The Ghost of Grace O’Malley

Grace O’Malley (Gráinne Ní Mháille), the legendary Pirate Queen of Connacht, died around 1603 after a life of seafaring, rebellion, and meeting Queen Elizabeth I as an equal. Her ghost has been reported at her strongholds along the west coast of Ireland.

The Pirate Queen

Grace O’Malley controlled the seas around Mayo and Galway in the 16th century. She was a chieftain, pirate, trader, and nationalist who negotiated with Queen Elizabeth I in person. Her life was extraordinary even by the standards of her turbulent age.

Clare Island

Clare Island in Clew Bay was Grace’s base. Her castle there still stands, and her alleged tomb is in the island’s abbey. Her ghost has been seen at both locations, a tall woman in 16th-century dress surveying her domain.

The Castle

Grace’s castle on Clare Island has generated numerous reports of supernatural activity. Footsteps echo in empty rooms. A woman’s figure has been seen at the windows. The atmosphere is charged with the personality of its former occupant.

The Sea Sightings

Fishermen have reported seeing a phantom ship in the waters around Clare Island. The ship sails against the wind and vanishes when approached. Some believe it to be Grace still patrolling her territory.

Rockfleet Castle

Grace’s tower house at Rockfleet (Carrigahowley) on the mainland has its own ghostly reputation. She famously divorced her second husband by locking him out of this castle. Her presence is still felt there.

Assessment

Grace O’Malley was too vital a presence to entirely depart. Her extraordinary life left impressions on her strongholds that may never fade. Ireland’s Pirate Queen continues her eternal vigil over the western seas.