Robert Emmet Statue - St Stephens Green

Robert Emmet was an Irish Republican, and Irish nationalist patriot, orator and rebel leader. The statue was designed by sculptor Jerome Connor and is located directly opposite the house where Emmet was born at 124-125 St Stephen’s Green in 1968. The Emmets were financially comfortable, members of the Protestant Ascendancy. Wolfe Tone was friends with Roberts older brother and was a frequent visitor to the house while Robert was growing up. Emmet while studying in college became the secretary of the secret Uniited Irish Committee, and was expelled for this. He then travelled to France as the autorities were arresting many nationalists. Emmet petitioned the French to support the Irish Rebellion of 1798, however as with Wolfe Tone, Napolean was begining his invasion of Egypt and did not provide the support. Emmet returned to Ireland after the rebellion and reorganised the United Irish Society. Due to his work with the Society the British issued an arrest warrant for Emmet and again travelled to France in 1799. He again returned to Ireland in 1802 and began preparatioins for another rebellion. In 1803 Emmet let the start of the rebellion on the 23rd of July. However much of the support promised from nationalists did not materialise and the rising was more of a disturbance as only 200 men took part. They failed to take Dublin Castle, however killed a number of influential member of British rule in Ireland. At the outset of the rebellion Emmet a proclamation was printed and distributed, in the name of the Provisional Government. This proclamation influenced the prclamation of the 1916 Easter Rising. Emmet fled after the rebellion and was arrested at his beau's house. He was tried for treason and found guilty. He was sentenced to be haged, drawn, and quartered. Before sentencing Emmet gave a know famous speech from the dock. There are a number of versions of this speech, and this speech is what helped move Emmet into Nationalist fame. The version below was taken from the note of his counsel Peter Burrowes. "I am here ready to die. I am not allowed to vindicate my character; no man shall dare to vindicate my character; and when I am prevented from vindicating myself, let no man dare to calumniate me. Let my character and my motives repose in obscurity and peace, till other times and other men can do them justice. Then shall my character be vindicated; then may my epitaph be written". Emmet's sentence was carried out on the 20th of September and took place on Thomas Street. Emmet's remains were first delivered to Newgate Prison and then back to Kilmainham Gaol, where the jailer was under instructions that if no one claimed them they were to be buried in a nearby hospital's burial grounds.His family and friends were arrested by association and therefore nobody claimed his body. It is claimed that his remains were removed secretly and place in one of three places, St Michan, a United Irish church, another Dublin Anglican Church and St Peters Church Angier Street where his sister is buried.