South Dublin County Libraries

1. SDCC Source
2. Audio
3. Irish Life and Lore 1916 Collection

Teideal:	Liam Archer (b. 1931)
Údair:	O'Keeffe, Maurice Archer, Liam
Eochairfhocail:	Liam Archer 1916 Rising War of Independence Civil War
Dáta Eisithe:	2012
Foilsitheoir:	Irish Life and Lore
Cur Síos:	Liam Archer details his father Liam Archer’s family background and his work as a sorter in the Telegraph Office in the GPO prior to the Rising in 1916. He provides an account of his father’s movements as a Section Leader before the Rising, his time in the Four Courts during the conflict and also an account of his uncle, Edward Archer. Both brothers were members of the Ancient Order of Hibernians and they later joined the Volunteers. Liam Archer’s injury inflicted during the Rising, and his subsequent treatment at Richmond Hospital, are discussed. Liam refers to his father Liam Archer’s diaries and discusses his orders to set Jameson’s Distillery on fire. Contains a description of Liam Archer’s involvement in the War of Independence, working as an Intelligence Agent for Michael Collins, and a description of how the messages he deciphered from morse code were handed to Collins. The character of Liam Archer is recalled by his son, who grew up in Portobello Barracks. The Civil War years and Liam Archer’s involvement in the Signals Corps in the Irish Army, being appointed Chief of Staff in 1958, are recalled. During the Emergency he became an advisor to Éamon de Valera, and was Director of G2 Intelligence. His sister married Dermot O’Hegarty, whose roles included Chief Clerk of the First Dáil, and Director of Organisation, IRA, 1920. Contains a discussion on Liam Archer’s diaries which he began to write in 1937, and readings from same. The 1966 Commemorations and the pageantry at that time are recalled. Liam’s views on Irish history during the early period of the 20th century, as filtered through his father’s diaries, are described. An introduction to “Cawstle Cawtholics” is included in this track, as is a discussion on the strict security in place at the GPO between 1916 and 1922. Liam Archer recalls coming into ownership of his father’s papers in the 1960s, and he describes his reaction to the contents.
URI:	https://hdl.handle.net/10599/11559
Copyright:	For permission to reproduce any of these recordings, contact Irish Life and Lore at info@irishlifeandlore.com. For MP3 or CD copies of interviews, please see www.irishlifeandlore.com
Tá sé i mBailiúcháin:	Irish Life and Lore 1916 Collection Published Items

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