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Grace O’Malley, Granuaile

Chieftain, trader, pirateadapted from ‘Grace O’Malley’, Time Traveller 2 by Day, R. at al., CJ Fallon, 0-71441-129-

9, 00 83-7

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If you had been alive fourhundred years ago and

livingnear Clew Bay in Co. Mayo,you might have seen

galleys(ships) like the one in thepicture sailing the seasaround Clare Island. Many

ofthe galleys would probablyhave belonged to GraceO’Malley, chieftain, traderand pirate.

Grace – a timelinePlanning: NLS Year 3

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Clew Bay

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Grace was born in 1530.

She was a member of the O’Malley family. The family crest is also on the right.

The family motto, in Latin, was

Terra Marique Potens.

This means

Powerful on land and sea.

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We do not know what Grace O’Malley looked like, but we are told that she had dark hair and dark skin.

She might have looked like this as a young woman. Her clothes are similar to those worn by Irishwomen at that time.

An modern artist’s impression of how Grace might have looked.

This is a seventeenth-century portrait of Grace’s granddaughter. Could Grace have looked like her?

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Grace O’Malley was one of the

most successful pirates ever to

sail the seas off the west coast

of Ireland. With a fleet of ships

and over 200 men, she robbed

the cargo of any ship that

dared to sail through her

waters and charged the owners

a ransom for a safe voyage.Contemporaries feared Grace

Top: An artist’s impression of an O’Malley galley

Bottom: Replica of 30-oared galley used by Grace

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Grace was also a trader and she

frequently sailed her galleys as far as

Spain where she traded fish and cattle

hides for wine, salt and iron. Her ships

were often hired by the leaders in Ulster

at that time, the O’Neills and O’Donnells,

to bring fighting men, called

gallowglasses, over from Scotland. Song: Free

& Easy

Grace had a very exciting life. Many

stories are told about the adventures she

had. Here are four of them.

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GracetheBald

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Grace O’Malley was also called Grainne Mhaol. We

do not know why buy maybe it is because maol

means bald. It is said that when Grace was a

young girl, she asked her father could she sail with

him. He refused to take her, because she was a girl.

However, Grace was determined to go with him, so

she cut off all her hair and dressed in boys’ clothes.

She went back to her father and said, ‘Now will you

take me?’ We don’t know what her father

answered. What do you think?

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Howth Castle

Once, when returning from a voyage, Grace’s fleet

landed at Howth near Dublin. At that time, it was the custom for Irish chieftains to offer food and shelter to other chieftains who were travelling through their lands. Grace went to Howth Castle, fully expecting to be welcomed as a guest. Imagine her surprise and anger when she found the gates of the castle locked against her. To make matters worse, she was told that the lord of the castle was dining and did not wish to be Disturbed. Furious at this insult, she returned to her ship.

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On her way back, Grace came upon the son of the Lord playing with his friends. She quickly seized the boy and carried him aboard her ship. With herhostage safely aboard Grace’s fleet set sail for home. Frightened for his son’s safety, the Lord of Howthwent to Mayo to plead for his release. He offeredto pay Grace any ransom she demanded in return for his son. Grace did not ask for money, however. She wanted a promise that the gates of HowthCastle would never again be closed to anyonelooking for food and shelter. She also demandedthat an extra place would always be laid at the dinner table in Howth.

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Hen’sCastle

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When Grace was sixteen years old, she was

married to a chieftain called Donal O’Flaherty. His

nickname was Donal an Chogaidh (Donal of the

Battles), because he was always fighting. Donal

attacked and captured a small castle on an island

in Lough Corrib from his neighbours, the Joyces.

Donal fought so fiercely that he was given a new

nickname, Donal an Choiligh (Donal the Cock), and

the castle was renamed Cock’s Castle in his

honour.

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Shortly afterwards, Donal was attacked and killed

by the Joyces while hunting in the mountains.

Luckily, some of his men survived the ambush and

returned to the castle to warn Grace. The Joyces

thought that, with Donal dead, it would be easy to

recover their castle. They were wrong. Grace

rallied her followers around her and fiercely

defended the castle. The Joyces were forced to

retreat. Grace defended the castle so well that its

name was changed to Caisleán na Circe (Hen’s

Castle) in her honour. Song: The Defence of Hen’s Castle

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Meeting Elizabeth I

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Grace had a deadly enemy called

Sir Richard Bingham. He had been

appointed Governor of Connacht

by Queen Elizabeth I of England.

He was determined to bring Grace

under his control. Bingham made

life very difficult for Grace, taking

her lands and cattle, and even

putting her in jail on one occasion.

Finally, in 1593, Grace wrote to

Queen Elizabeth I to complain

about his behaviour. Grace’s tactics in dealing with the

English

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Elizabeth agreed to see Grace. She was probably

curious to meet this famous pirate who had caused

the English in Ireland so much trouble. Queen

Elizabeth must have been impressed by Grace

because she

ordered Bingham to return the lands and cattle

which he had taken from her. Grace returned to

Connacht where she died about the year 1603.

