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[Narrator] The O'Malley clan
ruled western Ireland
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with a fierce stronghold
on both land and sea.
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The chieftain's daughter,
Grace O'Malley,
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was drawn to the ocean.
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[Expert 1] Where
Grace O'Malley is concerned,
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the sea is in her DNA.
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[Narrator] Defying the
conventions of her era,
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she rose to become a feared
captain and clan ruler,
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dominating Irish waters
for 50 war-torn years
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as an infamous pirate
and respected leader of men.
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[Expert 2] She was a force
to be reckoned with.
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[Expert 3] In a period of time
when women did not have power.
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[Narrator]
Her battles took O'Malley
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from the Highlands of Scotland
to the heat of Spain
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and the court
of Queen Elizabeth I.
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She carved her mark
on history and legend
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and will forever be known
as Ireland's Pirate Queen.
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♪ ♪
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♪ ♪
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[Tara Rider] 16th-century
Ireland is not a nation.
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There is no sense
of Ireland as a whole.
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You have all of these clans that
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rule their small territories.
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[Oliver Finnegan] This was
a very different system
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to having a singular kingdom.
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There was a lot of moving parts
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in terms of the politics
of any given region.
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[Narrator] An extensive domain
in western Ireland
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and the waters beyond
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has been claimed
by the O'Malleys.
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[Anne Chambers] The O'Malley
clan are associated with the sea
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even before
written history of Ireland.
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In the old legends of Ireland,
if you mention an O'Malley,
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it was always
to do with the sea.
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One of the medieval poets
of the time called them
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the lions of the green sea.
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[Narrator] Dubhdara O'Malley
is the head of the clan
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and a fearless sailor.
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His fierce reputation,
strength, and resilience
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earns him the nickname
Black Oak O'Malley.
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[Chambers]
Being a maritime clan,
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plundering and piracy
was part and parcel
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of seafaring at that period
and, indeed, long before it.
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The richest fishing grounds
in Ireland happened to be
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off the west coast of Ireland,
which was O'Malley territory.
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[Rider] So, they are
able to basically tax
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those who want to sail
in their water.
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They have enough power
that they go,
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"This is our water.
You want to traverse it?
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Please pay us."
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[Connie Kelleher] One example,
for instance, is in 1553.
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King Philip II of Spain
paid 1,000 pounds a year
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for 21 years to ensure
that his Spanish fleets
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could use the waters around the
coast of Ireland for fishing.
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♪ ♪
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♪ ♪
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[Chambers] Grace O'Malley
was born around the year 1530,
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and she was actually
the daughter
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of the O'Malley chieftain.
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[Narrator] The wild Irish sea
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courses through
young Grace's blood,
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and yet her desire for
the waves remains forbidden.
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Boats are no place for girls,
a female presence on board
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supposedly inviting bad luck
and worse weather.
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To a superstitious clan,
O'Malley's place was at home
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and not at sea
beside her father.
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[Rider] And we have to
recognize by the age of seven,
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a young girl would be starting
to take on the responsibilities
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of becoming a female
in a society
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that is very patriarchal.
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Definitely, if she was older,
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she would be starting
to think about, you know,
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potentially getting married
and running her own house.
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But Grace wanted to go to sea.
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[Narrator] According to legend,
Grace is warned
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that life at sea
is too dangerous for women,
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her long hair a hazard
among sheets and sails.
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She hacks it off in defiance,
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earning herself a moniker--
Grace the Bald.
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[Chambers] You have this young
girl whose father agrees
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to take her to sea...
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...to instruct her
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as he didn't do his son
who lived nearby.
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So, we have to look
and see why is this,
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and we will have to come
to the conclusion
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that the daughter
made the better seaman.
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And you had to know
what you were doing.
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It's a very, very
dangerous coastline
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all along the west coast
of Ireland.
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Still is today, still has
its many tragedies every year.
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♪ ♪
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[Narrator] Grace swiftly
proves her worth as a sailor,
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absorbing everything
her father teaches.
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Soon after, she joins him
on voyages of trade and piracy
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in the Irish seas and beyond.
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♪ ♪
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[Rider] There's a lot of
really strong currents there,
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which means they have very easy
access to go all the way down
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to areas like Spain and France.
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But it also allows them to go
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along the northern part of
Ireland and trade with Scotland.
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And we know that the O'Malleys
had gallowglasses.
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[Narrator] Gallowglasses are
fierce Scottish mercenaries
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employed by the Irish to fight
battles between clans.
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These soldiers for hire
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held no political interest
in the conflict,
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engaging in warfare for money.
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[Rider] Part of what allowed
the O'Malleys to be strong
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was that they had not only
the access to these waterways,
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but they had the knowledge
of these seas,
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and that's part of what
makes them so very strong.
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[Narrator] Grace O'Malley
is now a trusted sailor
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in her father's fleet,
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but she remains more valuable
to him in other ways.
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Dubhdara informs his daughter
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that she's to leave
the sea behind
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and is soon to be married.
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[Chambers] Her marriage would
have been arranged for her
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00:07:08,840 --> 00:07:14,480
and had to pay political,
social, and monetary gain
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00:07:14,480 --> 00:07:18,520
to both her family
and to her clan.
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00:07:21,360 --> 00:07:22,840
The O'Flahertys
and the O'Malleys
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occasionally came to blows,
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and it was really to try
and cover over this animosity
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that had grown between
two neighboring tribes
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that Grace O'Malley's marriage
was made with the son
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of the chieftain
of the O'Flahertys.
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[Narrator] Upholding
ancient tradition
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and her father's wishes,
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O'Malley marries
Donal O'Flaherty,
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marking a fresh chapter as
she settles into family life.
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♪ ♪
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[Chambers] She had two sons with
Donal O'Flaherty and a daughter,
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so she became a full-time mother
from about the age of 17
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to around her early 20s.
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00:08:10,280 --> 00:08:12,920
But also, as the wife
of a chieftain,
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she has to look after him.
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[Narrator] Donal,
O'Malley's husband,
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is doggedly ambitious
but also dangerously reckless.
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Waging war
on neighboring clans,
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he fosters ugly feuds
with powerful enemies.
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Donal's miscalculated attacks
lead to distrust
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in his decision-making,
placing his leadership at risk.
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[Rider] The O'Flaherty men
start to recognize
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that Grace is really
more the leader.
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[Kelleher]
She very much capitalized
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on that Celtic
religious approach
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where women were equal to men.
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[Narrator] Before long, Donal's
exploits catch up with him.
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Overwhelmed and outmatched,
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he's cut down by a rival clan
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whilst fighting for ownership
of a fortress, Cock's Castle,
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leaving O'Malley a widow.
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[Chambers] And when his body
was returned to Grace O'Malley,
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she mourned her husband.
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She buried her husband.
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And this is where she goes
on her first act of revenge
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because she takes his clan
and goes and takes back
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the castle that he
had lost and died for.
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[Narrator] O'Malley
destroys her enemies,
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fighting in her
husband's memory.
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Cock's Castle is now hers,
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and in honor of her victory,
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is renamed Hen's Castle.
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[Chambers] And it is the name
it still bears today
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and is still visible today.
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Very rarely do women
lead on the battlefield,
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and this is the first time we
see Grace O'Malley doing that.
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♪ ♪
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♪ ♪
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[Narrator] Despite having
avenged her husband's death,
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the O'Flaherty elders
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refuse her and her three
fatherless children a home
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or financial support,
leaving her empty-handed.
