Grace O'Malley: Mom AND Pirate!

Moms through the ages have held many different types of jobs. My mom has amazed me constantly with how well she balanced work, college and motherhood, but let me tell you a bit about Grace O’Malley: the mom who was also a pirate!

She was born in the early 1500’s and lived to be over 70 years old! That is quite an
accomplishment given the tumultuous age in which she lived. She fought against the British to preserve the Irish way of life, as well as fighting off other Irish clans wanting to claim her lands and power as their own. I can’t say she was innocent in any of these clan wars, as it is fairly evident that she instigated a few of them. However, this was the way of the world in Ireland at that time.

She had four children, and it is said that the day after the birth of her fourth child, Turkish pirates attacked the ship she was on. She was trying to regain her strength in her cabin, and the captain informed her that the battle wasn’t going well. She got up and joined her men on deck, and the Turks were not only thwarted, they were soundly defeated. Then they confiscated the Turkish ship. All I have to say is: Don’t mess with a mom trying to take a nap!

You think your mom is strict about manners? Grace was once sailing home from England and needed to make a stop for supplies in Dublin. She went to the local man in charge, Lord Howth, but his gates were locked and the servants would not disturb him during dinner. This ticked Grace off. As she returned to her ship she bumped into the lord’s son and heir and took him to her castle. Lord Howth begged her for his son’s safe return and informed her he would pay any ransom. She informed him that the only thing she wanted was for his gates to never be locked against those in need of hospitality and that he was to always keep an extra seat ready at his table. I wonder what she did if you had your elbows on the table?

The “Queen of the Irish Seas” taught her sons (and daughter) courage in the face of danger and to stand up for what you believe. She fought for her livelihood and for a free Ireland. When Britain gained a permanent foothold in Ireland, she personally asked Queen Elizabeth I for freedom to continue her piracy (against the queen’s enemies, of course). It was women like this who cut the path we walk on now. I salute all moms past and present, including the pirates!



***Featured in the 05/08/2003 Short Story newsletter***