Putting Women on the Map-Grace O'Malley

Since March is Women's History Month, I want to recognize the most notable O'Malley clan leader, Grace O'Malley or Granuaile (1530-1603).   She is the only woman of power represented on Italian cartographer Baptista Boazio's map of Ireland, near Clew Bay.  I'll be exploring her stomping grounds as part of my brief tour in Ireland. Though she made such an imprint on the world literally, it was curious how her name was obliterated from Irish history and consigned to legends and myth. Researcher and author, Anne Chambers dedicated the last 40 years of her life as her principal biographer and lecturer to bringing to light this formidable O'Malley female. She certainly caught my attention! 

I haven't spent 40 years of my life, but I've spent considerable time during the last couple of months learning about this powerful woman of Ireland.  Besides the obvious surname connection, I can also claim a very remote DNA connection to her posterity as well (4 steps). Go back far enough, and we humans are all connected.  But I proudly claim her, though she wouldn't be so awe-inspired by my life.  She'd probably just kill me if I got in her way, being the "Pirate Queen" and all. 

Grace did not tolerate weakness, cowardice, or disloyalty.  This is the woman, who chided her child for his cowardice for hiding behind her during a fight saying, "Are you trying to hide behind my backside-the place you came from!"  And she could say that to this child, Tiboid-ne- long (Toby of the ships) because she had given birth to him on a ship and led her men in battle the next day as Barbary pirates were attacking her vessel. As the only daughter of the O'Malley chieftain,  Grace inherited her father's ships and a private army of 200 men.  Her fame as an expert seafarer and powerful leader spread throughout the region.

This is also the woman, who took up arms against her own son, Murrough, for his disloyalty and dealings with her sworn enemy by burning his town, spoiling his people, and killing some of his men.  Even Queen Elizabeth was amazed at this dramatic chastisement of Grace O'Malley's son.   Here Grace had all sorts of pirate-like offenses, and that is what Queen Elizabeth thinks is a little over the top?  She labels her other disloyal activities as "hath in times lived out of order."   

This same powerful woman would also risk everything to save the life of her son and family enterprises-her "maintenance by land and sea'.  That was the impetus for Grace's meeting with Queen Elizabeth, as well as being hounded by her arch nemesis, Richard Bingham.  He had already killed her firstborn son, Owen, and now had Toby imprisoned waiting for execution.  Though pirates were left to rot in cages along the Thames river, Grace, a known pirate, courageously confronted her challenges by going to Bingham's superior-the Queen of England. Would I be willing to do that for my family? 

Grace was not only a fierce mother but an even fiercer partner to her 2 husbands and lover.  Both of her 2 husbands were positioned to hold the highest political offices in Gaelic chiefdom-the MacWilliam in their regions.  She was an equal if not greater partner in these Gaelic power couples with all the wealth, power, and prestige attending those offices.  After her first husband was killed, she defeated the rival clan, took back his castle, and won the allegiance of her husband's fighting men. She personally avenged the killer of her lover, Hugh DeLacy, whom she had originally rescued from a shipwreck. Though originally divorcing her 2nd husband by calling out, "I dismiss you!" from the window of his Rockfleet castle (pictured below), she continued to partner with him to resist English encroachment on their lands, rights, and claim to the Mac William.  Grace really was a tower of strength in the crumbling Gaelic power structure that would soon be replaced by English law.   

Both Queen Elizabeth and Grace O'Malley were considered "old women" in their sixties at the time of their meeting.   After a semi-favorable outcome, Grace returned to her life, family, and work around Clew Bay.  Unlike the gal from Inis Samir who felt trapped by her island home surrounded by water, Grace saw the water as a highway of opportunities and immense freedom.  At Rockfleet Castle, (pictured above) it was reported how Grace docked her ship through the window and tied the rope by her bedside so she would always be ready to sail at any time. 

At age 67, Grace led a retaliatory attack off the Scottish coast, proving she still had "it" after all these years.  What is the "it?"  Fighting spirit. Fierce Independence.  Passion.  Resilience.  Grit. Strength.  I don't quite know, but I know I need some of "it" right now, especially while approaching the big 60 this May! I believe we can and do receive strength from our ancestors to face our present-day challenges.  Help me Granuaile...impart some of that strength to your O'Malley clan member!  Help me be a tower of strength overlooking my own Clew Bay of limitless possibilities.