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[Chambers] And she was
literally forced to come back
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to her father's chieftaincy
in Clew Bay, in County Mayo.
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[Narrator] Another death throws
Grace's future into question,
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the passing
of her father, Dubhdara,
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leaving the O'Malley clan
leaderless.
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Spotting a rare opportunity,
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Grace seizes the mantle
of clan chief.
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Long-standing tradition
dictates that only men
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can become chieftains,
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but Grace cares little
for such conventions
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and nor do the men
who loyally flock to her side.
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[Chambers] She's supposed
to have settled
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on one of her father's castles
on the beautiful Clare Island.
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And it is there that she set
herself up as a chieftain.
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Whether they were attracted
to her by her possibilities
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as a seafarer or her charisma,
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men from other clans,
they agreed to come.
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And over the years, she put
together an army of 200 men
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who followed her
wherever she ordered.
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This is where, I suppose,
the Pirate Queen
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of the Grace O'Malley story
comes into play.
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♪ ♪
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She followed the business
that was in her DNA.
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She started toll-taking
on the ships
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00:12:11,880 --> 00:12:14,320
that used the port of Galway,
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00:12:14,320 --> 00:12:18,000
so she made them pay tolls
for safe passage
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through what she considered
O'Malley territory.
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[Rider] Grace O'Malley is not
targeting treasure ships.
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She's not bringing back gold
and silver and precious jewels.
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She's targeting
small cargo ships.
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It could be cloth,
potentially wine.
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It could be various foodstuffs.
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It doesn't matter whether you're
an English ship, a Spanish ship,
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or even an Irish ship,
you are considered fair game
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because it is
about family and clan.
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[Chambers] There are many
references to her plundering.
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For example, down in Thomond
in County Limerick,
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she's found there.
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00:13:01,360 --> 00:13:04,600
She's also found up
in Donegal at this time,
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00:13:04,600 --> 00:13:07,640
taking cattle mainly
from the clans
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00:13:07,640 --> 00:13:10,160
who would have been
neighboring the sea,
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all along the west coast
of Ireland.
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And in Ireland at the time,
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there was no such thing
as currency.
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Everything was based on
the price of, literally, a cow.
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So, to have as many cattle
in your possession,
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00:13:29,800 --> 00:13:30,960
that was your wealth,
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00:13:30,960 --> 00:13:33,240
and Grace O'Malley
admits herself to having
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00:13:33,240 --> 00:13:36,840
almost a thousand head
of cattle and horses.
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♪ ♪
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00:13:44,960 --> 00:13:48,680
[Narrator] As Grace O'Malley
and her clan raid further
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00:13:48,680 --> 00:13:50,440
and increase in power,
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00:13:50,440 --> 00:13:55,600
frightening rumors of her
piracy reach English shores.
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[Rider] The English have been
involved in Irish politics
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00:13:58,720 --> 00:14:00,200
since the 12th century.
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00:14:00,200 --> 00:14:04,200
But by the time we're getting
to the 16th century,
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00:14:04,200 --> 00:14:05,920
this is a period
of nation building
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00:14:05,920 --> 00:14:09,400
for countries like England
and Spain and France.
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00:14:09,400 --> 00:14:12,080
And England recognizes that
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00:14:12,080 --> 00:14:15,120
if they cannot control
Ireland as a whole,
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00:14:15,120 --> 00:14:17,280
that she would become a threat.
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00:14:17,280 --> 00:14:19,560
Spain could use it
as a jumping-off point,
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00:14:19,560 --> 00:14:22,480
a launching point
to attack the English.
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00:14:22,480 --> 00:14:25,000
And they are seeking
to bring Ireland
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00:14:25,000 --> 00:14:26,720
fully under English control.
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00:14:26,720 --> 00:14:30,880
And the challenge is there is no
one king of Ireland to capture.
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00:14:30,880 --> 00:14:33,200
You have all of these
different clan leaders.
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00:14:35,240 --> 00:14:38,040
[Narrator] Queen Elizabeth I
rules over England
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00:14:38,040 --> 00:14:40,320
in her father's shadow.
243
00:14:40,320 --> 00:14:43,800
Henry VIII had established
a foothold in Dublin
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00:14:43,800 --> 00:14:47,040
as part of his campaign
to conquer Ireland.
245
00:14:50,040 --> 00:14:53,440
Elizabeth needs to expand
her territories peacefully,
246
00:14:53,440 --> 00:14:57,200
if possible,
but by force if necessary.
247
00:14:59,400 --> 00:15:02,480
The English have control
over Dublin.
248
00:15:02,480 --> 00:15:05,400
Now their gaze shifts west.
249
00:15:07,600 --> 00:15:09,000
[Chambers]
The conquest of Ireland
250
00:15:09,000 --> 00:15:12,920
now takes on a new urgency.
251
00:15:12,920 --> 00:15:17,320
Henry VIII tried to seduce
the Gaelic chieftains
252
00:15:17,320 --> 00:15:19,880
to adopt English law,
253
00:15:19,880 --> 00:15:22,440
English custom,
and English titles.
254
00:15:23,560 --> 00:15:25,160
Some of the bigger chieftains
255
00:15:25,160 --> 00:15:27,720
actually did take on
English titles,
256
00:15:27,720 --> 00:15:31,600
and in theory,
became English subjects.
257
00:15:31,600 --> 00:15:33,800
The O'Malleys did not do that.
258
00:15:36,880 --> 00:15:39,520
[Finnegan] In the context
of Grace O'Malley,
259
00:15:39,520 --> 00:15:42,400
this meant that in the
world that she lived in
260
00:15:42,400 --> 00:15:46,040
with the clan system, she could
hold a position of authority
261
00:15:46,040 --> 00:15:48,240
and indeed be a ruler.
262
00:15:48,240 --> 00:15:49,880
In a world
where English authority
263
00:15:49,880 --> 00:15:52,000
was extended into Ireland,
264
00:15:52,000 --> 00:15:54,680
it will be very tough for her
to hold a position of,
265
00:15:54,680 --> 00:15:56,920
shall we say,
government authority,
266
00:15:56,920 --> 00:15:59,600
or she would be subordinated
to an authority.
267
00:16:01,040 --> 00:16:03,480
[Chambers] And it is during
these traumatic periods
268
00:16:03,480 --> 00:16:06,680
for the latter half
of the 16th century
269
00:16:06,680 --> 00:16:11,200
that Grace O'Malley has to
operate within that scenario.
270
00:16:17,280 --> 00:16:18,760
[Narrator]
The English catch wind
271
00:16:18,760 --> 00:16:21,240
of Grace O'Malley
and her clan
272
00:16:21,240 --> 00:16:23,680
but are powerless
to stop her.
273
00:16:23,680 --> 00:16:26,200
Not only does she bear
unrivaled knowledge
274
00:16:26,200 --> 00:16:29,520
of the Irish Sea,
but there's a versatile fleet
275
00:16:29,520 --> 00:16:33,480
of ships and seasoned sailors
at her disposal.
276
00:16:35,480 --> 00:16:37,320
[Chambers] One entry
in the state paper
277
00:16:37,320 --> 00:16:42,320
says there are no other galleys
in Ireland like these.
278
00:16:42,320 --> 00:16:43,640
[Kelleher] On the tomb
of Grace O'Malley,
279
00:16:43,640 --> 00:16:45,400
there's a representation
of a galley,
280
00:16:45,400 --> 00:16:48,520
which looks like
a substantial vessel.
