Let’s Talk Trash! MARCH/APRIL 2018
7
©2018 The Keenan Group, Inc
Grainne O’Malley was a pirate queen who went by the name Grace O’Malley. She was the lord of the O’Maille dynasty in west Ireland and the queen of Umaill. Grace was born into royalty, her father Eoghan Dubhdara Ó Máille also known as “Black Oak” was the chieftain of the Barony of Murrisk which is a county in southwest Ireland. The O’Malleys were known as the
was a cruel governor in charge of Irish territories. She would have been killed, but she escaped. Later her brother and son were captured so she accused the Queen of England of being unfair. She set sail for England to meet with the queen in 1593. She wore appropriate attire for visiting
seafarers, their ships traded from the west coast to Spain, Portugal and Scotland. Grace loved this job; she wanted to sail with the O’Malley fleet when she was older but her mother wouldn’t let her. Grace begged her mother to let her sail but she said it was no life for a lady. When her father died she received his large shipping and trading
Grace O’Malley
the queen; however, she refused to bow to whom she felt was an unrightful ruler of Ireland.
She managed to convince the queen that she should free her family as well as give her back a large portion of the land she had taken away from her. In turn, Grace had to stop supporting Irish lords who were fighting for independence of their land. Grace was a courageous
business. She had wanted this ever since she was a kid, she never fit the stereotype of a sixteenth century woman. Grace became somewhat powerful because of the money she earned through her business and land she got from her mother. When Ireland was ruled by many chieftains, she took over 20 ships in a raid on her rivals, and also fought government officials who tried to stand in her way. At 17 Grace married a man named Dónal an Chogaidh Ó Flaithbheartaigh and had three children with him. Dónal was the heir of the O’Flaherty clan. He died and she later married Sir Richard Bourke (Richard an IarAinn Bourke) A year into their marriage it became clear that this was a political marriage meaning they didn’t truly care for each other and only married to benefit themselves. Bourke owned Rockfleet Castle also known as Carrigahowley Castle. When they got
woman who stood up for what she felt was right and never gave up. She defied stereotypes based off of her gender and proved women can be strong and courageous - that you can be “Who” you want to be regardless of what anyone else says.
Most of Ireland fell under English rule but Grace stuck up for herself and her land and managed to stay out from under English rule. To this day she is very important to the Irish culture. Umaill was a territory located in the west of what is now County Mayo, Ireland. It comprises the baronies of Burrishoole and Murrisk, essentially all the land adjacent to
married, Grace moved her fleet into the harbor. Grace divorced Bourke and took possession of Rockfleet Castle which protected the harbor which was home to her fleet. She lived in the castle from here on, and built a row of castles to protect their territory. Grace was seen as a brutal,
Clew Bay. The realm was conquered by the Tudor Kingdom of Ireland under the forces of Richard Bingham in 1593. It had then been under the leadership of Gráinne Ní Mháille, who was powerful there in lieu of her
Umaill
thieving pirate by England. England made many attempts to stop her and decided to send a fleet of ships with men to try to stop her. Within two weeks, Grace turned her defense force into an attack on the English which forced them to retreat. However, England was trying to change the traditional laws of Ireland and Grace was a threat. This led to her capture at the age of 56 by Sir Richard Bingham. Bingham
nephew, Éamonn Ó Máille, infant son of her brother and previous king, Lochlann Ó Máille who died in 1580. The English forces successfully integrated the realm into County Mayo
Fleet: “a group of ships sailing together, engaged in the same activity, or under the same ownership.”
By Emily - Team Envy
https://www.google.com/search?q=fleet+definition&rlz=1C1HIJB_enUS772US772&oq=fleet+defin&aqs=chrome.0.0j69i57j0l4.3039j1j9&sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF- 8&safe=active&ssui=on, http://www.ancient-origins.net/history-famous-people/grace-o-malley-16th-century-pirate-queen-ireland-001773 http://www.thepirateking.com/bios/omalley_grace.htm, http://www.libraryireland.com/HealyEssays/Grania2.php
Editor’s note: Congress declared March as National Women’s History Month in perpetuity. A special Presidential Proclamation is issued every year which honors the extraordinary achievements of American women. There have been many other extraordinary women in history from many other countries as well. This issue celebrates the contributions that Ireland has made on our culture and a peak into their history.
The
Phyllis & Sloane Hunter
Diner
aaron@usstn.com c: (615)982-2998 w: (615)227-2275 f: (615)746-5211 ProjectManager AARONWOLFE
The Ashland City Times the EXCHANGE
Made with FlippingBook - Online magazine maker