{"id":31633,"date":"2021-03-23T14:14:18","date_gmt":"2021-03-23T19:14:18","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.sinclairclarion.com\/home\/?p=31633"},"modified":"2021-03-24T09:41:53","modified_gmt":"2021-03-24T14:41:53","slug":"grace-omalley-the-pirate-queen-of-ireland","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.sinclairclarion.com\/home\/tartan-news\/2021\/03\/23\/grace-omalley-the-pirate-queen-of-ireland\/","title":{"rendered":"Grace O\u2019Malley: The Pirate Queen of Ireland"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

March is Irish American Heritage Month<\/a> as well as Women\u2019s History Month<\/a>.  While history has no shortage of remarkable Irish women, one stands out above the rest.  Her name was Grace O\u2019Malley<\/a>, and she was Ireland\u2019s pirate queen.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Gr\u00e1inne N\u00ed Mh\u00e1ille, known as Grace O\u2019Malley in English, was born on Clare Island in Ireland\u2019s Clew Bay<\/a> in 1530.  Her father was the O\u2019Malley Clan\u2019s elected ruler.  She took to the seas from an early age, although sailing was considered a man\u2019s profession.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

At 16, O\u2019Malley married Donald O\u2019Flaherty<\/a>, and the couple had four children together.  O\u2019Flaherty was expected to become the next clan leader, as it was traditional in Irish politics for clans to strengthen their alliances through marriage.  However, he died in battle and she chose to return home to Clare Island with her children.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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