Dwyer–McAllister Cottage facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Dwyer–McAllister Cottage |
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Teachín Uí Dhubhuir–Mhic Alastair
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| General information | |
| Status | Museum |
| Type | Thatched cottage |
| Architectural style | Vernacular |
| Location | Derrynamuck |
| Town or city | Donard |
| Country | Ireland |
| Coordinates | 52°57′44″N 6°33′53″W / 52.962126°N 6.564607°W |
| Elevation | 244 m (801 ft) |
| Completed | c. 1780 |
| Renovated | 1992 |
| Technical details | |
| Material | Stone, timber, pitch, thatch |
| Floor count | 1 |
| Known for | Scene of a shootout |
| Other information | |
| Number of rooms | 3 |
| Official name | Dwyer-McAllister Cottage |
| Reference no. | 449 |
The Dwyer–McAllister Cottage is a special old house with a thatched roof (made of straw or reeds). It's located in a beautiful area called the Glen of Imaal in County Wicklow, Ireland. This cottage is also a National Monument, which means it's a very important historical site protected by the country.
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Where is the Cottage Located?
The Dwyer–McAllister Cottage sits on the side of Keadeen Mountain. A small stream flows near the house. It travels north for about 1.1 kilometers (or two-thirds of a mile). This stream eventually joins the Little Slaney River.
The Story of the Cottage
The cottage is famous because of an event that happened in 1799. This was after a big uprising in Ireland called the 1798 Rebellion. A leader named Michael Dwyer continued to fight against the government. He and his small group of friends were hiding in three cottages.
One day, someone told the soldiers where they were. A large group of soldiers quickly surrounded the cottages. The people in the first two cottages gave up. But Dwyer and his friends decided to keep fighting from the third cottage. This cottage belonged to Miley Connell. They first made sure that all the women and children could leave safely.
A gunfight started, and the cottage caught fire. Soon, only Dwyer was left without injuries. His friend, Sam McAllister, bravely stood in the doorway. This drew the soldiers' attention to him. This allowed Michael Dwyer to sneak out and escape. Dwyer managed to stay hidden from the soldiers until 1803.
The Cottage as a Museum
The Irish government bought the Dwyer–McAllister Cottage in 1948. It was bought from the Hoxey family. Important people like President Seán T. O'Kelly and Éamon de Valera were there for the special event.
In 1992, the cottage was made bigger and turned into a museum. It is now open to the public. You can visit it during summer afternoons. It opens from mid-June to mid-September.
What the Cottage Looks Like
The cottage was first built around 1780. It is a single-story house with three main sections. It shows a simple, traditional style of building. The walls are made of rough stone. The roof is thatched (covered with straw or reeds). It has chimneys made of whitewashed stone.
The front door is a special "half door" made of wood. The windows are flat at the top. They have new wooden windows that can pivot open. Inside, there are three rooms that connect to each other. The walls are whitewashed, and the floors are made of earth. You can also see the wooden beams that support the roof.