281
00:16:48,520 --> 00:16:50,840
[Chambers] The galley was
an extraordinary vessel.
282
00:16:50,840 --> 00:16:54,720
It had adapted over time
to the lateen sail,
283
00:16:54,720 --> 00:16:56,240
the triangular sail,
284
00:16:56,240 --> 00:16:59,760
which made it much more
versatile on the sea.
285
00:16:59,760 --> 00:17:04,680
The old Viking square mast
could only sail with the wind,
286
00:17:04,680 --> 00:17:07,720
whereas the galley,
with its lateen sail,
287
00:17:07,720 --> 00:17:11,440
could maneuver
against contrary winds.
288
00:17:11,440 --> 00:17:13,280
It also had a very shallow
289
00:17:13,280 --> 00:17:15,160
draft, which meant that it could
290
00:17:15,160 --> 00:17:17,080
come very close to the shore,
291
00:17:17,080 --> 00:17:18,640
which for Grace O'Malley
292
00:17:18,640 --> 00:17:20,720
and her trade
293
00:17:20,720 --> 00:17:24,400
by sea was very, very important.
294
00:17:24,400 --> 00:17:26,600
[Rider] Throughout the archives,
including in this period,
295
00:17:26,600 --> 00:17:30,480
basically reference anything
from 3 to 20 galleys.
296
00:17:30,480 --> 00:17:32,160
Even three would be
pretty significant.
297
00:17:32,160 --> 00:17:35,800
20 would be a small navy
if we're thinking about it.
298
00:17:37,280 --> 00:17:40,280
By having these galleys,
she has the ability
299
00:17:40,280 --> 00:17:45,320
to really cover
a broad amount of territory.
300
00:17:45,320 --> 00:17:48,360
She could travel potentially
all the way down to Spain.
301
00:17:48,360 --> 00:17:52,720
She has the sail power
and the manpower to do this.
302
00:17:55,280 --> 00:17:56,480
[Kelleher] At the same time,
303
00:17:56,480 --> 00:17:58,840
she was looking beyond
her territorial waters
304
00:17:58,840 --> 00:18:01,800
to gain greater control
and greater power.
305
00:18:05,000 --> 00:18:07,480
[Narrator] As the English
slowly extend their control
306
00:18:07,480 --> 00:18:09,480
from Dublin,
307
00:18:09,480 --> 00:18:12,560
Grace O'Malley seeks
to expand her own domain
308
00:18:12,560 --> 00:18:14,360
in western Ireland.
309
00:18:15,560 --> 00:18:16,800
[Rider] This is
an interesting period
310
00:18:16,800 --> 00:18:20,600
because this is when we see
the pragmatic side
311
00:18:20,600 --> 00:18:22,280
of Grace O'Malley coming out.
312
00:18:25,160 --> 00:18:29,360
She wants to claim
full control of Clew Bay.
313
00:18:29,360 --> 00:18:32,000
At this point,
there is only one castle
314
00:18:32,000 --> 00:18:33,320
that she does not control,
315
00:18:33,320 --> 00:18:35,600
and it's at kind of
an important junction
316
00:18:35,600 --> 00:18:40,200
within the waterways there,
and that's Rockfleet Castle.
317
00:18:40,200 --> 00:18:43,720
[Chambers] Hidden away
with a fantastically sound
318
00:18:43,720 --> 00:18:45,880
anchorage for her ships,
319
00:18:45,880 --> 00:18:50,520
the owner of this castle is
called Richard-In-Iron Bourke.
320
00:18:50,520 --> 00:18:54,080
He was quite a powerful
chieftain in Mayo at the time
321
00:18:54,080 --> 00:18:56,640
and was next in line to succeed
322
00:18:56,640 --> 00:19:00,160
to the overall chieftaincy
of all of Mayo.
323
00:19:00,160 --> 00:19:02,520
[Rider] And so she makes
the very political,
324
00:19:02,520 --> 00:19:05,880
pragmatic decision
of "Let's get married."
325
00:19:05,880 --> 00:19:07,880
And so this was seen
as a meeting
326
00:19:07,880 --> 00:19:10,440
of two very powerful leaders.
327
00:19:10,440 --> 00:19:17,200
♪ ♪
328
00:19:17,200 --> 00:19:19,560
[Narrator] Grace enters into
this marriage of convenience
329
00:19:19,560 --> 00:19:22,080
with one ambition--
330
00:19:22,080 --> 00:19:24,640
to take control
of Rockfleet Castle.
331
00:19:26,640 --> 00:19:30,440
In Irish law, both husband
and wife have the legal right
332
00:19:30,440 --> 00:19:33,440
to end their union
after one year.
333
00:19:33,440 --> 00:19:35,880
[Rider] The stories go
that after a year and a day,
334
00:19:35,880 --> 00:19:40,440
Grace O'Malley basically closed
the gates of Rockfleet Castle
335
00:19:40,440 --> 00:19:44,400
and said, "I divorce thee,
but I'm keeping the castle."
336
00:19:44,400 --> 00:19:48,200
And so this leads
to total control of Clew Bay.
337
00:19:49,560 --> 00:19:51,760
[Narrator] Grace
places Bourke's shoes
338
00:19:51,760 --> 00:19:53,640
outside the castle gate
339
00:19:53,640 --> 00:19:57,560
in an accepted sign of divorce,
340
00:19:57,560 --> 00:20:00,680
banishing her former husband
from his own castle.
341
00:20:00,680 --> 00:20:04,840
♪ ♪
342
00:20:10,160 --> 00:20:13,160
Grace O'Malley takes command
of Bourke's troops
343
00:20:13,160 --> 00:20:16,280
to defend what is now
her domain.
344
00:20:16,280 --> 00:20:19,320
This bloodless coup further
solidifies her control
345
00:20:19,320 --> 00:20:21,640
of Ireland's western coast.
346
00:20:24,840 --> 00:20:28,360
[Kelleher] She was playing
a really clever political game.
347
00:20:28,360 --> 00:20:32,040
She was trying to expand
her area on the water
348
00:20:32,040 --> 00:20:35,040
while also trying
to expand her connections
349
00:20:35,040 --> 00:20:37,360
and her influence on land.
350
00:20:37,360 --> 00:20:41,280
And it all was to the betterment
of her surviving
351
00:20:41,280 --> 00:20:44,040
as a Gaelic ruler at a time
352
00:20:44,040 --> 00:20:46,040
when the world around her
was changing.
353
00:20:49,680 --> 00:20:52,040
[Narrator] Rival clans
and Queen Elizabeth I
354
00:20:52,040 --> 00:20:56,240
are closing in
on O'Malley's territories,
355
00:20:56,240 --> 00:20:58,320
forcing the Pirate Queen
to reunite
356
00:20:58,320 --> 00:21:02,200
with her husband she abandoned,
to strengthen her clan.
357
00:21:04,440 --> 00:21:09,520
Soon, O'Malley falls pregnant
with her fourth child.
358
00:21:12,280 --> 00:21:17,360
[Rider] It is said that
she was out at sea pirating
359
00:21:17,360 --> 00:21:22,640
when they got into a battle
with Algerian pirates.
