Grace OMalley :: Biography

Her Father was a main influence in her life. She is an infamous Irish rebel. She cut her hair short like a boy as a child because she thought it would show her parents that could survive the tough life at sea. Who was this wild Irish woman? Grace O’Malley, Queen of the Irish seas. Wild and dangerous, Grace O’Malley sailed the rocky Irish coast. Born in the year 1530, legend says, when her parents looked into her eyes they said they saw the light of the sea in her eye (McCully, 2). Grace’s Father was a pirate and Chieftain of the O’Malley Clan. Owen, her father, was away for many long trips. Grace thought being a pirate was fun. She asked her parents if she could tag along with Owen. Her parents found this quite funny. Frustrated, she ran off and came back with boy hair. Eventually, Grace proved to her parents that she could withstand the journey (Stanely, PAR 1). After Grace’s first voyage her parents had to face it, she was a pirate at heart. On her first trip her parents were glade she came. Reason being, she saved her father’s life. When the O’Malley Clan was heading back they were attacked. Her father made Grace hid if they were attacked. Grace, a young fearless child, didn’t do that. Instead, she watched from above. Grace, watching the attack from above, saw someone sneak behind her father. She leaped down and attacked him, saving her father (â€Å"Pirate King†, PAR3). O’Malley was a well educated person even though she was a pirate. She could read, write and speak a few different languages including Latin. This skill helped her get places and actually helped her gain respect (McCulley PAR 2). Grace was off and married at the age of 15. Not for love but for alliance. She married Donal O’Flahrety, leader of another powerful clan like the O’Malleys. Together they fought the English and other clans for one year. At the end of the year Grace released Donal. They both couldn’t bear to let each other go. Donal and Grace stayed together not for alliance, but for love this time (â€Å"Sea Queens† 31). Later he died, when is unknown. After the death of Donal she married Richard Bourke. Richard, like Donal was the leader of a powerful clan. Together they were extremely powerful. Grace mainly married Richard for more power over the West Coast of Ireland.