Thanks to Colm McGuirk from the Irish Mail on Sunday, published on March 16th, 2025, for the interview 'Pirate Queen Grace O'Malley was too regal for blockbuster treatment'.

Galway City Museum - March 22 @ 2:00 pm - 3:00 pm UTC+0

This event is free of charge, but advance booking is essential as places are strictly limited. For further details or to make a booking, please contact the Museum on (091) 532460 or email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Born on the shores of Clew Bay in Co. Mayo, Grace O’Malley (Gráinne ‘Mhaol’ Uí Mháille, c. 1530–1603) was a woman before her time. One contemporary commentator noted of the strong and confident noblewoman and fearless sea captain, who controlled the seas of Connacht: ‘Grany O’Maly thinketh herself to be no small lady’.

About 1546, she married Domhnall ‘An Chogaidh’ O’Flaherty of Bunowen Castle, Ballynahinch in Connemara, thus uniting two prominent Gaelic families of the West, and one of her sons from this marriage (Murrough-ne-Maor O’Flaherty) was buried in the Franciscan Abbey in Galway in 1626. Join Anne Chambers as she discusses the life and times of Grace O’Malley with special reference to her many connections with Galway.

Chambers is the author of the definitive, international bestselling book, Grace O’Malley: The Biography of Ireland’s Pirate Queen 1530-1603, which the Sunday Tribune hailed as ‘a historical reality which is equally if not more compelling than the legend.’

'To celebrate Women's International Day Anne highlights the remarkable life of ELEANOR COUNTESS OF DESMOND (1545-1638) the forgotten heroine of the Tudor Wars in Ireland.'

ELEANOR COUNTESS OF DESMOND (1545-1638)

A Forgotten Heroine of the Tudor Wars By ANNE CHAMBERS

‘Out of every corner of the woods and glens they came creeping forth upon their hands for their legs could not bear them, they looked like anatomies of death, they spoke like ghosts, crying out of their graves…in a short space there were none almost left and a most populous and plentiful country suddenly left void of man or beast.’

So the English poet, Edmund Spenser, described the province of Munster in the year 1583. While the dreadful spectacle of famine, death and decay may have appalled his eyes, Spenser, together with the famous explorer, Sir Walter Raleigh, had actively participated in and personally benefited from Munster’s ruin, as the English Crown wrested the province from the grip of its once powerful overlord – Garret (Gerald) Fitzgerald, 15th Earl of Desmond who, from his headquarters at Askeaton castle in county Limerick, had dominated and controlled the wealth and politics of the province for decades.

By 1579, however, the writing was on the wall for Desmond. Rooted in the feudal tradition of a bygone era the world outside his Munster domain had moved on. Queen Elizabeth I of England viewed him as a threat to her power in Ireland, his intrigues with Spain a threat to England’s security and the vast acres under his control in Munster a potential goldmine. After years of prevarication in 1579 Elizabeth finally let loose the dogs of war. Desmond was proclaimed a traitor, a price on his head and his lands and numerous castles up for grabs.

Acclaimed Irish filmmaker Kirsten Sheridan has optioned Grace O'Malley – The Biography of Ireland's Pirate Queen by renowned biographer Anne Chambers. The feature film, supported by Screen Ireland, will be produced by Wild Atlantic Pictures in collaboration with Reclaim Entertainment Ventures (Los Angeles), with a targeted production start in 2026.

Academy Award® and Golden Globe nominated writer and producer Sheridan, whose recent work includes Lockerbie (Sky/Peacock) and the Writer’s Guild of America and IFTA-nominated Say Nothing (Hulu/Disney+), has been developing the feature/TV project with Chambers for some time.

The film will chronicle the extraordinary true story of Grace O’Malley culminating in her famous meeting with Queen Elizabeth I, the most powerful ruler in British history. When her youngest son is taken prisoner, Grace sails up the Thames to confront Queen Elizabeth directly. While perceived enemies, as women, while they question each other's identity, pierce each other's wounds, they win each other's respect and come together as equals to define, not just their nationality, but their most intimate selves.

“This is a deeply personal passion project for both Anne and myself,” said Sheridan. “Every Irish woman now knows Grace O’Malley’s story now thanks to Anne’s innovative biography. It is one of power, resilience, and rebellion. Grace O’Malley defied gender norms, social and political female bias, controlled her own destiny and won the respect of the most powerful woman in history.

Unlike traditional period dramas, Sheridan’s vision for the film is raw and contemporary, exploring themes of sexuality, identity, and gender with a fresh and provocative lens. The project will not only depict Grace’s legendary exploits but will also dive into her complex personal journey as a leader, mother and survivor.

For further information please contact:
Wild Atlantic Pictures – This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.