Mary Dwyer : Short Biography

Mary joined her husband, Michael Dwyer ('The Wicklow Chief'), in his exile to Australia as a political prisoner following the 1798 Rebellion. Mary is remembered for her stand in the Wicklow Mountains during the Rebellion, particularly at the Glen of Imaal. She also bore four children between 1799 and 1804. In 1806 Mary and Michael arrived in Sydney with at least two children on the convict ship Tellicherry. They lived at Liverpool on their land grant and ran the Harrow Inn where Michael died in 1825. The Dwyers were buried at Devonshire Street Cemetery. In 1898 they were moved to Waverley Cemetery in the largest parade ever seen in Syndey, and entombed under the 1798 Memorial. 

This Chronicle has been adapted by kind permission of the Aisling Society. The content has been inspired by the Aisling 20/20 Vision project, which forms part of a programme marking the twentieth anniversary of the establishment of the Consulate General of Ireland to New South Wales. 

The Aisling Society is an Irish Australian cultural society whose main interests are the study of the history, life, and culture of Ireland, and the effect of Irish heritage on Australian life.