Grainne O'Maille or Grace O'Malley as she is known in English, is one of the most prominent women in the history of County Mayo. Born in 1530, Grainne was the daughter of the Chieftan of the O'Malley Clan who ruled the Kingdom of Umhall on the West coast of Mayo. Described in her time as "a most feminine sea captain", Grainne agressively defended and maintained her family fortunes through both legitimate trade and piracy on the Atlantic waters.
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Grainne was often referred to as "The Pirate Queen of Connaught". With residences on Clare Island, Achill Island, Westport and Carraughowley on Clew Bay, Grainne's influence and reputation was far reaching, not only in Mayo but also in Britain, France, Spain and Portugal. She is now described as the most remarkable woman in Irish history and is admired and respected for her brave and unconventional role as an Irish woman. Grainne's life was long and full of peril, loves, losses and gains. She became a legend, which in turn became a myth, for the men of Ireland would not acknowledge a woman as a warrior, patriot and leader.
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Strangely, there can be found no reference to Grainne in what may be called the National Annals, most probably because the official chroniclers would not recognice a female chieftain as head of her tribe. |
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