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.
© 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.In Rathfarnham, Robert Emmet had a devoted friend called Anne Devlin (1778- 1851). Although often referred to as his housekeeper or servant, Devlin was a republican activist herself. Emmet chose her as his helper because of her trustworthiness. Several of her family members were United Irishmen. Devlin delivered messages on Emmet's behalf to many insurgents spread across Dublin, putting herself at great risk of arrest and imprisonment.
Emmet was determined to organise a rising and decided to act on July 23 1803. The rising was to consist of planned attacks on Dublin Castle, Pigeon House Fort and the Islandbridge Barracks. Only a small proportion of the expected number of insurgents took part in the rebellion, which resulted in their being dispersed quite quickly.
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 LibrariesStatue of Anne Devlin in Rathfarnham Village
© South Dublin Libraries
© 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 LibrariesAfter the rebellion, Emmet went into hiding in the Dublin Mountains. As well as being Emmet's helper, Anne Devlin was his accomplice. When she was jailed in Kilmainham after the rebellion, she refused to give information to the authorities about Emmet, despite being subjected to torture and the deprivations of prison life. She remained in prison for three years, enduring beatings, starvation and psychological cruelty.