Michael Dwyer was a member of the Society of United Irishmen during the 1798 rebellion. He fought in Wexford (at Vinegar Hill and Ballyellis), Carlow (at Hacketstown) and Wicklow (at the Battle of Arklow). He was born in Camara in 1772.

But following the defeat of the rebellion in Wexford, Dwyer retreated to his home region of the Glen of Imaal. There he led a five and a half year guerrilla campaign in the Wicklow Mountains until 14 December 1803, when Robert Emmet's rebellion in Dublin failed. At this stage Dwyer and his group of around 30 represented the only rebels still fighting in Ireland.

This campaign was so successful that the British built the Military Road from Dublin to the Glen of Imaal, a distance of 35 miles, in order to help capture Dwyer. This was the first purpose built road in Ireland. Five barracks were built along this road at Leitrim, Glencree, Seven Churches, Glenmalure and Aughavanna.

One of the most famous incidents involving Dwyer was on the night of 15 February 1799. An informer told the English where Dwyer's party of 11 were hiding, at three houses in Doirenamuc. The houses were surrounded by over 100 troops. The rebels in two of the houses were captured and later executed. This left four rebels, in what is now Dwyer-McAllister Cottage. The thatched roof was set on fire by the British. Two of the rebels were killed by gunfire. This left only Michael Dwyer and Sam McAllister, who was wounded. Sam McAllister drew fire from the enemy, being killed in the process. While the English reloaded Dwyer managed to escape over the mountains. Sam McAllister is buried at Kilranelagh Graveyard. Dwyer spent most of the next three years living on the run in safe houses, caves and disused mines.

Dwyer agreed to surrender on 14th December 1803, on condition that he and his part were given safe passage to America. But he was held in Kilmainham Jail until August 1805, when he was transported to Australia, where he set up a farm near Sydney. Captain Bligh (of the Mutiny on the Bounty) charged him with sedition. Dwyer was cleared but was send as a convict to Van Diemen's Land and Norfolk Island. He was later pardoned and returned to his farm.

He was briefly appointed as the police chief for the area, before being removed for misconduct and drunkenness. Next he opened a pub, this almost made him bankrupt. He continually bought and sold small plots of land over the coming years. However, he managed to raise enough funds to build a new Catholic church in the area. Michael Dwyer died on 23rd August 1825 and was buried in a local cemetery. He was later re-interned in Waverly Cemetery in New South Wales, where 200,000 people attended the ceremonial unveiling of the grave and monument to him in 1898.