Grace O'Malley was a sea captain and clan leader, pirate and politico, business woman and warrior, as well as a dutiful daughter, wife, and mother. Though shaped by her times, she shattered the mold for women of her day. She would be a formidable figure in any era, including our own. Part of the sea-faring O'Malley clan, she inherited a deep love of the oceans and dominated trade on the Irish coast. On land, she personally led her clansmen in battle, waging relentless war on rival leaders throughout the Emerald Isle. Even powerful English officials were threatened by her influence. They saw her as "nurse to all rebellions." When she went to meet the Queen of England, the two women dealt as proud equals who had maneuvered their way through 16th century war and politics with skill and aplomb.