360
00:21:24,000 --> 00:21:26,200
[Narrator] Legends say
O'Malley gave birth
361
00:21:26,200 --> 00:21:28,640
to her son Tibbot at sea,
362
00:21:28,640 --> 00:21:31,120
only shortly before
their ship is besieged
363
00:21:31,120 --> 00:21:34,080
by Algerian pirates,
364
00:21:34,080 --> 00:21:36,480
the fearsome captain
drawing her weapon
365
00:21:36,480 --> 00:21:40,360
and rushing the deck
in defense of her crew.
366
00:21:40,360 --> 00:21:42,040
[Chambers] The pirates
were taken aback
367
00:21:42,040 --> 00:21:44,280
by this disheveled appearance
368
00:21:44,280 --> 00:21:47,320
and hearing the child
cry in the background
369
00:21:47,320 --> 00:21:50,640
that they, for a moment,
were taken off their guard.
370
00:21:50,640 --> 00:21:53,400
[Rider] So, she goes
onto the decks to rally them
371
00:21:53,400 --> 00:21:56,360
and defeat these pirates.
372
00:21:56,360 --> 00:21:59,720
This becomes a story of this
woman who just can do it all.
373
00:21:59,720 --> 00:22:02,840
♪ ♪
374
00:22:02,840 --> 00:22:06,720
It really demonstrates
why the English
375
00:22:06,720 --> 00:22:08,440
are going to fear her so.
376
00:22:08,440 --> 00:22:13,680
♪ ♪
377
00:22:18,440 --> 00:22:21,280
[Narrator] The legend of Grace
O'Malley spreads like wildfire,
378
00:22:21,280 --> 00:22:25,240
her reputation as a cunning
pirate and fierce warrior
379
00:22:25,240 --> 00:22:27,880
earning her mentions
in official correspondence
380
00:22:27,880 --> 00:22:32,720
between Queen Elizabeth
and her army in Dublin.
381
00:22:32,720 --> 00:22:34,200
[Chambers] One dispatch says,
382
00:22:34,200 --> 00:22:37,640
"The most notorious woman
in all the coasts of Ireland."
383
00:22:37,640 --> 00:22:39,640
Another dispatch calls her
384
00:22:39,640 --> 00:22:43,760
"A chief director of thieves
and murderers at sea."
385
00:22:43,760 --> 00:22:47,560
Another calls her, "A nurse
to all rebellions in Ireland."
386
00:22:47,560 --> 00:22:51,160
So, this identikit
of this strange woman
387
00:22:51,160 --> 00:22:54,200
is being built up
at the Elizabethan court,
388
00:22:54,200 --> 00:22:57,960
and it is amazing to read
all these descriptions about her
389
00:22:57,960 --> 00:23:00,120
in the English state papers.
390
00:23:02,720 --> 00:23:06,240
[Rider] By the 1570s, we're
seeing more and more pressure
391
00:23:06,240 --> 00:23:11,840
being put on the English to not
just claim on a map Ireland,
392
00:23:11,840 --> 00:23:16,440
but to fully have Ireland under
English law, English control.
393
00:23:17,840 --> 00:23:20,840
[Narrator] Rather
than seizing land by force,
394
00:23:20,840 --> 00:23:24,240
Queen Elizabeth plans
to offer titles to Irish chiefs
395
00:23:24,240 --> 00:23:26,160
in exchange for their loyalty
396
00:23:26,160 --> 00:23:31,040
under a policy labeled
surrender and regrant.
397
00:23:31,040 --> 00:23:34,280
[Kelleher] Many of them handed
over their lands to the Crown
398
00:23:34,280 --> 00:23:37,920
in agreement that they showed
fealty to Queen Elizabeth.
399
00:23:37,920 --> 00:23:39,040
And in turn, by doing so,
400
00:23:39,040 --> 00:23:42,040
they were allowed
to keep their lands.
401
00:23:42,040 --> 00:23:43,280
[Narrator] O'Malley
and her husband
402
00:23:43,280 --> 00:23:46,320
embrace surrender and regrant,
403
00:23:46,320 --> 00:23:48,600
pledging their loyalty
to Queen Elizabeth
404
00:23:48,600 --> 00:23:53,800
in order to become
Lord and Lady Bourke.
405
00:23:53,800 --> 00:23:57,120
As a subject of the Crown
bound by English law,
406
00:23:57,120 --> 00:24:01,040
Grace vows to end
her career of piracy.
407
00:24:01,040 --> 00:24:03,800
Satisfied with her pledge
of allegiance,
408
00:24:03,800 --> 00:24:07,280
the English return to Dublin,
trusting that this will be
409
00:24:07,280 --> 00:24:10,600
the last they hear
of Grace O'Malley.
410
00:24:10,600 --> 00:24:15,840
♪ ♪
411
00:24:15,840 --> 00:24:17,320
[Finnegan] Not long
after she pledged herself
412
00:24:17,320 --> 00:24:19,760
to the English administration,
413
00:24:19,760 --> 00:24:23,640
she sailed immediately south
and started plundering lands
414
00:24:23,640 --> 00:24:25,600
further down
the west coast of Ireland
415
00:24:25,600 --> 00:24:27,920
in violation with her agreement,
416
00:24:27,920 --> 00:24:31,320
so, in effect, she'd gone back
on her pledge almost right away.
417
00:24:32,600 --> 00:24:34,560
[Narrator] In defiance
of the English law
418
00:24:34,560 --> 00:24:36,360
designed to bind her,
419
00:24:36,360 --> 00:24:41,760
O'Malley continues to plunder
ships and demand tolls.
420
00:24:41,760 --> 00:24:44,640
[Kelleher] Again, we know
that she went across to Scotland
421
00:24:44,640 --> 00:24:46,600
and raided places there
in her ships
422
00:24:46,600 --> 00:24:49,520
and raided ships belonging
to the Scottish lords.
423
00:24:49,520 --> 00:24:52,400
So, she did undertake,
I suppose,
424
00:24:52,400 --> 00:24:54,240
direct acts of piracy.
425
00:24:54,240 --> 00:24:56,760
[Finnegan] Grace O'Malley
really used coastal raiding
426
00:24:56,760 --> 00:25:00,600
and intercepting shipping
as a form of warfare.
427
00:25:00,600 --> 00:25:04,720
So, in other cases, if somebody
had double-crossed her
428
00:25:04,720 --> 00:25:08,600
or if she felt the need to get
ahead of a political situation,
429
00:25:08,600 --> 00:25:10,600
then she would raid towns.
430
00:25:10,600 --> 00:25:13,480
So, she would move into
a region, go into that town,
431
00:25:13,480 --> 00:25:16,320
plunder what they had
in the port and move on,
432
00:25:16,320 --> 00:25:18,440
perhaps take hostages.
433
00:25:18,440 --> 00:25:20,600
So, it had a political
purpose as well.
434
00:25:20,600 --> 00:25:24,960
♪ ♪
435
00:25:32,400 --> 00:25:34,640
[Rider] As we're getting
into the latter part
436
00:25:34,640 --> 00:25:36,240
of the 16th century,
437
00:25:36,240 --> 00:25:39,360
England is identifying
itself with this idea
438
00:25:39,360 --> 00:25:41,560
of being an island nation.
439
00:25:41,560 --> 00:25:42,760
And as an island nation,
440
00:25:42,760 --> 00:25:46,840
they need to control
the seas around them.
441
00:25:46,840 --> 00:25:50,200
Grace O'Malley is the figurehead
442
00:25:50,200 --> 00:25:53,360
of all of the rebellions
that are going on.
