[Reprinted from the award-winning History and Women.]
Irish Gaelic: Gráinne Ní Mháille
Grace O'Malley was born in Connaught in Ireland about 1530. Her father was chieftain of the O'Malley clan, subject to the Gaelicized Anglo-Norman Burke or de Burgo family who controlled most of what is now County Mayo. The O'Malleys were a seafaring clan and lived in part off taxes collected from those who fished off their coast which included ships from as far off as England.
As a child of a noble family Grace O'Malley was educated, but legend has her sharing many of her father's sea voyages. She was married first to Dónal O'Flaherty, the heir to the ruler of Connaught, now roughly equivalent to County Connemara. When he was killed in battle, O'Malley returned to Mayo with many of O'Flaherty's followers.
O'Malley next married Richard Burke and took up residence in his Rockfleet Castle. It is said she did this in order to gain access to coastline with sheltered harbors near the greatest sea traffic, perfect for lying in wait with pirate ships. She had been involved from a young girl in her father's shipping and sea trade business and continued with the business even through her marriages.
O'Malley was already known for her ability as a battle commander. After her first husband died, she took back Cock's Castle which he had lost to the Joyce clan. The Joyces were so impressed with her that they renamed the castle Hen's Castle. The English besieged O'Malley there some years later. She is said to have had the lead used to roof the castle melted to pour on the heads of the besieging soldiers, and to have set up a system of signal fires beforehand that allowed her to summon help successfully, so she was the victor.
The city leaders of Galway routinely taxed owners of ships who traded their goods in that city. O'Malley decided that she would do the same and began boarding and "taxing" ships that ventured near her coast. If the ships resisted, their crews would be imprisoned or killed. Them O'Malley's ships would disappear into secret coves. She spread her attacks on ships as far south as Waterford and raided several castles along the Irish coast as well.
O'Malley got into the business of recruiting and transporting mercenaries. She brought soldiers from Scotland to Ireland, raiding the coast of Scotland while she was in the neighborhood. She also offered to recruit and train mercenaries for the English in Ireland.
Much folklore surrounds O'Malley. In one story she arrived at Howth Castle and requested hospitality. When she was refused because the "family was at supper" she kidnapped the young heir and held him until Baron Howth promised that the gates of his castle would never again be closed to unexpected visitors and to have an extra place set at every meal. O'Malley is said to have made a lover of Hugh de Lacey, the shipwrecked son of a Wexford merchant whom she had rescued. When he was murdered by the MacMahons O'Malley attacked and destroyed many of their ships and then took Doona Castle from them, executing those who were responsible for de Lacey's murder.
Over her lifetime O'Malley saw the English hold on Ireland tighten. When two of her sons and her half brother were taken prisoner by the English governor of Connaught, O'Malley traveled to England to treat for their release with Queen Elizabeth herself. When they met at Greenwich O'Malley refused to bow to Elizabeth as she did not consider her the sovereign of Ireland. When her rich garb was searched guards found a dagger When O'Malley assured Elizabeth that it was for her own defense, the Queen of England believed her. The two women's meeting was conducted in Latin since neither spoke the other's language. They came to an agreement, Elizabeth agreeing to the release of O'Malley's menfolk, and O'Malley agreeing to stop her support of Irish rebels and attacks on English ships. It should be remembered that both women were in their sixties at the time of the meeting. Redoubtable old ladies indeed!
In spite of the meeting, O'Malley soon returned to her old ways. She most likely died at Rockfleet Castle in 1603, the same year that Queen Elizaveth died.
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