AN IRISH QUEEN-GRACE O'MALEY.

Otago Witness, Issue 1943, 14 February 1889, Page 31

AN IRISH QUEEN-GRACE O'MALEY.

The story of Grace O'Maley is one out of many tales, of bygone days which is still remembered with pride, and her daring adventures may still be heard from many a peasant's mouth along the western coast. Grace— or Grana Uili, as she was called— was the daughter of Breanbaun O'Maley, chieftain of that part of Mayo surrounding Clew Bay. At an early age she was the oompanion of her father in his piratical expeditions, from which she imbibed a taste for the watery element and an adventrarer's perilous life. On her father's death she fook his place at the head of the clan, and her daring exploits were far in excess of any that had gone before. She was wholly insensible to fear, and the terror of her name flew along the coast, as she was continually making raids, and capturing cattle and treasure. All the most desparate characters placed themselves at her command, willingly giving their allegiance to a warrior princess whose courage and prowess ensured success in'every enterprise. She soon acquired a considerable fleet ; the larger vessels, when in harbour, anchored in the roadstead of Clew Island; and the smaller, that convoyed her galley up the creek, were moored close under the castle walls of Carrignahooley— or Palace of the Queen of the West, as it was called. In the course of time Grace became the wife of Sir Bichard Bourke, Lord of Mayo, an alliance more of policy than affection, for we find he was soon dismissed. Very probably, too, the ties of a married life did not suit the roving western queen. Her fame soon reached the ears of Queen Elizabeth, who offered a large reward for her apprehension. During the limit of the proclamation Grace took every possible precaution to prevent treachery. She caused an apperture to be made in the sea wall of her chamber, through which a cable was passed and fastened to her yacht at one end, and round her bedpost at the other. At last she came to the determination that she would give up her piratical life, and personally put herself under the protection of the English Queen. During her voyage to London a son was born to her, the result of her marriage with Sir Kichard Bonrke. As he arrived on board ship he was named Tohaduah na Lung— or Toby of the Ship — and from him are descended the Viscounts Mayo. On reaching her destination she was received by Elizabeth with great courtesy, and obtained her pardon. Their meeting niust have been a carious sight. Grana, in the simple costume of her native country, consisting' of a bodice and petticoat containing thirty yards of linen wound round her, a madder-coloured mantlo flung over one shoulder, her wild hair gathered up and fastened with a gold bod-

kin, and her legs and feet bare and reddened with exposure; while there sat Elizabeth and her ladies, decked out in all the costly conceits of that period, and with the help of stays, stomacher, and farthingale, looking very stiff and stately. Grana, however, was by no means overcome, but held out her weather-beaten hand to " Sister Elizabeth," as she called her, and sat down with much composure, Perceiving that she was not supplied with that useful article of dress a pocket-handkerchief, her Majesty presented her with one, which she, however, having once used, immediately threw into the fire. On ars interpreter explaining to her that it was the proper thing to keep it in the pocket till again required, she was quite indignant, and said that the more cleanly habits of her country would quite forbid such a practice. Elizabeth is said to have presented her with a little lap-dog, which, however, quite offended Grace. "My lap," said she ; " it's little the likes of me would be doing with such a thing, it is only fit for idlers like you." 41 Oh, but, Grana," said Elizabeth, you are mistaken ; lam not idle, I have the care of this great nation on my shoulders." •'May be so," said Grana, " but as far as I can see of your ways, there's many a poor creature in Mayo who has only the care of a barley-field, and has a deal more industry about them." We do not hear what Elizabeth replied to this not very polite remark ; perhaps it was rather refreshing as a variation to the flattery and adulation with which she was surrounded. At any rate, Grana soon started on her homeward voyage, which was accompanied by an event illustrating the peculiar feelings in Ireland with regard to hospitality. To such an extent was this carried that there used to be an old law which forebade any house to be suddenly closed, for fear the traveller might be disappointed in his welcome. Grace O'Maley, having landed at Howth, sought the hospitality of its lord, but arriving at the castle found the gates shut, and all admission denied, as the family were at , dinner. " Oh, the Saxon churl," cried Grace, " its well seen he has not a drop of Irish blood in his big body ; he shall smart for this." And so he did; for on her way to the shore Grace passed a neat-looking cottage, and seeing a noble-looking boy at nurse therein, she inquired who he was, and being told that he was the eldest son of the Lord of Howth, she accordingly carried him off on i board her galley and set sail for her Castle jof Carrignahooley. Very probably the infant prospective Lord of Howth and young "Toby of the Ship" struck up a cradle friendship as they were rocked to and fro by the not too tender billows. The innocent victim of vengeance was detained some time at Carrignahooley, until Lord Howth stipulated for his restoration by a promise for himself and his decendants that the gates of Howth Castle should always be thrown open during dinner, a promise said to be observed ! to this day. This national feeling of hospitality is really remarkable. The benighted traveller may lift the latch of the poorest hovel and be sure of receiving shelter and a welcome, and is generally given the most comfortable seat and the largest potato. Lady Georgina Ohatterton mentions a man whom she knew who took in a poor woman and her sick daughter, perfect strangers, and allowed them to remain for months in his little cabin. When she remarked to him how kind it was to allow them to stay, he replied, "Ah, thin, t'would be a quare thing for any Christian to refuse a craythur that wanted it a corner of the cabin and a lock of straw to lie in. What harm would it do a body for them just to stretch under the same roof, poor quiet craythurs ?" Dr Smith tells that he knew of a" stone which was set up on the side of a certain road, and which bore an inscription to the effect that all travellers might repair to the house of a Mr MacSwiney for entertainment (gratis). ' The English who have settled in Ireland are affected with the same hospitable spirit, which perhaps accounts for the enormous piles one sometimes sees erected, even in the most out-of-the-way parts. — " Leisure Hour."