Gráinne Ní Mháille
| Grace O'Malley / Grainne Ní Mháille | |
|---|---|
| Born |
c. 1530 Connacht, Ireland |
| Died | c. 1603 (aged 72–73) most likely Rockfleet Castle, Ireland |
| Spouse(s) |
Dónal an Chogaidh Ó Flaithbheartaigh Risdeárd an Iarainn Bourke |
| Piratical career | |
| Nickname | Gráinne Mhaol, Granuaile |
| Allegiance | Ó Máille |
| Battles/wars | Nine Years War (Ireland) |
Grace O'Malley (c. 1530 – c. 1603; also Gráinne O'Malley,Irish: Gráinne Ní Mháille) was lord of the Ó Máille dynasty in the west of Ireland, following in the footsteps of her father Eoghan Dubhdara Ó Máille. Commonly known as Gráinne Mhaol (anglicised as Granuaile) in Irish folklore, she is a well-known historical figure in 16th-century Irish history.
Her name was rendered in contemporary English documents in various ways, including 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. All are English versions of her actual name, Gráinne Ní Mháille.
Upon her father's death she took over active leadership of the lordship by land and sea, despite having a brother, Dónal an Phíopa Ó Mháille. Marriage to Dónal an Chogaidh (Dónal "the warlike") Ó Flaithbheartaigh brought her greater wealth and influence, reportedly owning as much as 1,000 head of cattle and horses. In 1593, when her sons Tiobóid a Búrc (Tibbot Bourke) and Murchadh Ó Flaithbheartaigh (Murrough O'Flaherty), and her half-brother Dónal an Phíopa ("Dónal of the Pipes") were taken captive by the English governor of Connacht, Sir Richard Bingham, O'Malley sailed to England to petition for their release. She formally presented her request to Elizabeth I at her court in Greenwich Palace.
Ní Mháille was born in Ireland around 1530, when Henry VIII was King of England and held the title Lord of Ireland. Under the policies of the English government at the time, the semi-autonomous Irish princes and lords were left mostly to their own devices. However this was to change over the course of O'Malley's life as the Tudor conquest of Ireland gathered pace.
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