Early history

Michael Dwyer

The Glen of Imaal is named from the Uí Máil, who dominated the kingship of Leinster in the 7th century.^[3] They were ousted by the Uí Dúnlainge from the lowlands of what would be County Kildare, and from that time until the early 13th century were located along the western foothills of the Wicklow mountains. The valley appears to have been a center of their power. By the 14th century, O'Tuathail (O'Toole) (of the Uí Dunlainge) had taken the lordship of the Uí Máil, having in their turn been expelled from south Kildare by Norman incomers.

Derrynamuck in the Glen Of Imaal is a cottage dedicated to the memory of Michael Dwyer, a celebrated 1798 leader. It is now known as the Dwyer-McAllister cottage, for it was there that a group of Irish rebels led by Michael Dwyer were hiding when they were surrounded by British forces. Samuel McAllister died when he drew enemy fire to allow Dwyer to escape.^[4]

Warning sign close to the military range

Military use

Since 1900, much of the Glen of Imaal (5,948 acres) has been used as an army artillery range. Because of this, caution is advised when attempting to use areas within the army range,^[5] and notices are posted as to when the army are on field exercises.^[6][7]

1941 disaster

On 16 September 1941, the Glen of Imaal was the site of the worst single incident involving loss of life in the history of the Irish Defence Forces.^[8][9][10] This incident, known as the Glen of Imaal Disaster,^[11] occurred during a training exercise involving 27 officers and men from the army's anti-aircraft battalion, artillery school, and corps of engineers.^[12] Sixteen soldiers were killed when an antitank mine unexpectedly exploded (15 dying immediately and 1 later succumbing to his wounds).^[13] Other injured soldiers were rushed to the Curragh military hospital where several received surgery.^[12] Three men were fully blinded in the accident, two more partially. One survivor later murdered two men in Dublin in 1947 but was found "guilty but insane".^[12] A memorial to the disaster was raised near Seskin Bridge in 1986.^[9][14]

1977 incident

In May 1977, five Irish soldiers were killed and three were injured when a mortar detonated unexpectedly during a training exercise.^[15][16]

1979 incident

On 15 April 1979, a fatal accident occurred in the Glen when a group of teenagers engaging in an orienteering activity triggered an explosive which subsequently detonated, killing three and seriously injuring others.^[17] The group originated from Lucan. The resultant inquiry found that the explosive was an unexploded shell which had been left in the region by the military during one of their exercises. Bobby Molloy, the Minister for Defence, issued a statement in the chamber expressing his "personal regret" about the incident, and encouraged members of the public to avoid replicating the "tragic occurrences" by avoiding the area entirely to not encounter the shells.^[18] The deceased were buried in Esker Cemetery, and are commemorated annually at mass services in Lucan.^[19]