Grace O’Malley (Granuaile or Grainne Ni Mhaille in Irish ☘️) is one of Ireland's foremost heroines, whose life was the stuff of Irish legend. She was the only daughter of Chieftain Owen O Malley who ruled much of the western coast of Ireland stretching from Achill Island to Innisboffin. The O’Malleys, a powerful family, built a number of formidable Castles along the western shoreline where their fortune was gained from plundering and pirating from ships that sailed along the west coast.
When Grace was a young girl she wanted to join her father in one of his seagoing trips. Her mother forbade this, saying that she was only a girl. In defiance, Grace shaved off all of her hair and when her father saw this he relented and allowed her to go on the voyage. A woman who refused to be curtailed by the prejudices of her era.
Grace O’Malley, often referred to as "The Pirate Queen", challenged and manipulated the turbulent politics of the 16th century. Tradition has it that in around 1575 returning from a visit to Queen Elizabeth, Grace O'Malley landed at Howth and proceeded to the castle hoping to be admitted to dine with Lord Howth and to obtain supplies for her voyage back to Mayo.
A warrior of the high seas, the Pirate Queen, mother, wife, and chieftain whose very name struck fear into the heart of her enemies. ….”powerful by land and sea.”
This GZ often gets walkers/hikers who have come “off the beaten track” into this housing estate. They can be seen standing beside this GZ scratching their heads, pointing in different directions, consulting maps and finally curiously going in their decided direction.
We live local to this cache so don't be afraid to wave if you see us.
To those who stumbled across this cache because they stumbled down off track there are 3 options:
- Take a right, then next left and left down passed the garda station will take you to the middle of the promenade.
- Take a right, then third left and straight down will take you to the start of the East Pier.
- Take a left, then left and then right down the tramline will take you straight to the bus/DART station.