GRACE O'MALLEY.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XI, Issue 34, 21 December 1883, Page 25

GRACE O'MALLEY.

Granua or Grace O'Malley, is the most celebrated person in the history of Mayo. Her patriotism and deeds are spoken of by a thousand hearth-stones, and the people love and reverence the name of this brave and heroic woman. She was the daughter of O'Malley, chief of the Isles of Arran on the coast of Mayo. She lived in the time when the brave Ulster Chiefs, O'Neill and O'Donnell were struggling for national independence against the English Queen Elizabeth, and Essex her deputy in Ireland. Grace's first" husband ■was Donnell O'Flaherty. He was master of several galley on the sea, and his wife always accompanied him in his excursions against the English. After his death she assumed command of all his ships and castles and continued the war. Her second husband was Richard Burke, "a warlike and rebellious man," as the "Four Masters" describe him. He had good opportunity for indulging his propensity for war after his marriage with Lady Grace. Many an inroad they made on their enemies, and great was the spoil they wrested from the English robbers. In 1575, Sir Henry Sidney after putting to the sword in Ulster all who were found in arms against Elizabeth, marched into Connaught to subdue Grace O'Malley. Her husband, Burke, deeming himself unable to cope with the large force under Sidney's command, accepted terms of submission offered by the Deputy, but Grace scornfully refused to submit, gathered her men together, marched to her castle of Carrig-a-hooley, near Newport, and awaited the onset of Sidney. When called upon to surrender, she replied with a discharge of grape and a loud shout of defiance. A fierce combat ensued. The English were driven back from the walls. Taking advantage of the confusion Grace opened the gates, sallied out at the head of her men and cut most of the enemy to pieces, so that few of them were left to carry the news to their commander, Sidney. After the war she engaged in commerce, and traded between Spain and Ireland. The remains of Several of her castles are still shown in Mayo, and old people relate with pride how she defeated the English at Carrig-a-hooley.— Iri s h World.