WE have had many rebels down through the centuries, most of whom earned little success. Not so Michael Dwyer. The authorities built what is still known as the Military Road in an effort to capture him. It was one of the first purpose-built roads in the country and stretched 35 miles from Dublin to the Glen of Imaal. They also built five barracks along the route. Even then, they still failed to capture him.
Born in the early 1770s, Dwyer joined the United Irishmen and took part in the 1798 rebellion. He fought at Vinegar Hill, Hacketstown and Arklow. Afterwards, he returned to his home in the Glen of Imaal and led a guerrilla campaign for the next five years.
One of the more famous incidents involving Dwyer occurred when an informer told the English where he and his men were staying. Their houses were surrounded by 100 redcoats. The men in two of the houses were captured and later executed. Dwyer and three companions were in the third. The roof was set on fire. Two of the men were killed, the third wounded but Dwyer managed to escape while the English were reloading their guns.
Aware of Emmet’s plans for a rising in Dublin, he was reluctant to take part. With the failure of the rising, he decided to negotiate with the government. He agreed to surrender in return for safe passage for himself and his family to America. The English reneged on the deal and he was held in Kilmainham Jail until he was transported to Australia.
With his wife and two of his five children he arrived in Australia in 1806 where he was granted 100 acres of land near other transported United Irishmen. Governor of the colony was the infamous Captain Bligh and he had Dwyer tried for sedition and sent to Van Diemens Land. When Bligh was removed as governor, Dwyer was fully pardoned and returned to his home. The following year he was made constable of the district and in 1820, Chief Constable of Liverpool. By 1821, his holding had grown to over 600 acres and he contributed to the building of a Catholic church in the area. He caught dysentery and died of the disease in 1825. He was buried in Liverpool but his grandson, who was Dean of St Mary’s Cathedral, had his remains re-interred in Devonshire Street.
In 1878, a group of Irish people decided to build a 1798 memorial on Dwyer’s grave. However, the government had decided to use that site for a new railway station so all the graves had to be moved. The committee purchased a site in Waverley Cemetery and Dwyer was re-interred once more and they decided to build the memorial there. 1798 committees were established all over Australia to raise the necessary funds.
At the removal of the remains, 400 carriages followed the hearse. It is estimated that 10,000 people marched in the procession and 100,000 lined the route. After the remains were buried, the foundation stone for the memorial was laid. Today, a magnificent marble memorial stands on the site.
Michael Dwyer, the Wicklow rebel who was never captured, was tricked when, as agreed, he surrendered to the authorities on December 14, 1803 – 203 years ago this week.
n Michael Torpey