United Irishmen
The first political
prisoners of Kilmainham Gaol belonged to an
organisation referred to as the United
Irishmen. They were founded in 1791 in
Belfast, and organised a major rebellion
against the British Empire in 1798, with the
main goal being to make Ireland into a
republic. Within this rebellion there were
two main battles, the Battle of Antrim in
the northeast and the Battle of Vinegar Hill
in the southeast of the country. The
rebellion failed and those that were
involved and led the rebellion were arrested
and a portion of which were interned in
Kilmainham Gaol. Some of these leaders
included individuals such as Henry Joy
McCracken, Thomas Addis Emmet and the Shears
brothers Henry and John. |
Robert Emmet
Robert Emmet another
member of the United Irishmen and younger
brother of Thomas Addis Emmet organised
another rebellion against Britain in 1803.
The rebellion, which was organised, to
coincide with the Napoleon led Anglo-French
war, failed within hours and Emmet went into
hiding. He was later arrested and taken to
Kilmainham Gaol along with his housekeeper,
Anne Devlin.
Emmet was found guilty of
treason and was publicly executed outside
Saint Catherine’s Chapel on Thomas Street in
September of that year.
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