Grace O’ Malley Nicole Muschinske

Country Of Origin Mayo County, Ireland

Childhood Born in 1530 in Mayo County, Ireland. Daughter of Pirate Owen O’ Malley. Cut hair and dressed like a boy to prove she could handle the sea life. Spent her young life learning the ways of a sailor Owned her first fleet of ships at a young age.

Ships Grace used galleys Galleys are used for trade and warfare They were propelled by oarsmen

Code of Conduct Grace O’ Malley did not have a code of conduct that was specific to her fleet of ships. Most other pirate codes of conduct stated women could not be allowed on ships. “No boy or woman to be allowed amongst them. If any man shall be found seducing any of the latter sex and carrying her to sea in disguise he shall suffer death.” Obviously, Grace did not pay attention to these codes.

Associations Grace mostly associated with her own family. Her first husband Donal O'Flahetty, whom she had 3 kids with After Donal died she married Richard Burke, and had one more child. Also associated with her crewmates

Associations with England During this time, England was taking Irish land. Grace fought back as did her family. Grace’s brother and son were captured by the English, so she went to negotiate with Queen Elizabeth Queen Elizabeth admired Grace’s spirit and pardoned her family. Grace was supposed to be executed but the Queen Pardoned that too.

Associations with England, Cont. Grace agreed to use her leadership and power to protect the Queen. The song to the right was supposedly played whenever Grace was in the Queen’s court.

Who was Affected? Grace attacked Turkish and Spanish ships and stole the cargo. She plundered Scotland’s outlying islands on her return trips back to her father on Clare island. She also attacked fortresses on the shoreline

Pirating Activities Since Grace’s ships had been banned from Galway, the most important trading port in Ireland, she most commonly attacked ports right outside of Spain, Portugal, and Scotland. Other than pirating ships, Grace charged ships for safe passage and regained her riches and had a thriving piracy empire and control of 5 of the castles in the area. (Of Clare Island)

Story Grace developed the nickname “Granuaile” because her brother called her “Grainne Mhaol” when she cut her hair. Grainne Mhaol means “bald”.

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