Anne Devlin
Encyclopedia
Anne Devlin was an Irish republican who acted as housekeeper to Robert Emmet
and who was also a cousin of two leading United Irish rebels, Michael Dwyer
and Arthur Devlin.
Devlin was born in Rathdrum
Co. Wicklow
to a family of long standing nationalist views, but despite this was asked to move to Dublin to live with her landlord’s sister-in-law following her marriage. Following the outbreak of the rebellion of 1798
, her family home was often raided and many of her family members imprisoned.
After the acquittal and release from prison of her father in 1800, her family moved to Dublin where she met Robert Emmet
who had a house in nearby Butterfield Lane from where he was planning his intended uprising. The constant coming and going of men and materials from the house worried Emmet who feared that the activity might arouse the suspicions of the authorities. As a consequence, she was approached by Emmet who asked her to act as housekeeper in order to convey an impression of normality.
Although the ruse proved successful and the rising took the authorities completely by surprise, the lack of co-ordination and confusion in the rebel ranks led to its collapse and disintegration into a night of bloody street clashes. Shortly after the rising was quashed, a party of yeomen arrived at Butterfield Lane seizing Anne and her eight-year-old sister. Anne was interrogated and tortured by half-hanging
but finding little of consequence in the house the yeomen eventually departed. After returning to live in her family home in Rathfarnham
the entire family was seized by the military.
Her importance and central role in the conspiracy was noted and Anne was interrogated by Henry Charles Sirr
, Chief of Police in Dublin and arrestor of Lord Edward Fitzgerald
. She refused bribes to inform on Emmet despite being threatened with death. She was then sent to Kilmainham jail and further interrogated where Emmet himself urged her to inform on him to save herself as he was already doomed. She was kept in squalid conditions and subjected to brutal treatment but consistently refused to cooperate despite her entire family being jailed in an effort to break her which resulted in the death of her nine-year-old brother from illness brought on by the conditions of his confinement.
She was eventually released in 1806 and later married, having two children. Although financially supported by sympathisers for a number of years following her release, she ended her days in poverty, and died in obscurity in the Liberties
area of Dublin in 1851. She is buried in Glasnevin Cemetery
.
Robert Emmet
Robert Emmet was an Irish nationalist and Republican, orator and rebel leader born in Dublin, Ireland...
and who was also a cousin of two leading United Irish rebels, Michael Dwyer
Michael Dwyer
Michael Dwyer was a Society of the United Irishmen leader in the 1798 rebellion. He later fought a guerilla campaign against the British Army in the Wicklow Mountains from 1798-1803.-Early life:...
and Arthur Devlin.
Revolutionary involvement
Rathdrum, County Wicklow
Rathdrum is a village in County Wicklow, Ireland. It is situated high on the western side of the Avonmore river valley, which flows through the Vale of Clara.-People:Born in Rathdrum:...
Co. Wicklow
Wicklow
Wicklow) is the county town of County Wicklow in Ireland. Located south of Dublin on the east coast of the island, it has a population of 10,070 according to the 2006 census. The town is situated to the east of the N11 route between Dublin and Wexford. Wicklow is also connected to the rail...
to a family of long standing nationalist views, but despite this was asked to move to Dublin to live with her landlord’s sister-in-law following her marriage. Following the outbreak of the rebellion of 1798
Irish Rebellion of 1798
The Irish Rebellion of 1798 , also known as the United Irishmen Rebellion , was an uprising in 1798, lasting several months, against British rule in Ireland...
, her family home was often raided and many of her family members imprisoned.
After the acquittal and release from prison of her father in 1800, her family moved to Dublin where she met Robert Emmet
Robert Emmet
Robert Emmet was an Irish nationalist and Republican, orator and rebel leader born in Dublin, Ireland...
who had a house in nearby Butterfield Lane from where he was planning his intended uprising. The constant coming and going of men and materials from the house worried Emmet who feared that the activity might arouse the suspicions of the authorities. As a consequence, she was approached by Emmet who asked her to act as housekeeper in order to convey an impression of normality.
Although the ruse proved successful and the rising took the authorities completely by surprise, the lack of co-ordination and confusion in the rebel ranks led to its collapse and disintegration into a night of bloody street clashes. Shortly after the rising was quashed, a party of yeomen arrived at Butterfield Lane seizing Anne and her eight-year-old sister. Anne was interrogated and tortured by half-hanging
Half-Hanging
Half-hanging is a method of torture, usually inflicted to force information from the victim, in which a rope is pulled tightly around the victim’s neck and then slackened when the victim becomes unconscious...
but finding little of consequence in the house the yeomen eventually departed. After returning to live in her family home in Rathfarnham
Rathfarnham
Rathfarnham or Rathfarnam is a Southside suburb of Dublin, Ireland. It is south of Terenure, east of Templeogue, and is in the postal districts of Dublin 14 and 16. It is within the administrative areas of both Dun Laoghaire-Rathdown and South Dublin County Councils.The area of Rathfarnham...
the entire family was seized by the military.
Arrest and imprisonment
Henry Charles Sirr (soldier)
Henry Charles Sirr was an Irish soldier, police officer, wine merchant and collector.He was born in Dublin Castle, the son of Major Joseph Sirr, the Town Major of Dublin from 1762 to 1767....
, Chief of Police in Dublin and arrestor of Lord Edward Fitzgerald
Lord Edward FitzGerald
Lord Edward FitzGerald was an Irish aristocrat and revolutionary. He was the fifth son of the 1st Duke of Leinster and the Duchess of Leinster , he was born at Carton House, near Dublin, and died of wounds received in resisting arrest on charge of treason.-Early years:FitzGerald spent most of his...
. She refused bribes to inform on Emmet despite being threatened with death. She was then sent to Kilmainham jail and further interrogated where Emmet himself urged her to inform on him to save herself as he was already doomed. She was kept in squalid conditions and subjected to brutal treatment but consistently refused to cooperate despite her entire family being jailed in an effort to break her which resulted in the death of her nine-year-old brother from illness brought on by the conditions of his confinement.
She was eventually released in 1806 and later married, having two children. Although financially supported by sympathisers for a number of years following her release, she ended her days in poverty, and died in obscurity in the Liberties
The Liberties
The Liberties of Dublin, Ireland were jurisdictions that existed since the arrival of the Anglo-Normans in the 12th century. They were town lands united to the city, but still preserving their own jurisdiction. The most important of these liberties were the Liberty of St...
area of Dublin in 1851. She is buried in Glasnevin Cemetery
Glasnevin Cemetery
Glasnevin Cemetery , officially known as Prospect Cemetery, is the largest non-denominational cemetery in Ireland with an estimated 1.5 million burials...
.
Film
- Anne Devlin (1984)
- It starred Bosco HoganBosco HoganBosco Hogan is an Irish actor of stage, screen and television.He is best known as Dr. Michael Ryan on Ballykissangel. He appeared in a minor role as convicted felon George Saden in John Boorman's film Zardoz , but his first major film role was as Stephen Dedalus in the 1977 Joseph Strick film...
as Robert Emmet and Brid BrennanBrid BrennanBrid Brennan is an Irish actress, best known for her theatre work. She was born in Belfast, Northern Ireland.-Theatre work:Brennan created the role of Agnes Mundy in Brian Friel's play Dancing at Lughnasa. She played the role in the original Dublin, West End and Broadway productions, winning a...
as Anne Devlin.