443
00:25:53,360 --> 00:25:57,520
It's just simply the successes
that her men and her vessels
444
00:25:57,520 --> 00:26:00,760
are having in impacting
445
00:26:00,760 --> 00:26:03,240
English trade,
English authority.
446
00:26:04,520 --> 00:26:06,880
By getting rid of her,
447
00:26:06,880 --> 00:26:12,040
the English would be able
to conquer and claim
448
00:26:12,040 --> 00:26:16,360
leadership, authority,
and power in this area.
449
00:26:16,360 --> 00:26:19,040
[Narrator] There is now
a target on O'Malley's back,
450
00:26:19,040 --> 00:26:22,200
the English in hot pursuit
of the Pirate Queen.
451
00:26:23,800 --> 00:26:27,120
A long, tireless search
by Elizabeth's men
452
00:26:27,120 --> 00:26:30,600
leads to the eventual capture
of the clan leader.
453
00:26:32,120 --> 00:26:33,880
[Kelleher] Those captured
with her were put to death,
454
00:26:33,880 --> 00:26:36,000
so it was inevitable that
she, too, would have thought
455
00:26:36,000 --> 00:26:40,440
that perhaps this is how she
was going to end her time.
456
00:26:40,440 --> 00:26:44,600
[Narrator] Held in the gloomy
dungeons of Dublin Castle,
457
00:26:44,600 --> 00:26:48,160
O'Malley awaits her fate.
458
00:26:48,160 --> 00:26:50,200
[Chambers] Only the highest
political prisoners
459
00:26:50,200 --> 00:26:53,880
were placed in Dublin Castle
by the English.
460
00:26:53,880 --> 00:26:57,320
And Grace O'Malley was
considered one of these.
461
00:26:59,480 --> 00:27:01,480
[Kelleher] There was
no real communications.
462
00:27:01,480 --> 00:27:03,680
There was no way of finding out
463
00:27:03,680 --> 00:27:06,280
what was happening
back home, as it were.
464
00:27:06,280 --> 00:27:08,480
You know, you didn't have
a proper bed to sleep in.
465
00:27:08,480 --> 00:27:10,520
These were harsh conditions,
466
00:27:10,520 --> 00:27:12,240
they were
unforgiving conditions,
467
00:27:12,240 --> 00:27:13,760
so it must have been
a horrendous time
468
00:27:13,760 --> 00:27:16,400
for Grace O'Malley.
469
00:27:16,400 --> 00:27:19,120
[Narrator] Meanwhile,
on the west coast of Ireland,
470
00:27:19,120 --> 00:27:23,000
an uprising led by O'Malley's
husband, Lord Richard Bourke,
471
00:27:23,000 --> 00:27:26,840
threatens the dominance
of the English in Clew Bay.
472
00:27:26,840 --> 00:27:28,800
[Chambers] He has set up
a rebellion in Mayo
473
00:27:28,800 --> 00:27:31,080
to hope to be able
to get her out.
474
00:27:32,480 --> 00:27:34,560
[Narrator] Almost two years
of O'Malley's life
475
00:27:34,560 --> 00:27:37,160
have been spent
in a prison cell.
476
00:27:37,160 --> 00:27:41,480
But now her captors agree
to release the pirate
477
00:27:41,480 --> 00:27:45,120
if she swears to return home
to Rockfleet Castle
478
00:27:45,120 --> 00:27:47,920
and convince her husband
to stand down his aggression
479
00:27:47,920 --> 00:27:49,800
against the English.
480
00:27:49,800 --> 00:27:53,440
♪ ♪
481
00:27:59,000 --> 00:28:01,880
[Narrator]
Over a decade has passed,
482
00:28:01,880 --> 00:28:04,520
Ireland's landscape
dramatically altered
483
00:28:04,520 --> 00:28:06,040
by an English Crown
484
00:28:06,040 --> 00:28:10,160
insistent on tightening
its grip over the country.
485
00:28:10,160 --> 00:28:12,320
And Lord Bourke dies,
486
00:28:12,320 --> 00:28:16,360
making O'Malley a widow
for the second time.
487
00:28:16,360 --> 00:28:20,280
It doesn't take long
for the Pirate Queen to rebel,
488
00:28:20,280 --> 00:28:22,760
snatching back
her promise to the English
489
00:28:22,760 --> 00:28:26,000
and taking to the open sea,
490
00:28:26,000 --> 00:28:30,680
targeting any ship unfortunate
enough to sail nearby.
491
00:28:30,680 --> 00:28:34,960
[Rider] She is taking on
an ever-growing myth
492
00:28:34,960 --> 00:28:39,360
for the English
as instigating and inciting
493
00:28:39,360 --> 00:28:41,560
the Irish in this area,
494
00:28:41,560 --> 00:28:44,560
and potentially the fear
that one small area
495
00:28:44,560 --> 00:28:46,520
would have a domino effect
496
00:28:46,520 --> 00:28:49,760
and could then incite
others to rebel
497
00:28:49,760 --> 00:28:52,120
against English authority.
498
00:28:54,520 --> 00:28:56,760
[Narrator] The Crown appoints
Sir Richard Bingham
499
00:28:56,760 --> 00:28:59,320
as the governor of Connacht.
500
00:28:59,320 --> 00:29:01,920
A lifelong soldier
with a well-earned reputation
501
00:29:01,920 --> 00:29:04,880
for cruelty,
he's determined to tame
502
00:29:04,880 --> 00:29:09,000
the rebellious
Pirate Queen at last.
503
00:29:09,000 --> 00:29:12,920
[Rider] He is very much
about bringing the Irish
504
00:29:12,920 --> 00:29:18,560
under complete and utter control
by any means necessary.
505
00:29:18,560 --> 00:29:20,280
[Chambers] Where
Grace O'Malley was concerned,
506
00:29:20,280 --> 00:29:22,840
he took an instant
dislike to her,
507
00:29:22,840 --> 00:29:26,800
and he set out to really
undermine her power.
508
00:29:28,400 --> 00:29:29,640
[Rider] Very bluntly,
509
00:29:29,640 --> 00:29:31,880
Bingham is not a fan
of the Irish to begin with,
510
00:29:31,880 --> 00:29:34,040
so she becomes
the devil incarnate,
511
00:29:34,040 --> 00:29:35,160
I guess we could almost say,
512
00:29:35,160 --> 00:29:39,520
of what makes Ireland
so uncontrollable,
513
00:29:39,520 --> 00:29:44,520
and so he is actively
going to target her.
514
00:29:44,520 --> 00:29:47,600
[Narrator] Bingham's army
rampages across the countryside
515
00:29:47,600 --> 00:29:50,320
in a scorched-earth campaign
516
00:29:50,320 --> 00:29:54,480
designed to starve the Irish
rebels into submission.
517
00:29:54,480 --> 00:29:56,960
His troops march
on the O'Malley stronghold
518
00:29:56,960 --> 00:29:58,560
of Clew Bay.
519
00:29:58,560 --> 00:30:04,920
♪ ♪
520
00:30:04,920 --> 00:30:07,040
[Chambers] Now, Grace O'Malley
led three rebellions
521
00:30:07,040 --> 00:30:11,280
against the very, very cruel
rule of Sir Richard Bingham.
522
00:30:11,280 --> 00:30:14,520
And three times, he backed off.
