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Michael Dwyer in the Wicklow Mountains |
| Michael Dwyer and the rebels hid out in the mountains for five years. |
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| Michael had been born at the foot of Lugnaquilla the highest mountain in Leinster. He knew every bit of the mountains. He knew good places to hide and special paths to escape. In Glenmalure there is a rock called "Dwyer's Chair". Michael Dwyer, people say used to sit on this rock looking down at the barracks in Glenmalure. He could see the soldiers coming and going from high up on the rock. British troops tried many times to catch him but he escaped. His escape from Derrynamuc is the most famous in 1799. |
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| A cave, referred to locally as Dwyer's cave is situated high up on the south slope of Brittas Hill in Glen of Imaal. Dwyer frequently used this as a hiding place. This cave is still visited by the public. It has a narrow entrance and holds three men. |
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Drawing by Sinéad |
| Mangan House. This story is told of the search of the house of a man called Mangan, where Michael Dwyer was suspected of hiding out. The yeomen thoroughly inspected the ground floors. Meanwhile Dwyer and his followers were lying outstretched on the rafters with loaded blunderbusses at the ready. Another story tells us how Dwyer yet again outwitted the yeomen. He dressed up as a beggarman so they did not recognise him. He escaped unnoticed.
By Stephanie,Samantha,David and Ben. |
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| Drawing by Niall. |
