Michael Dwyer

Michael Dwyer was a prominent figure in the 1798 Rebellion and became known for his guerilla warfare tactics in the Wicklow Mountains afterwards. There he evade capture for a number of years. Dwyer who was born in Immal, Wicklow in 1772 served as captain of the Ballymanus Corps in 1798 and fought alongside General Joseph Holt at significant battles such as Arklow and Vinegar Hill. After the rebel defeat that summer his group conducted numerous skirmishes against British forces from 1798 until late 1803. Imprisoned until 1806, Dwyer was transported to New South Wales in 1806 where he remained until his death in 1825.

On the 150th anniversary of the 98 Rebellion the Nationalist and Kildare Times recalled for readers Dwyer’s exploits:

In 1798 Michael Dwyer and his rebel followers were trapped in the Cottage In Glen Imaal. Following Dwyer’s appeal to the Crown forces, the inhabitants of the cottage were allowed to leave in safety. Dwyer ignored demands lo surrender, and as the rebels position was steadily worsening, Sam McAllister, an Ulsterman, engineered the escape of his beloved leader at the greatest possible cost—his own life. Dwyer later escaped to Australia, where he lived to a ripe old age. In 1898 when his remains, with those of his wife, Mary, were re-Interred In Waverley Cemetery, an estimated 150,000 Irish-Australians marched in the parade. Their monument is one of the sights of Sydney, and is visited by people from all parts of the world. It is chiefly of while marble, and an elaborately carved Celtic Cross stands… On the base appears the inscription " Remember '98." Along the flanking walls arc Inscribed the names of many older '98 men.

For more information search the pages of the Irish Newspaper Archives (www.irishnewsarchive.com )