523
00:30:14,520 --> 00:30:16,880
However,
he got at Grace O'Malley
524
00:30:16,880 --> 00:30:19,920
the way that one
would get at a mother,
525
00:30:19,920 --> 00:30:23,560
and that was
by imprisoning her family.
526
00:30:23,560 --> 00:30:27,240
He first had her eldest son,
Owen O'Flaherty, killed.
527
00:30:27,240 --> 00:30:29,880
And Grace O'Malley talks,
as a mother,
528
00:30:29,880 --> 00:30:35,560
how she counted 24 wounds on
the dead body of her eldest son.
529
00:30:37,720 --> 00:30:41,280
Her second son
by Donal O'Flaherty
530
00:30:41,280 --> 00:30:44,240
was called
Murrough-ne-Maor O'Flaherty,
531
00:30:44,240 --> 00:30:48,160
and when he decided
to align with Bingham,
532
00:30:48,160 --> 00:30:52,360
the vengeance of the mother
knew no stop.
533
00:30:52,360 --> 00:30:56,960
She gets into her galleys,
attacks her son's castle,
534
00:30:56,960 --> 00:31:02,080
and took some of his property
to teach that son a lesson
535
00:31:02,080 --> 00:31:05,480
that he was not to side
with her enemy.
536
00:31:07,120 --> 00:31:11,520
Bingham got to Grace O'Malley
through the third son,
537
00:31:11,520 --> 00:31:15,400
Tibbot, born aboard
her ship at sea
538
00:31:15,400 --> 00:31:17,800
and saved
from the Algerian pirates.
539
00:31:20,400 --> 00:31:23,160
[Narrator] Tibbot is
arrested and imprisoned
540
00:31:23,160 --> 00:31:25,280
on charges of treason.
541
00:31:25,280 --> 00:31:30,720
♪ ♪
542
00:31:30,720 --> 00:31:33,680
[Chambers] Grace O'Malley knows
that Tibbot's life is at stake.
543
00:31:33,680 --> 00:31:35,880
Treason was punishable by death.
544
00:31:35,880 --> 00:31:38,920
And this is really
what motivates her to try
545
00:31:38,920 --> 00:31:42,000
and get directly
to Queen Elizabeth I.
546
00:31:42,000 --> 00:31:45,400
For somebody
with a litany of misdeeds
547
00:31:45,400 --> 00:31:48,440
registered against her
in the English court,
548
00:31:48,440 --> 00:31:51,920
it was absolutely,
one would imagine, impossible,
549
00:31:51,920 --> 00:31:54,200
but not to Grace O'Malley.
550
00:31:54,200 --> 00:31:57,600
♪ ♪
551
00:32:06,400 --> 00:32:08,880
[Narrator] Desperate
to save her son's life,
552
00:32:08,880 --> 00:32:11,280
O'Malley attempts
the impossible,
553
00:32:11,280 --> 00:32:14,800
requesting an audience
with the Queen of England.
554
00:32:14,800 --> 00:32:17,040
Using her political
connections,
555
00:32:17,040 --> 00:32:19,440
she sends a petition
to Elizabeth,
556
00:32:19,440 --> 00:32:23,440
demanding the release
of her son Tibbot.
557
00:32:23,440 --> 00:32:24,880
[Finnegan]
At the National Archives,
558
00:32:24,880 --> 00:32:28,360
we have a petition issued
on behalf of Grace O'Malley
559
00:32:28,360 --> 00:32:30,240
to Elizabeth I.
560
00:32:30,240 --> 00:32:33,360
And in the petition,
she really outlines
561
00:32:33,360 --> 00:32:36,280
and speaks to the difficulties
of being a ruler
562
00:32:36,280 --> 00:32:39,080
in Ireland in that period
563
00:32:39,080 --> 00:32:41,320
and really just how she's
had to advance her interests
564
00:32:41,320 --> 00:32:43,840
just to stay afloat.
565
00:32:43,840 --> 00:32:47,560
[Rider] Grace is creating
an image of a powerful woman
566
00:32:47,560 --> 00:32:52,840
but also indicating her loyalty
to the Crown, while saying,
567
00:32:52,840 --> 00:32:56,000
"I have also struggled because
of your English administrators.
568
00:32:56,000 --> 00:33:01,160
They've not taken me seriously.
They've not given me my due,
569
00:33:01,160 --> 00:33:03,680
even though
I'm a loyal subject."
570
00:33:03,680 --> 00:33:09,480
♪ ♪
571
00:33:09,480 --> 00:33:11,080
[Finnegan] I think
this is a very clever petition
572
00:33:11,080 --> 00:33:15,480
in many ways because it's
being addressed to Elizabeth I,
573
00:33:15,480 --> 00:33:19,040
who is somebody who probably
feels relatively similar,
574
00:33:19,040 --> 00:33:22,160
that she's had to really
fight for her position,
575
00:33:22,160 --> 00:33:23,920
she's had to really
advocate for herself
576
00:33:23,920 --> 00:33:26,000
in a very politically
difficult climate,
577
00:33:26,000 --> 00:33:29,040
particularly also
as a female ruler.
578
00:33:29,040 --> 00:33:32,000
[Narrator] Queen Elizabeth
accepts O'Malley's request
579
00:33:32,000 --> 00:33:34,520
and grants her
an invite to London.
580
00:33:36,200 --> 00:33:38,960
[Chambers] So, Grace O'Malley,
a known pirate,
581
00:33:38,960 --> 00:33:43,760
a known rebel at this stage,
had now a complete control
582
00:33:43,760 --> 00:33:45,560
of her passage to England
583
00:33:45,560 --> 00:33:48,000
because she had
her letter of introduction
584
00:33:48,000 --> 00:33:49,440
to the English court.
585
00:33:49,440 --> 00:33:53,240
♪ ♪
586
00:33:53,240 --> 00:33:58,120
So, in June 1593,
to save the life of her son,
587
00:33:58,120 --> 00:34:01,200
Grace O'Malley set out
on the most important voyage
588
00:34:01,200 --> 00:34:03,880
of her long
and eventful career.
589
00:34:07,440 --> 00:34:09,440
[Narrator] Queen Elizabeth
agrees to an audience
590
00:34:09,440 --> 00:34:13,000
with O'Malley, meeting
the infamous pirate
591
00:34:13,000 --> 00:34:17,800
and violent rebel
at Greenwich Palace,
592
00:34:17,800 --> 00:34:21,960
these two formidable women,
who against all odds
593
00:34:21,960 --> 00:34:25,800
have risen to become
rulers of their people.
594
00:34:25,800 --> 00:34:29,280
Stories escape the palace
of tension building
595
00:34:29,280 --> 00:34:32,440
as O'Malley refuses to bow
to a queen she sees
596
00:34:32,440 --> 00:34:37,960
not as a representative of God
but as her equal.
597
00:34:37,960 --> 00:34:41,320
[Rider] Grace O'Malley had taken
this trip from western Ireland
598
00:34:41,320 --> 00:34:42,960
all the way to London.
599
00:34:42,960 --> 00:34:44,240
She'd come up the Thames.
600
00:34:44,240 --> 00:34:47,360
It's, it's cold, it's clammy.
601
00:34:47,360 --> 00:34:49,120
She had a bit of a cold.
602
00:34:49,120 --> 00:34:53,280
One of Elizabeth's courtiers
offered her a handkerchief,
603
00:34:53,280 --> 00:34:55,680
and so she blew her nose
604
00:34:55,680 --> 00:34:58,920
and then threw
the handkerchief into the fire.
