William Michael Byrne

William "Billy" Michael Byrne (1775–1798) from Glen of the Downs, County Wicklow, Ireland was a key figure in the United Irishmen in the years leading to the 1798 Rebellion against the British government.

Early life

Byrne was one of the two sons of Colclough Byrne of Drumquin, Hackettstown and Mary Galway of Cork, a great grand-niece of James Butler, 1st Duke of Ormond. William though was to live most of his adult life at Park Hill in the Glen of the Downs. In late 1796, he enlisted in the yeomanry - serving in the Newtown Mount Kennedy cavalry.

Revolutionary Byrne joined the Society of the United Irishmen in spring 1797 and later that same year was appointed by the Leinster committee to organise the half barony of Rathdown. As a delegate for Rathdown barony, Byrne was a well-respected and competent figure. Reynolds had been informed that plans for an insurrection were about to be finalised by the committee. Byrne was arrested in possession of incriminating documents which were described by Attorney-General Arthur Wolfe as being: ' ... very treasonable printed papers'.

In his last days, efforts were made to spare Byrne's life if he would only express regret for his actions and accuse Lord Edward Fitzgerald for having led him to this point. He refused, meeting his end with great dignity and stoicism. The Dublin Magazine noted that William: ' ... met his fate with a degree of courage perhaps unequalled'. For his service to the state, Reynolds was honoured by Dublin Corporation with the freedom of the city on October 19, 1798, spending much of his life thereafter in fear of assassination.