracks' in July 1920. Upon Tomás MacCurtain's request to secure a printing press for the IRA, Langford took over the press of P. Corcoran and 'from that date to the close of the civil war, all Republican, Revolutionary, or seditious documents of Cork origin emenated from said printing works'. Was also involved in the arrangements for the funeral of Tomás MacCurtain. Also MSS. annotation concerning shooting of man named Mohally, and the printing of a motor cycle permit for Captain Jerome Donovan. Period Six (April 1920 - 31 March 1921); Langford recalls that he made arrangements for the 'co-ordinated wholesale reprisal on Cork City police patrols', but this was called off at Arthur Griffith's insistence. Describes a number of military events including the destruction of the main Cork Income Tax Office, British raid on printing works at Sullivan's Quay, attack on Blarney RIC Barracks, shooting of Colonel Smith at Cork County Club, ambushes at Dillon's Cross and Parnell Bridge, printing of 10,000 handbills calling on public not to obey military instructions, printing of duplicate motor licenses, interrogation by Lieutenant Koe, shooting of spy named Mohally. Says that 'During this entire period I was constantly on the move and unable to sleep at home. . .'.
Period Seven (1 April 1921 - 11 July 1921); he was arrested in May 1921 and interned on Spike Island. Wrote published report about killing of Volunteer White who was shot and killed by a sentry while in prison.
Period Eight (12 July 1921 - 30 June 1922); transferred to Bere Island internment Camp and released on amnesty in December 1921. On 'special service', printing forms for commandeering of lorries for use in loading arms and ammunition from the 'Upnor' at Ballycotton, and a 'considerable amount' of work for Bob Brennan who was sent from Dublin to carry on propaganda. Submitted report on a mobile printing press on instruction from General Headquarters.
Period Nine (1 July 1922 - 30 June 1923) Continuing to operate on 'special service' with mobile field printing press which was set up in Ballincollig Barracks and later in Ballyvourney following the capture of Cork by the Regulars. Here he printed a weekly war bulletin edited by Erskine Childers until the press was temporarily abondoned following encirclement by the Regulars, then printing was moved surreptitously to Lee Press on South Terrace, Cork.He says that, later the mobile printing press was recommissioned under the order of General Liam Lynch. During this time he also took part in a number of military engagements in West Cork. Period Ten (Following ceasefire at end of Civil War in April/May 1923); He continued to operate on special service printing 'sedition' during the Hunger Strike. His livelihood was badly effected, as printing press which was dismantled by Government forces was not returned until August 1925 and in useless condition.
Period One (23 April 1916); he recalls that he was 'officially gazetted' as a Lieutenant of Company C, 1st Battalion, Cork No. 1 Brigade in the 'Irish Volunteer'. Describes aborted Volunteer action in Cork at Easter 1916, including trip to Macroom, a plan to derail an armoured train, armed duty at Sheares Street Hall, the surrender of arms to the government following representations of Bishop Coholan and the Lord Mayor, and his loss of employment at the Cork Examiner due to his Volunteer activity. Notes that the men were 'hourly expecting to fight. . .and were bitterly oposed to enforced inaction'.
Period Two (1 April 1916 - 22 April 1916); he recalls activities in the build up to Easter week including transfer of guns to the custody of Sean Moylan of Kiskeam, armed duty of the Volunteer Hall protecting Commandant Terence MacSwiney who were sleeping on the premises, 'hourly expecting news from Dublin Headquarters'. Says he attended an officers' training camp, and 'personally mobilised every available man. . .for parade. . .on Friday night for the purpose of making final arrangements for duty on Easter Sunday'.
Period Three (1 April 1917 - 31 March 1918); Continuous Active Service; Member of F Company, Dublin Brigade, in possession of a rifle which was received from Liam Archer, attended meetings of the Irish Republican Brotherhood at 42 Parnell Square, returned to Cork where he intensively trained 'C' Company including Dan Donovan, Tom Crofts and Florrie O'Donoghue. Personally oversaw the Grammar School Raid which captured 47 rifles from an officers' training corps building. Also carried out organising work in West Cork representing Cork Headquarters.
Period Four (1 April 1918 - 31 March 1919); mentions plan to put the railway tunnel at Glanmire Road out of commission, administering Oath of Allegiance to Dáil Éireann by all members of the Company and the landing of arms in West Cork.
Period Five (1 April 1919 - March 1920), in seeking supplies of Petrol, Langford was arrested and detained in Baltimore R.I.C. Barracks, but was released and managed to source some 'gun cotton' from IRA officer Eugene Dunne, some of which was used 'in blowing up of King Street Barracks' in July 1920. Upon Tomás MacCurtain's request to secure a printing press for the IRA, Langford took over the press of P. Corcoran and 'from that date to the close of the civil war, all Republican, Revolutionary, or seditious documents of Cork origin emenated from said printing works'. Was also involved in the arrangements for the funeral of Tomás MacCurtain. Also MSS. annotation concerning shooting of man named Mohally, and the printing of a motor cycle permit for Captain Jerome Donovan. Period Six (April 1920 - 31 March 1921); Langford recalls that he made arrangements for the 'co-ordinated wholesale reprisal on Cork City police patrols', but this was called off at Arthur Griffith's insistence. Describes a number of military events including the destruction of the main Cork Income Tax Office, British raid on printing works at Sullivan's Quay, attack on Blarney RIC Barracks, shooting of Colonel Smith at Cork County Club, ambushes at Dillon's Cross and Parnell Bridge, printing of 10,000 handbills calling on public not to obey military instructions, printing of duplicate motor licenses, interrogation by Lieutenant Koe, shooting of spy named Mohally. Says that 'During this entire period I was constantly on the move and unable to sleep at home. . .'.
Period Seven (1 April 1921 - 11 July 1921); he was arrested in May 1921 and interned on Spike Island. Wrote published report about killing of Volunteer White who was shot and killed by a sentry while in prison.
Period Eight (12 July 1921 - 30 June 1922); transferred to Bere Island internment Camp and released on amnesty in December 1921. On 'special service', printing forms for commandeering of lorries for use in loading arms and ammunition from the 'Upnor' at Ballycotton, and a 'considerable amount' of work for Bob Brennan who was sent from Dublin to carry on propaganda. Submitted report on a mobile printing press on instruction from General Headquarters.
Period Nine (1 July 1922 - 30 June 1923) Continuing to operate on 'special service' with mobile field printing press which was set up in Ballincollig Barracks and later in Ballyvourney following the capture of Cork by the Regulars. Here he printed a weekly war bulletin edited by Erskine Childers until the press was temporarily abondoned following encirclement by the Regulars, then printing was moved surreptitously to Lee Press on South Terrace, Cork.He says that, later the mobile printing press was recommissioned under the order of General Liam Lynch. During this time he also took part in a number of military engagements in West Cork. Period Ten (Following ceasefire at end of Civil War in April/May 1923); He continued to operate on special service printing 'sedition' during the Hunger Strike. His livelihood was badly effected, as printing press which was dismantled by Government forces was not returned until August 1925 and in useless condition.
Extent19pp
SubjectEaster Rising 1916
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RepositoryCork City and County Archives
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