605
00:34:58,920 --> 00:35:02,520
All of the English were appalled
because from their viewpoint,
606
00:35:02,520 --> 00:35:05,600
she had burnt
a valuable piece of cloth.
607
00:35:05,600 --> 00:35:10,400
It indicates kind of
the, the social differences.
608
00:35:10,400 --> 00:35:12,760
[Narrator]
The legends continue.
609
00:35:12,760 --> 00:35:17,240
The queen's guards discover
a hidden dagger on O'Malley.
610
00:35:17,240 --> 00:35:19,920
But Elizabeth accepts
the pirate's assurance
611
00:35:19,920 --> 00:35:24,000
that the weapon is strictly
for self-protection.
612
00:35:24,000 --> 00:35:27,880
Tensions subside as
the two leaders begin to talk.
613
00:35:30,000 --> 00:35:31,600
[Chambers] Queen Elizabeth
was looked on
614
00:35:31,600 --> 00:35:34,160
as the Queen of England,
the leader of her army.
615
00:35:34,160 --> 00:35:36,880
She never led an army
in the field of battle.
616
00:35:36,880 --> 00:35:39,200
She was looked on
as mistress of the oceans.
617
00:35:39,200 --> 00:35:42,800
She never sailed further
downriver than Greenwich.
618
00:35:42,800 --> 00:35:45,920
And here you had this woman
who had done all the things
619
00:35:45,920 --> 00:35:49,600
that Elizabeth was
prohibited or unable to do.
620
00:35:49,600 --> 00:35:52,600
And both women
were of a similar age.
621
00:35:52,600 --> 00:35:54,080
They were in their 60s.
622
00:35:54,080 --> 00:35:57,880
So, you had two
experienced elderly women
623
00:35:57,880 --> 00:36:01,440
coming together
to exchange views
624
00:36:01,440 --> 00:36:05,160
and one hoping
to get her son released.
625
00:36:05,160 --> 00:36:10,600
♪ ♪
626
00:36:10,600 --> 00:36:13,560
[Finnegan] What is perhaps
surprising is that the petition
627
00:36:13,560 --> 00:36:16,600
seems to have been
completely successful.
628
00:36:16,600 --> 00:36:18,520
I don't exactly think
it was common
629
00:36:18,520 --> 00:36:21,800
for a ruler from County Mayo
to get on a ship
630
00:36:21,800 --> 00:36:24,360
and sail to meet
the Queen of England herself,
631
00:36:24,360 --> 00:36:27,480
much less be granted an audience
and get what she wanted.
632
00:36:31,640 --> 00:36:33,600
♪ ♪
633
00:36:33,600 --> 00:36:36,760
[Narrator] O'Malley secures
the release of her son
634
00:36:36,760 --> 00:36:40,440
and confronts her old
adversary, Bingham.
635
00:36:40,440 --> 00:36:45,040
But he refuses to believe
that this ill-famed Irish rebel
636
00:36:45,040 --> 00:36:49,000
could be granted
such a favor from his queen.
637
00:36:49,000 --> 00:36:50,600
[Rider] Richard Bingham
very much thinks
638
00:36:50,600 --> 00:36:52,880
that the Queen
has been hoodwinked,
639
00:36:52,880 --> 00:36:56,400
that she could not
possibly have fallen
640
00:36:56,400 --> 00:37:00,720
for whatever lies
that Grace O'Malley had said.
641
00:37:00,720 --> 00:37:03,720
And he actually refuses
to enforce it initially.
642
00:37:03,720 --> 00:37:06,640
So, there's definitely a
questioning of authority there.
643
00:37:06,640 --> 00:37:10,360
And the Crown very clearly
says, "This is our will,"
644
00:37:10,360 --> 00:37:13,200
which, as far as he sees, means
that she is going to be able
645
00:37:13,200 --> 00:37:16,360
to continue thieving
on the high seas.
646
00:37:20,880 --> 00:37:23,520
[birds squawking]
647
00:37:23,520 --> 00:37:28,400
♪ ♪
648
00:37:28,400 --> 00:37:31,040
[Rider] It is definitely,
without a doubt, a victory
649
00:37:31,040 --> 00:37:32,200
for Grace O'Malley.
650
00:37:32,200 --> 00:37:35,240
And it's seen
as having basically
651
00:37:35,240 --> 00:37:37,280
bypassed Richard Bingham,
652
00:37:37,280 --> 00:37:40,880
which ultimately is not
going to make their relationship
653
00:37:40,880 --> 00:37:44,560
any easier as you go forward.
654
00:37:44,560 --> 00:37:47,400
[Chambers] Bingham took his
revenge out on Grace O'Malley,
655
00:37:47,400 --> 00:37:49,600
and any time
her ship left shore,
656
00:37:49,600 --> 00:37:53,960
he put on 20 English
soldiers on her ships,
657
00:37:53,960 --> 00:37:56,800
so she couldn't really pursue
what she normally did,
658
00:37:56,800 --> 00:37:58,480
a little bit of piracy
and plundering
659
00:37:58,480 --> 00:38:00,080
as well as her trading.
660
00:38:00,080 --> 00:38:03,360
That was prohibited by Bingham.
661
00:38:03,360 --> 00:38:09,280
So, in a way, Bingham did get
some revenge on Grace O'Malley.
662
00:38:09,280 --> 00:38:11,120
[Narrator] Bingham
continues to place troops
663
00:38:11,120 --> 00:38:13,640
on Grace O'Malley's ships.
664
00:38:13,640 --> 00:38:15,400
He also forces her men
665
00:38:15,400 --> 00:38:17,600
to operate in service
of the English,
666
00:38:17,600 --> 00:38:20,600
sometimes against
their own kinsmen.
667
00:38:20,600 --> 00:38:22,600
Under constant supervision,
668
00:38:22,600 --> 00:38:26,760
and unable to plunder or
take tolls from passing ships,
669
00:38:26,760 --> 00:38:30,720
the O'Malley clan is forced
to retreat inland.
670
00:38:30,720 --> 00:38:32,320
[Rider] Ireland is not the world
671
00:38:32,320 --> 00:38:34,600
that Grace O'Malley
had been born into.
672
00:38:34,600 --> 00:38:37,680
It is coming more completely
673
00:38:37,680 --> 00:38:41,280
under the authority
of the English Crown.
674
00:38:41,280 --> 00:38:44,920
And it is no longer being done
through a peaceful process
675
00:38:44,920 --> 00:38:46,560
such as surrender and regrant.
676
00:38:48,120 --> 00:38:51,400
We're seeing
the English military might
677
00:38:51,400 --> 00:38:54,920
being brought to Ireland,
678
00:38:54,920 --> 00:38:57,400
and so the force
of English authority
679
00:38:57,400 --> 00:39:01,640
is very much at the end
of a sword at this point.
680
00:39:01,640 --> 00:39:04,240
[Chambers] So, the only thing
that mattered to Grace O'Malley
681
00:39:04,240 --> 00:39:08,160
was to be able to survive
within this new structure
682
00:39:08,160 --> 00:39:11,840
that was being forced upon them.
