Grace O'Malleys Castle Achill Island
| The story of Gráinne Ni Mháille, known as Granuaile (pronounced Granya Wale) or more simply, Grace O'Malley, begins nearly 500 years ago along the shores of Clew Bay on the rugged western coast of Ireland in what is today County Mayo. Born in 1530, she was the only daughter of Owen Dubhdara ( Black Oak ) Ni Mháille (O'Malley) and his wife Margaret. Dubhdara was chieftain of the territory of Umhall, the Barony of Murrisk, on the west coast of Ireland. When she was 15 years old her father arranged a marriage for her to Donal-an-Cogaidh (Donal of The Battles) O'Flaherty, chieftain of Ballinahinch in Connemara, to whom she bore three children, Owen, Murrough and her daughter Margaret. Donal O'Flaherty was killed defending Ballinahinch (Cock's) Castle in Lough Corrib against the Joyce clan, which gives rise to another story of the courage and bravery of Granuaile. With the death of Donal, the Joyce's thought the castle would be theirs for the taking, but they had not reckoned on Donal's wife! Granuaile, leading the O'Flaherty clansmen, regained the castle, showing such courage that it was renamed Hen's Castle, the name it still bears to this day! Taking many of her husband's followers along with her she returned to her ancestral lands of Umhall and settled on Clare Island at the mouth of Clew Bay. It was from here that the legend of Granuaile, Pirate Queen of Connacht, was born. Please take time to listen to Rita Connolly's haunting song "Ripples in the Rockpoool" http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-_2Dhb4mQto |
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