Rathfarnham honours Revolutionary woman Ann Devlin

08/09/2003

Archived item. This item is published here for historical reasons. The information below may be out of date.

Issued on behalf of the Council                                                   Document Title:   Rathfarnham Honours Anne Devlin

by M.Keyes Head of Corporate Services                                    Author : Arts Officer

Tel: 4149100                                                                                Creation Date: 8^th September 2003

                                Email:mkeyes@sdublincoco.ie

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Rathfarnham Honours Revolutionary Woman – Anne Devlin

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The Mayor, Councillor Máire Ardagh has been presented with a miniature bronze of the figure of Anne Devlin by sculptor Clodagh Emoe.  Due to the historical links with the Rathfarnham area and as part of the Emmet 200 celebrations The Robert Emmet Association in conjunction with The Anne Devlin Society, in partnership with South Dublin County Council, have commissioned this bronze of Anne Devlin, under the per cent for art scheme.

The statue to this remarkable woman will be sited in Rathfarnham in October this year.

The elegant bronze, which depicts a woman of strength and character, celebrates Anne Devlins role in Robert Devlin’s rebellion of 1803. Placed in history as Emmets’s faithful housekeeper, Anne herself came from a revolutionary background – being a first cousin of Michael Dwyer of the United Irishmen and also of Arthur Devlin who took part in the planning of the 1803 rising. When Emmet rented a house in Rathfarnham she did indeed act as his housekeeper but also played a role in the planning of the rising, in carry messages and in hiding weapons.

When the rising failed Anne Devlin was arrested questioned and tortured about the whereabouts of Robert Emmet. She showed remarkable courage in the face of her torturers and it was three years later before she was released from jail by which time her health had deteriorated considerably. Anne Devlin who died in September 1851, aged 70, ended her days in poverty and anonymity.