683
00:39:11,840 --> 00:39:14,560
[Narrator] O'Malley can
only see one way out--
684
00:39:14,560 --> 00:39:17,360
to save her family
from the tyrannical campaign
685
00:39:17,360 --> 00:39:21,200
of the English,
she must give up her fight,
686
00:39:21,200 --> 00:39:24,440
handing over control
of her army to Tibbot,
687
00:39:24,440 --> 00:39:28,080
and agreeing
to hold County Mayo
688
00:39:28,080 --> 00:39:30,800
in the name of the Crown.
689
00:39:30,800 --> 00:39:32,720
[Rider] Grace O'Malley
is a survivor,
690
00:39:32,720 --> 00:39:34,680
and that's
an important element here.
691
00:39:34,680 --> 00:39:37,040
She has survived all
of the changing politics
692
00:39:37,040 --> 00:39:39,120
up until this point.
693
00:39:39,120 --> 00:39:43,680
And we see this coming into play
at the Battle of Kinsale,
694
00:39:43,680 --> 00:39:47,000
which is seen
as the last great battle
695
00:39:47,000 --> 00:39:50,120
between Gaelic leadership
and English leadership
696
00:39:50,120 --> 00:39:51,400
in the question of,
697
00:39:51,400 --> 00:39:56,960
will they be able to overthrow
English authority?
698
00:39:56,960 --> 00:39:59,640
[Chambers] Now, two chieftains
in Ulster at the time
699
00:39:59,640 --> 00:40:01,400
decided to put behind them
700
00:40:01,400 --> 00:40:05,640
centuries of intertribal warfare
between both their families
701
00:40:05,640 --> 00:40:09,800
to try and unite
all the clans of Ireland.
702
00:40:09,800 --> 00:40:11,600
[Narrator] 1601.
703
00:40:11,600 --> 00:40:15,920
The English seize control
of vast swathes of Ireland,
704
00:40:15,920 --> 00:40:18,080
and at the Battle of Kinsale,
705
00:40:18,080 --> 00:40:21,440
the remaining clans unite
against their common enemy
706
00:40:21,440 --> 00:40:25,760
in what would be the last stand
for Gaelic Ireland.
707
00:40:25,760 --> 00:40:27,920
Grace O'Malley
dispatches Tibbot
708
00:40:27,920 --> 00:40:31,640
and their armies
to join the battle.
709
00:40:31,640 --> 00:40:33,160
The Gaelic chieftains hope
710
00:40:33,160 --> 00:40:36,080
the O'Malleys will
arrive as allies,
711
00:40:36,080 --> 00:40:38,560
to fight alongside
their countrymen,
712
00:40:38,560 --> 00:40:42,680
against the crushing might
of the English army.
713
00:40:42,680 --> 00:40:44,960
[Rider] Tibbot brings
the O'Malleys to it,
714
00:40:44,960 --> 00:40:48,200
and the stories go
that he stood on the hill
715
00:40:48,200 --> 00:40:50,400
and he kind of watched
the battle and went,
716
00:40:50,400 --> 00:40:51,960
"Which way is it going to go?"
717
00:40:51,960 --> 00:40:58,400
♪ ♪
718
00:40:58,400 --> 00:40:59,960
All of the Gaelic lords
are excited,
719
00:40:59,960 --> 00:41:02,200
the O'Malleys have come.
720
00:41:02,200 --> 00:41:05,280
They will help turn the tide,
721
00:41:05,280 --> 00:41:09,480
except he comes in on the side
of the English army.
722
00:41:09,480 --> 00:41:13,480
♪ ♪
723
00:41:13,480 --> 00:41:16,600
[Chambers] And with 3,000
other royalist Irish,
724
00:41:16,600 --> 00:41:20,240
he decided to fight
on the side of the English
725
00:41:20,240 --> 00:41:24,040
in order to preserve his own
patrimony and his own future.
726
00:41:24,040 --> 00:41:30,000
♪ ♪
727
00:41:32,160 --> 00:41:35,680
♪ ♪
728
00:41:35,680 --> 00:41:39,360
[Narrator] These are the final
years of Grace O'Malley,
729
00:41:39,360 --> 00:41:44,600
her long career as a ruthless
pirate now a distant memory,
730
00:41:44,600 --> 00:41:47,640
her once-ferocious reputation
731
00:41:47,640 --> 00:41:51,480
no longer deemed a threat
to the English.
732
00:41:51,480 --> 00:41:53,800
[Chambers] The Gaelic world,
it petered out,
733
00:41:53,800 --> 00:41:55,240
so Grace O'Malley did.
734
00:41:55,240 --> 00:42:00,000
And I think it's right that we
really don't know how she died.
735
00:42:00,000 --> 00:42:02,240
It is said she is buried
on Clare Island,
736
00:42:02,240 --> 00:42:04,480
and indeed there's
a lovely tomb there
737
00:42:04,480 --> 00:42:08,120
that is said to be
her final resting place.
738
00:42:08,120 --> 00:42:09,680
[Narrator] 1603.
739
00:42:09,680 --> 00:42:12,320
Queen Elizabeth dies.
740
00:42:12,320 --> 00:42:17,120
And in the same year,
so does Grace O'Malley.
741
00:42:17,120 --> 00:42:20,600
After a reign lasting
nearly half a century,
742
00:42:20,600 --> 00:42:22,080
she leaves in her wake
743
00:42:22,080 --> 00:42:26,400
a clan every bit
as resilient as she was,
744
00:42:26,400 --> 00:42:30,760
enduring the pounding onslaught
of the English empire
745
00:42:30,760 --> 00:42:36,440
and, against a sea of trouble,
always finding ways to prosper.
746
00:42:36,440 --> 00:42:39,160
[Chambers] All of the seafaring
and all of the piracy
747
00:42:39,160 --> 00:42:43,640
and toll-taking died
with Grace O'Malley.
748
00:42:43,640 --> 00:42:46,280
[Rider] If you look
at the English archival records,
749
00:42:46,280 --> 00:42:48,560
she is going to continue
to be mentioned
750
00:42:48,560 --> 00:42:51,120
for almost 25 more years.
751
00:42:51,120 --> 00:42:53,320
English administrators
are basically saying,
752
00:42:53,320 --> 00:42:56,880
if it wasn't for Grace O'Malley,
753
00:42:56,880 --> 00:43:00,440
western Ireland would
have been less problematic.
754
00:43:02,400 --> 00:43:06,480
[Kelleher] Her career
spanned at least 40 years.
755
00:43:06,480 --> 00:43:08,400
In the golden age
of the Caribbean,
756
00:43:08,400 --> 00:43:12,320
18 months was looked upon as a
successful career for a pirate.
757
00:43:12,320 --> 00:43:16,520
Grace O'Malley died in old age,
still as a ruler,
758
00:43:16,520 --> 00:43:21,320
so she was extremely
successful as a leader,
759
00:43:21,320 --> 00:43:24,880
as a pirate, as a Gaelic lord.
760
00:43:24,880 --> 00:43:28,000
In a way, she carried out,
to the letter,
761
00:43:28,000 --> 00:43:30,560
the motto of the O'Malley clan,
762
00:43:30,560 --> 00:43:34,560
which is "maintenance
by land and by sea."
763
00:43:34,560 --> 00:43:37,920
[Rider] She goes from simply
being a historical figure
764
00:43:37,920 --> 00:43:39,960
to being part of living memory.
765
00:43:39,960 --> 00:43:45,600
And she becomes a symbol of hope
and ultimately of survival.
766
00:43:45,600 --> 00:43:53,000
♪ ♪
63434
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