Grace O'Malley (Gráinne Ní Mháille) was born in Ireland in approximately 1530, during the era in history when Henry VIII was King of England and ruler of Ireland. She was born into a family of mariners of the Clan O'Malley to which her father Eoghan Dubhdara Ó Máille was the leader and with the consensus of the government were meant to enact control their affairs. This clan over the centuries had become a dominant power in the region and known as proficient pirates along the Irish Coast. The leadership of the clan passed to her upon the death of her father and the marriage to Dónal an Chogaidh further ensured her influence and wealth to command. This union bore three children to the family and when her sons were older along with her half-brother was arrested, she set sail to England to request their release to Queen Elizabeth I in person.

The act of appointing a rival to the post of Chief of the Name instead of her husband was not received well and a few later was killed in a hunting trip was perceived as a power play by another clan to gain control. When another man was killed, she became romantically involved with caused O'Malley to retaliate against those responsible at Doona Castle and this act of violence gave her the moniker of "Dark Lady of Doona". She wed again in 1566 and during this period, England increased their will upon Ireland this, in turn, threatened her rule so she again requested the queen in return for her relinquishing rule a plot of land to raise her children. Not all agreed with the decision of the queen to her request and this resulted in a war between both factions that lasted 9 years after the death of the queen who had been sympathetic to her entreaties in 1603 herself now over 70 years old passed away at Rockfleet Castle.


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