Grace O’Malley was a woman of fire and adventure, a pirate, mercenary, traitor, chieftain, and noblewoman in her lifetime. She was born in 1530 at Clare Island Castle, County Mayo, Ireland.
Her father Owen “˜Dubhdarra’ (black oak) O’Malley was a well-known sea captain and chieftain of the Barony of Murrish. The O’Malley family were known for their sailing prowess since 1123 and traded with Spain and Scotland on a regular basis.
Grace’s love of the sea was apparent in her early years, she vowed to follow in her father’s footsteps as soon as she was old enough. This caused much dissension with her mother who wanted her to settle and be a noblewoman. She was taught to read Latin and schooled at the castle under the family’s motto “Terra Mariq Potens’” (Invincible on Land and Sea.) Grace continued to insist that she would go to sea and it is said that she once begged her father to take her with him on a trip to Spain. When she was denied because her mother felt it unsuitable for a young lady, she went to her room, cut off her hair and dressed in boys clothing. Her father and half brother were greatly amused and she earned the nickname “Grainne Mhaol” (meaning bald), and from tales of her future exploits one can assume she made the trip to Spain.

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