Grace O'Malley

Grace O'Malley (c. 1530 - c. 1603), also known as Gráinne O'Malley, was the daughter of Eóghan Dubhdara Ó Máille and the head of the Máille dynasty in western Ireland. She is a well-known historical character in sixteenth-century Irish history and is remembered in Irish folklore as Gráinne Mhaol (anglicised as Granuaile). She is also one of the most important historical figures in Ireland. Her name was also spelled in contemporaneous English sources as Gráinne O'Maly, Graney O'Mally, Granny ni Maille, Grany O'Mally, Grayn Ny Mayle, Grane ne Male, Grainy O'Maly, and Granee O'Maillie, but never as Grace O'Malley, which is a much later anglicisation. In popular culture, she is known as "The Pirate Queen."

Because O'Malley is not mentioned in Irish annals, documentary evidence for her life comes primarily from English sources, particularly the eighteen "Articles of Interrogatory," written questions put to her on behalf of Elizabeth I. She is mentioned in the English State Papers and other similar records. Despite having a brother, Dónal a Phopa Máille, she took up active leadership of the lordship by land and water after her father died. Marriage to Dónal a Chogaidh (Donal "of the battle") Flaithbheartaigh increased her riches and status, with reports of her owning up to 1,000 head of cattle and horses. When her sons Tibbot Bourke and Murchadh Flaithbheartaigh (Murrough O'Flaherty), as well as her half-brother Dónal a Phopa ("Donal of the Pipes"), were kidnapped by Sir Richard Bingham, the English governor of Connacht, in 1593, O'Malley traveled to England to appeal for their release. She made her formal plea to Queen Elizabeth I at her court in Greenwich Palace.