Fiac McHugh O'Broin
Fiac, the chieftain of the clan of the “O’Byrnes” of County Wicklow, took up arms against the English and, in the year 1580, inflicted a heavy defeat on an English army sent to capture him. Tradition says that the forces met on top of the high hills in the north of the glen. Fiac manoeuvred his troops in such a way that the English found themselves being driven down the slope. They were eventually forced down into the river in the valley where they were completely routed with a loss of some 800-1000 men and with two of the British commanders being killed.
Michael Dwyer
Glenmalure also takes pride of place as it was the stronghold of Michael Dwyer and his comrades in the aftermath of the 1798 rebellion. The Government tried several methods to wipe out Dwyer' and his forces, including attempts to deny him shelter among the civilian population by severely punishing those suspected of harbouring his men, the offer of huge rewards for information, the assigning of thousands of troops to Wicklow, and the building of a series of barracks at Glencree, Laragh, Glenmalure and Aghavannagh and a military road through county Wicklow.
In the field accross the road there is a headstone. This stone marks the place where two Wexfordmen were done to death. Some say they were innocent victims, being men returning to their native County having been working in Dublin, and had no association with the “Rising”. That, however, is unconfirmed.
The cache is hidden in a small tablock box with room for a trackable or two..
Parking is available 600m away at the nearby Glenmalure Lodge. Alternatively there is room to park right next to the cache site.
Nov 16' - If you notice a small potted plant in the brambles behind the boulder, please do not touch! It is there for a reason. Many thanks.