More than 150 people gathered at Bungaree on Sunday to celebrate the discovery of a family connection to the Eureka Rebellion.

It comes at a fitting time as 2014 marks the 160th anniversary of the historic event.

Michael Hanrahan, a miner who travelled from Ireland to Australia in 1853, was elected captain of the pikemen during the Eureka Rebellion in 1854.

A fifth-generation descendant of Michael, Mr Hanrahan said research had found Michael had mined in Carngham and Ballarat before settling on farmland in Bungaree.

“Over the last 10 years we’ve done a lot of Irish research, and the Irish records are like a jigsaw puzzle, so it was a matter of getting small notes and joining them together,” Mr Hanrahan said. “Every family has a history, but this is one of the interesting ones.”

Leading up to the historic battle, miners swore an oath of allegiance to the Eureka flag. Following this, divisions were formed, one of which was the Irish Division, in which Michael was a captain.

Mr Hanrahan said despite an unsuccessful battle for Michael and his division, research showed the Irish were well prepared – something of which his family is proud.

“What we now take for granted wasn’t once there and our forefathers had to really fight for it,” he said. “The Irish had just gone through a famine where 1 million (were) famished and another million immigrated, so when they came here, people’s preparedness to take a stand probably came a bit easier.”

The Hanrahan family still owns the same farming land settled by Michael in 1854.

alicia.thomas@fairfaxmedia.com.au