Pirate Queen of Connacht

A woman of adventure, courage and fire,

Grace O’Malley, Pirate Queen of the sea,

A female swashbuckler in men’s attire,

her destiny formed by an urge to be free

and from lessons learned on each sea trip

with her father, a Captain, aboard his ship.

To follow in his footsteps the child had vowed,

spurning the life of a noblewoman, proud.

Her courage and exploits earned her fame,

for never by mishap or men was she cowed.

The Dark Lady of Doona, such was her name.

Her father, Dubhdarra, an Irish Clan Chieftain

Had good reason to be proud of his child,

She was a true daughter of this Sea Captain

with a fiery nature, hot blooded and wild.

One day her fathers ship came under attack,

an English pirate lunged at Dubhdarra’s back.

As he raised his sword, Grace caught its gleam

 from the rigging she leaped with loud angry scream.

The pirate she flattened and deflected his aim,

distracting the enemy and gaining esteem,

The Dark Lady of Doona, such was her name.

Married at sixteen into the O’Flaherty Clan,

To Donal, Chieftain of all Iar-Connacht.

Ousted as Chieftain by an English plan,

Donal died in battle, with the rival Joyce Clan.

Grace went home to Clare Island, Clew Bay,

taking her children and 200 followers to stay.

From there she harassed the ships for gain,

made them pay for safe passage or suffer pain.

For her the consequences remained the same,

the Queen of pirates continued to reign.

The Dark Lady of Doona, such was her name.

 Grace married the owner of Castle Rockfleet

to gain control of the castle and all Clew Bay.

 Then with a verbal divorce she did him greet,

exactly one year from their wedding day.

On a sea voyage their son Tibbot was born,

next day she fought off Algerian pirates with scorn.

Over the years she grew in wealth and power,

and the English tried to lay siege to her tower.

Her strength lay in the way she played the game,

 they were forced to retreat, their plans gone sour.

The Dark Lady of Doona, such was her name.

Sir Richard Bingham became a thorn in her side,

he stole her possessions, threatened with death;

this arrogant Englishman she could not abide,

she determined to fight him to her last breath.

A letter to England’s Queen she did write,

and offered the services of her army to fight.

Then decided they should meet face to face,

she chose the time, Elizabeth’s court the place.

Off she sailed, and to Greenwich she came,

they conversed in Latin, these two Queens of grace.

The Dark Lady of Doona, such was her name.

Envoy

Granuaile, Queen of Pirates, Lady of noble birth

You fulfilled your destiny upon this earth.

When two Queens met and conversed together,

You broke your enemies power forever.

A woman of strength that no man could tame

You pursued success with every endeavour.

Dark Lady of Doona, such was your name.

Jackie S Brooks ©

1^st March 2005