09-08-2025
Rebel leader Michael Dwyer to be honoured at Wicklow's flagship Heritage Week event
From his guerrilla campaign against British Crown forces and his exile to New South Wales in Australia to his death on August 23, 1825, and the subsequent internment of his remains in Waverley Cemetery, Sydney, where a crowd of over 200,000 attended the ceremony, Dwyer's compelling story has been a source of great pride for the Garden County.
With the 200th anniversary of his death approaching, Arklow Municipal District (MD) sought to honour him and liaised with local people and Australian and Irish historians to create a weekend dedicated to Dwyer, along with the hugely successful Michael Dwyer Memorial Cup in June.
Taking place on August 23 and 24 in Glenmalure, 'Michael Dwyer 200' will kick off on Saturday with a one-day seminar at in the grounds next to Glenmalure Lodge that explores Dwyer's legacy, featuring talks focusing on his early life in the Glen of Imaal, his role in the rebellion and its aftermath, his exile to Australia in 1806, and his significant legacy within the Irish community in Australia.
Speakers on the day will include local historian, Glenmalure resident, and author Carmel O'Toole, Dr Ruan O'Donnell from the University of Limerick, writer of several historical books, including a biography of Michael Dwyer, Australian historian and expert genealogist Dr Perry McIntyre, and author and historian Dr Joan Kavanagh.
Following speeches from distinguished guests, a specially commissioned piece in memory of the significant anniversary will be unveiled.
Looking ahead to the events, Dr Kavanagh said there will be a continuity with all the speakers, flowing from Dwyer's origins up to his death and his legacy.
'The first speaker, Dr O'Donnell, will talk about the big picture of 1798 and Dwyer's involvement, then Carmel O'Toole will discuss Dwyer as the local man, and places associated with him,' she said.
'I will talk about Dwyer in Australia, from the time he went on board the ship in 1805 up to his death. The ups and downs of his life in Australia. The last speaker will be Australian historian Dr Perry McIntyre, who'll talk about the memorial that was raised to Dwyer in 1898.
'They say every day is a school day, and I think a lot of people won't be familiar with his past in Australia, and won't necessarily be aware of the memorial to him. Equally, there are lots of things in his lifetime in Wicklow that will come to light.
'A huge amount of work has been put into it by the committee,' she added.
'There are several local people from Glenmalure who have been great with their local knowledge, and Arklow MD officials Alvina Brehony and Leonora Earls have been fantastic.
'That's not to forget councillor Pat Kennedy, chair of our committee, who has brought great leadership.'
Continuing on Sunday, a guided bus tour starting in Glenmalure will explore sites associated with Dwyer, including Barravore Valley, The Military Road, Dwyer/McAlister Cottage, The Glen of Imaal, Rathdangan, and Dunlavin villages.
Organised in partnership with West Wicklow, Rathdangan and Donard Historical Societies, the tour will provide a unique opportunity to discover locations and stories related to Dwyer, along with a 'Living History' performance.
An educational pack on the Leaders of the Rebellion has been reimagined through Wicklow County Council Archives. It will be distributed to all secondary schools throughout the county. A four-part podcast series (available from the Irish History Podcast) on the history of The Military Road, curated by Fin Dwyer and Wicklow County Council Heritage Office, offers an excellent context for the Michael Dwyer 200 commemorations.
Thanking everyone involved for making the events a reality, many of whom attended a recent launch in Glenmalure Lodge, Cllr Kennedy said the events have generated immense excitement and will be 'huge for the county'.
'Dwyer was a Wicklow man, an Irishman, who now rests in Waverley Cemetery, but yet we are remembering one of our own who is 200 years dead,' he said.
'We all grew up on Dwyer's stories, which may have been different versions of the same story. As someone said to me, they might have been different versions of the same story, but he was definitely one of our own. And it's nice to have that remembered.
'This is something the committee has been working on for a year and a half, talking to the people from Australia who'll be coming over, and we've had great support from Leonora Earls and Alvina Brehony. This is important for the district.
'There's a sense of pride among the committee, and it's great that it has become the county's flagship event for Heritage Week.'
