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 in County Wicklow, Ireland. It has a roof made of straw or reeds, called a thatched roof. This cottage is also a National Monument, which means it's a very important historical site protected by the country. It's famous for a brave stand that happened there long ago.
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Where is the Cottage Located?
The Dwyer–McAllister Cottage sits on the side of Keadeen Mountain. It's in a beautiful area called the Glen of Imaal. A small stream flows nearby, heading north towards the Little Slaney River.
A Look Back at History
After the 1798 Rebellion in Ireland, a leader named Michael Dwyer kept fighting against the government. He and his small group of friends were hiding in three cottages on February 15, 1799. Someone told the soldiers where they were, and a large group of government troops quickly surrounded the cottages.
The people in the first two cottages gave up. But Dwyer and his friends decided to fight from the third cottage, which 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.
At this critical moment, Dwyer's friend, Sam McAllister, bravely stood in the doorway. This drew the soldiers' attention and gunfire towards him. This heroic act allowed Michael Dwyer to escape and get away. Dwyer managed to stay hidden from the authorities until 1803.
The Cottage as a Museum
The Irish government bought the Dwyer–McAllister Cottage from the Hoxey family on August 22, 1948. 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. Today, you can visit it to learn about its history. It's usually open to the public on summer afternoons from mid-June to mid-September.
What the Cottage Looks Like
The cottage was first built around 1780. It's a single-story house with three main sections. In 1992, a part of the house on the north side was rebuilt.
The walls are made of rough stone. The roof is thatched and slopes down, and the chimneys are made of stone and painted white. The front door is a special "half door" made of wood. The windows are flat at the top and have wooden frames that pivot open. Inside, there are three rooms that connect to each other. The walls are white, the floors are made of earth, and you can see the wooden beams of the roof.
