Grace O’Malley - Time Line

Written by Anne Chambers.

1530: Born in the lorship of Umhall, Co Mayo, daughter of the chieftain Owen (Dudara) O’Malley from whom she learned her seafaring expertise.

1546: Given in a politically motivated marriage to Donal of the Battles O’Flaherty, tanaiste of the Clan O’Flaherty in his castle of Bunowen, in Connemara.

1547-1552: Gives birth to 2 sons, Owen and Murrough and a daughter, Margaret.

1560: Donal killed in an inter-clan dispute. Grace avenges his death and assumes leadership of his clan on behalf of her sons.

1564: Returns to Umhall and settles on Clare Island, from where she commences her successful career of ’maintenance by land and sea’ with her father’s ships and a private army of 200 men. Her fame as a leader and an expert mariner grows.

1565: Rescues Hugh de Lacy from the sea and he becomes her lover. Subsequently wreaks a terrible retribution on the MacMahons when they kill Hugh.

1566: When the English administration begins to push into Mayo, she marries Richard-in-Iron Bourke, whose castle, Rockfleet, is less exposed than Clare Island. When she has moved her ships and army into Richard’s castle she divorces him.

1567: Her son Theobald (Tiboid-ne-Long) Toby-of-the- Ships is born aboard her ship. She defends her new-born son from an attack from Barbary Pirates On her return to Rockfleet she becomes re-united with Richard-in-Iron to protect themselves from the English.

1571: With Grace’s help, Richard-in-Iron becomes tanaiste (elected succesor) to the MacWilliam of Mayo, the premier chiefdom in Mayo

1576: The Mac William of Mayo submits to Queen Elizabeth of England. Richard-in-Iron’s position as his successor is under threat.

1577: With her army and navy in tow, Grace impresses Elizabeth’s minister, Sir Henry Sidney in Galway with her military capabilities.

1577: Grace plunders Desmond and is captured by the Earl of Desmond, who imprisons her in Limerick Jail.

1578: To save his own neck, Desmond hands her over to the English Governor.

1578:Grace is thrown into the dungeons of Dublin Castle

1579: Richard-in-Iron rises in rebellion. Grace is released from prison by the English on the pretext of bringing him to heel.

1579: Grace plunders English shipping. She routs an English army sent to beseige her at Rockfleet.

1580: The MacWilliam dies and his son succeeds him by English law. Grace and Richard go into rebellion to secure their rights. Grace’s ships bring in the infamous Scottish mercenaries, the Gallowglass. The English are no match for them and agree to deal. Richard becomes the MacWilliam of Mayo and is inaugurated in the age-old Gaelic custom.

1581: Grace and Richard resist the encroachment of the English on their power and lands.

1583: Richard-in-Iron dies. Grace immediately secures Rockfleet Castle as her base.

1584: Sir Richard Bingham is appointed English Governor. He sets out to destroy Grace and her family.

1584: Grace leads a rebellion against Bingham.

1586: Bingham’s brother kills Grace’s eldest son, Owen

1586: Under the guise of a truce, Bingham lures Grace to his headquarters. He proclaims her a traitor and condems her to death. She is rescued by her son-in-law.

1587: Grace flees to Ulster to consult with O’Neill. With his ally, O’Donell, he is plotting to unite the Irish for the first time and, with help from the King of Spain, to drive the English out of Ireland.

1588: The Spanish Armada is driven by bad weather to its doom. Bingham exacts a terrible revenge on Grace and her relations for helping the Spanish. They retaliate and Bingham declares all-out war.

1589: Bingham accuses Grace of treason and of being ’the nurse to all rebellions in Ireland’ and reports her to Elizabeth.

1590: Bingham pressurises Grace’s second son, Murrough, to ally with him. Furious Grace attacks Murrough intensifies her efforts against Bingham.

1591: By adopting a ’scorched earth’ tactic, Bingham finally defeats Grace. He destroys her fleet of ships which rendering her powerless. She strikes back and seizes an English ship.

1592: In desperation Grace writes to Elizabeth telling her of the injustices perpetrated against her by Bingham and seeking redress.

1593: Bingham seizes Tibbot and charges him with treason, a crime punishable by death.

1593: Grace makes a momentuous and dangerous decision. (July)She will sail to London and put her case to Elizabeth face to face.

1593: Septemper, Against Bingham’s advice Elizabeth grants Grace an audience at her glittering Court at Greenwich. Showing a shrewd negotiating ability and daring, Grace outmaneuvers the Queen, secures her son’s release and boldly elicits the Queen’s assent to continue her career by land and sea.

1594: Bingham is recalled to England and Grace returns unhindered to her old career.

1597: At the ’great age’ of 67, Grace is recorded still actively leading her men by sea in a retaliatory attack on MacNeil of Barra off the Scottish coast.

1601: The Battle of Kinsale and the final demise of the Gaelic world of Grace O’Malley.

1603: Grace dies at Rockfleet.

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Grace O'Malley: The Biography of Ireland's Pirate Queen, 1530-1603 is the sole published biographical account of Grace O’Malley, sourced from original manuscript material, both in public and in private domain. For the latter, the author, Anne Chambers, had sole and exclusive access. Much of this material was located and decyphered in its original form (i.e.16th century manuscripts) by the author and is exclusive to her book. Furthermore, the presentation, opinions and analyses in the book are exclusive to the author. The author reserves all her rights in this book. No part of her book may be reproduced or utilised in any form or media, written or oral, or by means digital, electronic or mechanical, including photographic, film, video recording, photocopying, or by any information storage and retrieval system. Permission from the author and publisher must first be obtained to reproduce any part of or quotations from the book. Any transgression in this regard will be addressed. For more information, comments or enquiries please contact: Info: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. Copyright © 2022.

 

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