Extract from Grace’s petition to Elizabeth I

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Timeline

c.1530 Granuaile is born.

Granuaile cuts off her hair and goes to sea with her father.

1546 marries Donal O’Flaherty.

Donal captures small castle in Lough Corrib from the Joyces.

Donal is killed by the Joyces.

The Joyces attack Hen’s castle but Grace maintains

control.

1566 marries Richard (‘Iron Dick’) Bourke.

1577-1579 imprisoned in Rockfleet.

1588 granted a pardon by Queen Elizabeth I.

1593 audience with Elizabeth I in London.

1603 dies in poverty.

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Contemporary fears of Grace and her clan

‘Grany O’Mayle [is] a

woman that hath

impudently passed the

part of womanhood and

been a great spoiler and

chief commander and

director of thieves and

murders at sea to spoil this

province.’Lord Justice Drury, 1578

‘The continuing roads used by the O’Malleys and

O’Flaherties with their galleys along our coasts, where there have been taken sundry ships and barks bound for this poor

town, which they have not only rifled to the utter

overthrow of the owners and merchants, but also have most wickedly murdered

divers of young men to the great terror of such as would

willingly traffic.’Corporation of Galway City, no date

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What can you see from the masthead?Spanish ships a-fishingWhat can you see from the masthead?A Portugee from Newfoundland

Rising up on the breaking waveLet it carry you over all the sea in the morningWeigh, hey, and up she risesSun is up, the bird’s a-wingAnd we’re sailing free and easy

What can you see from the masthead?A trading ship for GalwayWhat does he pay for the passage?A just reward for the pilot

Rising up on the breaking wave etc.

We’ll stay at sea when the wind is keenAnd waves begin to billowWe’ll keep to the sea when the wind it failsAnd homeward bound we’ll row

Where shall we go for a cargo?We’ll run right down to VigoAnd if the Bay shall make a stormWe’ll take a look in at Bordeaux

What spy you now from the masthead?An Algerine on the quarterWhat shall we do to greet him?Acquaint him with our ordnance

Rising up on the breaking wave etc.

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‘Free & Easy’ Composed by Shaun

Davey Granuaile, Tara Music Company Ltd, 1985, Tara CD 3071; sung by Rita

Connolly

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I had word of your comingThis is no surpriseTo find oneself thus surroundedNor to feel such tears of angerNow the cock crows no moreThe hen shall slam the doorNo raider, housebreakerNo bandit sheriff’s menNo Galway blow-in

Shall here lay a claimThis poor widow-womanLong before nowHas stood her groundAmidst the white winter fury of the oceanShe has outfoxedThe running surge of the breaking waveAnd thus humbledShe will bow before no man

Go kindle torchesHigh on the hill of DoonThe night’s ablaze with flames on the hillsideIn the morning ye shall find comfort

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‘The Defence of Hen’s Castle’ Composed by Shaun

Davey Granuaile, Tara Music Company Ltd, 1985, Tara CD 3071; sung by Rita

Connolly

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Grace’s tactics against the English an

imaginary letter June, the Year of Our Lord 1575, Clare Island

My dear Toby,At this season I am usually at sea. A slight injury - nothing your need

worry about - is keeping me on the island a little longer. My shoulder is giving me some trouble but my right hand is undamaged, thank God. So I can write to you.

Are you well, my son? Are the priests teaching you as I have instructed them? Learn your letters, study Latin, and memorise the names of the major seaports. Your older brothers by Donal O’Flaherty are merely simply warriors, all strength and shouting. I want more than that for you. Against an enemy as powerful as the English it is necessary to fight with one’s brains. Fortunately you and I both inherited good brains.

It saddens me to tell you that my beloved Dubhdara is dying. Your grandfather is like an ancient oak tree that has fallen in the forest and is slowly crumbling away. I continue to captain the fleet and support his people. I cannot say what the future holds, but be assured I shall do my best.

Always,Granuaile

From the historical novel, Granuaile. The Pirate Queen, by Morgan Llywelyn, O’Brien Press, 0-86278-578-2, pp 58-9

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Grace’s petition to Elizabeth IIn the opening lines of her petition Grace established her version of events, telling Elizabeth:

‘of the continual discords stirrs and dissention that hertofore long lyme remained among the Irishrey especially in west Conaght by the sea side everie cheeftaine for his safeguard and maintenance and for the defence of his people followers and countrye took armed by strong hand to make head against his neybours which in like manner contrayned your highness fond subject to take armes and by force to maintaine her selfe and her people by sea and land the space of fortye years past.’

Then she asked the queen for money and a free hand to do as she wished:

‘in tender considercion whereof and in regard of her great age ... to

grant her some reasonable maintenance for the little tyme she hath to lyve.’

and

‘grant unto your said subject under your most gracious hand of signet free libertye during her lyve to envade with sword and fire all your highness enemies wheresoever they are or shall be ... without interruption of any person or persons whatsoever.’BACK TO TEXT