The Rebellion of 1803

Many people in Ireland did not want a union with Britain in 1801. Some people looked for support from France for another rebellion after 1798 but they failed to get this support. In 1803, another rebellion started in Ireland. This time it was centred around Dublin but it did not receive enough support at the time. The rebellion failed and the leader Robert Emmet was executed after he was found guilty of high treason. On the 20th September 1803, Robert Emmet was taken from Kilmainham Jail to a place opposite St Catherine's Church in Thomas Street and was hanged.

Drawing of Anne Devlin

Anne Devlin was born in Wicklow in 1778. She moved to a farm in Rathfarnham with her family after the 1798 Rebellion. In 1803, Robert Emmet rented the nearby Butterfield House. Anne became his faithful servant and friend and assisted him in his preparations for his ill-fated insurrection. She was arrested and imprisoned in Kilmainham for high treason. She married some years after her release, but eventually died in poverty in the Liberties in Dublin.

© South Dublin Libraries.

Drawing of Anne Devlin
© South Dublin Libraries.

Drawing of Anne Devlin

Anne Devlin was born in Wicklow in 1778. She moved to a farm in Rathfarnham with her family after the 1798 Rebellion. In 1803, Robert Emmet rented the nearby Butterfield House. Anne became his faithful servant and friend and assisted him in his preparations for his ill-fated insurrection. She was arrested and imprisoned in Kilmainham for high treason. She married some years after her release, but eventually died in poverty in the Liberties in Dublin.

© South Dublin Libraries.

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Anne Devlin was Robert Emmet’s housekeeper and from a well known rebel family. She was put in prison for three years with some of her family because of her connection to Robert Emmet. She remained loyal to Robert Emmet and the other rebels of 1803 and 1798. She refused bribes of money to give information or to become a spy for the government and did not even give in to the harsh treatment of the governor of Kilmainham Jail William Trevor. She is noted as a heroine and is buried in Glasnevin Cemetry in Dublin .

Statue of Anne Devlin in Rathfarnham Village

This is a bronze statue of Anne Devlin situated in Rathfarnham Village. The statue was designed and made by sculptor Clodagh Emoe from Tallaght. It was unveiled in March 2004.

© South Dublin Libraries

Statue of Anne Devlin in Rathfarnham Village
© South Dublin Libraries

Statue of Anne Devlin in Rathfarnham Village

This is a bronze statue of Anne Devlin situated in Rathfarnham Village. The statue was designed and made by sculptor Clodagh Emoe from Tallaght. It was unveiled in March 2004.

© South Dublin Libraries

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The village of Rathfarnham County Dublin has a statue erected to honour Anne Devlin. She once lived in Butterfield Avenue in Rathfarnham when she worked as Robert Emmet’s housekeeper. She also delivered many secret messages for Robert Emmet and helped him to plan the rebellion of 1803.