Irish Folklore: The Pirate Queen

There are many stories and legends that surround Gráinne Ní Mháille, the pirate Queen of Connacht. Known as Grace O’Malley in English, various translations of her name have led to her having several titles including but not limited to Granny ni Maille, Grany O'Male, Grainy O'Maly, and “Gráinne Mhaol," loosely translated, “Bald Grace”.

Grace was largely ignored by historians and chroniclers in Ireland for centuries, but stories of the Pirate Queen survived through Irish folklore and in recent years, interest in her has grown. Read on to find out more about the extraordinary life of Gráinne Ní Mháille, Grace O'Malley.

The Bald Pirate

Let's start with the story of that unusual moniker - bald Grace. With the family motto “Terra Marique Putens” - valiant by sea and land - the infamous O’Malley clan rose to power in Mayo in the 14th century. Born around 1530, the only daughter of chief Eoghan “Black Oak” O’Malley, young Grace wanted nothing more than to join her father at sea. After being told the sea was no place for a girl and that her long hair would catch in the ropes, the young twelve year old girl promptly shaved her head and boarded her father’s ship as Gráinne Mhaol, Bald Grace.

Quickly proving both courage and competence, she rose to become a captain as well as a canny sea trader and ruthless corsair. With her father’s death, she inherited his empire, becoming queen of Umaill, the chieftain of the Ó Máille clan.

An independent woman

Married and widowed by the age of twenty-three, Grace found herself with three children, a fleet of fighting ships, and several castles under her remit, including the O’Malley Clare island stronghold. She remarried judiciously, adding Rockfleet Castle to her riches, and reportedly divorced her husband after a year!

A fierce leader and mother

A dramatic story records Grace giving birth to her son Tiobóid aboard one of her ships in the midst of a sea battle with Algerian pirates. Grace reportedly wrapped Tiobóid in a blanket, and went up on deck, babe in arms, to rally her crew and lead them in the capture of the pirate ship. Clearly a force to be reckoned with!

A canny diplomat

This is something Queen Elizabeth I of England came to understand when her curiosity led her to grant an audience with the Irish Pirate Queen. Unlike some of the other legends or stories that surround Pirate Grace, there are numerous documents that record the circumstances leading to, and the impact of, their unusual meeting at the Palace of Greenwich in 1593.

Before their meeting, Grace had written to Queen Elizabeth, that the English crown’s representatives in Ireland had

’constrayned your Highness fond subject to take arms and by force to maintaine her selfe and her people by sea and land the space of forty years past.’

The final tipping point for the now 60+ year old Grace was seeing her fourth and youngest son, Tiobóid (him again), arrested for treason, a crime punishable by death. Despite herself having similar accusations laid against her and the threat of arrest and worse, Grace sailed for England from Clew Bay to make her case. Through a combination of canny political maneuvering and nerves of steel, she managed to secure an audience with the Queen. The Queen reportedly received Grace with a mixture of curiosity, compassion, and admiration. Two ferociously intelligent female leaders came face to face, both of them a rarity in their times.

The gambit worked, and Grace secured her wish list, including the release of her son, the restoration of her family land, and a royal assent that she could continue her business dealings, creatively described as ’maintenance by land and sea.' Beyond these impressive gains, Grace must have made quite the impression. Shortly after her visit, a new map of Ireland was drawn up by the queen's cartographer with her name, 'Grany O'Male, ’ figuring prominently, the only female name to be seen amongst the chieftains of Ireland.

Some Woman

So it is fair to say that Grace was a strong and independent woman in the predominantly male world of her time. She was a talented seafarer and certainly a pirate. But she was also a savvy political tactician, a shrewd businesswoman, a fearless leader, a brave fighter, and a loving mother, wife, and daughter. There is a compliment in Ireland that we think sums her up perfectly - “some woman for one woman.”

An inspirational spirit

Her legend has survived and Grace O’Malley is celebrated as an icon of female strength the world over with statues, stories, songs, and poems in her honor. Her spirit inspired the design of one of our newest additions to our folklore range. Perfect for a fierce, independent person or those with an adventurous and unconquerable spirit.

A polished Sterling silver frame encircles the side profile of this legendary woman, gazing out to sea to one of her ships waiting on golden waves. The glistening gold-plated sail draws the eye and captures the adventurous spirit that Grace embodied in her time and still inspires to this day.

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We hope you have enjoyed reading about a small piece of Ireland's rich culture and folklore. Check out our for more stories like these on our blog, or browse our Folklore collection for beautiful designs, inspired by our rich history and culture.