Dr Kat and Grace O'Malley 

The image of Grace O'Malley standing on the bow of a ship, newborn in arm, rallying her sailors to fight off pirates is epic! And then, standing before Elizabeth I, speaking Latin? This is the stuff of great movies!!!

Powerful woman, deemed to be a pirate by the English. She got up their noses and was vilified by them to justify their appalling treatment of the Irish. Thank you for bringing to light a person I've admired for years.

In Irish, maol means 'bald'. The story goes that as a young girl, Grainne (Grace) wanted to join her father and brothers on their voyages but her father refused. Determined to go to sea, she cut off her hair, dressed in her brother's clothes and boarded the ship. Her father recognised her immediately, and impressed with her resolve, allowed her to join them. He called her Grainne Mhaol (anglicised to Granuaile), which means 'bald Grace', and it stuck as a nickname. It is also a pun on her surname - Ni Mhaille.

Grace O’Malley is my eleventh great grandmother. You did such a wonderful job with the history. If I could be 1/4 of the woman that she was, I would be so proud. I love your videos because you have such a great delivery of history that draws me in.

I'd love for you to discuss Boudicca. If you already have, can a link be provided? Thanks for the great content!

I would love to hear you talk about queen Matilda. If you have already done her I'll find it. I really enjoy your videos!

I love seeing how many subscribers you’ve gained lately. I’ve been binging all your videos in quarantine lol thank you for making them

Thank you so much for calling Grania by her Irish name.

I love the story of Grace O'Malley. As for warrior woman how about Boudicca queen of the Iceni? Iv not seen that story done scholarly.

I first heard of this great warrior when she was "borrowed", some what, for Beatrice Small's Skye OMalley when i was much younger. I ran into Grace OMalley again as a character during several seasons of the Pennsylvania Renaissance Faire. Lastly, it is the name of my darling cat. My daughter Brynne found her, very sick outside faire grounds blinded by her illness with her friend, who was playing Henry VIII that season. During her recovery, we sang Amazing Grace to her and we chose that name, but we also had a fear, for a bit, that she might lose an eye due to the infection which caused us to think of her as a pirate cat. Luckily her eye healed and was saved. But her names were already chosen, she is Henrieta (for King Henry) Grace OMalley( for the Pirate Queen) Remmey, my Gracie Girl, now going on 5. Thank you so much for all your wonderful videos. I am new to your channel but have always loved history and have spent 4 years total in England, mostly in High Wycombe, Buckinghamshire. We toured as many Abbys, Cathedrals, Castles and Historical sites as we could squeeze in while there. Thanks again for your brilliant videos. Cheers

O'Malley appears to be one of history's examples of women succeeding in a man's world before a path was laid for them, Queen Elizabeth being another. How facinating to imagine thier expectatons of, actual meeting, and impressions of one another that they formed! Truly exceptional research to outline O'Malley's life. Thank you

Ms.Grace is very much a legend. My Nanny fueled much of my wild imagination of our motherland, of fairies & order, great deeds & shenanigans.. Alike.. Fond memories this brought up for me.

Very enjoyable, especially the bit about the Latin. How about a video along the lines of "What language did they speak?" For instance, for how long did the Plantagenets speak French? Or the Hanoverians speak German? What about Latin, which seems to have survived on the Continent until Napoleon?

I have a suggestion! Diane de Poitiers!

Very enjoyable and enlightening video of an extraordinary woman. I would love to see you do a video on Eleanor of Aquitaine who in my view is one of the most fascinating queens of England (and through her prior marriage, queen of France)

Awesome! I’m so glad you did a video of her 💜 She is one of my favs in history. Thank you-Debbie

Thank you from Magnus O'Malley a distant relative of Grace.

I read a historical fiction book years ago about Grace O’Malley or Grania “the She King of the Irish seas”. Your video was so insightful. I would have loved to have witness the conversation between the strong women of Queen Elizabeth 1 and Grace O Malley.

She would be an amazing woman by today's standards, rather than those of the time. I can see her at Elizabeth's court and shouting commands while fighting on her ships! Educated and commanding she is quite a leader. Thank you Dr Kat for a fascinating video as always!

There’s a legend in my family that we are distantly related to Grace O’Malley through my father’s mother’s family in Ireland. Not sure if that’s just the fact that all O’Malleys feel that as an O’Malley they must be related to all other O’Malleys or an actual account. My dad died before I could ask him why they thought so.

Wow, this was fascinating. I’ve always loved reading and researching strong women who blazed trails in their own way. Thank you for this one.

I have enjoyed your telling of an Irish historical figure , it would be interesting if you done some other Irish figures from this Tudor period.

Boudicca/Boadicea would be an amazing warrior queen to get your insight on! 🙂 Really enjoyed this video!

How have I not found you until now! Thank you for your fantastic videos! Looking forward to more of them.

I listen to you every morning... And whenever else I can squeeze you in. Just love your channel & history. Hello from NYC!!!

Many thanks for your wonderful research and lucid storytelling. You bring history to life in very fair terms, with compassion and context. Thank you 😊

Fantastic video! I am 65% Irish, so any information about strong Irish women is right up my alley! On a superficial note, I LOVE the lip color you're wearing in this video! It really enhances your beautiful skin color and gives you an added glow.

I am learning so much from your videos. Thank you so much for taking time to share your knowledge with those of us who love history. I love your accent too. Keep up the good work!

Long ago I read the children’s book about the Pirate Queen and loved it. She was represented as a woman with spine who used her men in much the way men traditionally appeared to use the girls they married form fortune and ignored thereafter. I was also reading about Mary QoS and Bothwell’s wives that were treated like Kleenex so I was unimpressed with the married women of the time. Three years ago I visited Ireland and saw one of her homes and it all came back. Thank you!

So delighted you covered Grace!

Great video! I like to hear Facts more so than all the myths and legends,, thank you!

Great episode! I'm Irish--American, and I always heard, she was a real piece of work.

I’ve only just discovered your videos and I love them! I’d love to see one on the history of York 🥰

What a wonderful character she was! I would love to learn more about her. Thank you for an interesting video, love your channel so much!

wow. I really like your videos. I subscribed last night after watching your Anne of Cleves video. You make learning fun!! thanks.

Fantastic. I’ve leant a lot from this video. Especially the fact that Latin was such a well used language at these times 👏👏👏

Makes me think of Ann Bonny. ☺️ There’s so many fierce female pirates, and I wish they got a bit more ink. I’m so happy I found this. My (partially Irish) boyfriend is a bit of a pirate enthusiast, so this is definitely going on the playlist for him. 😂 Thank goodness for shared curiosity.

Love all your videos. Learning so much

Loving the videos - especially enjoy the biographies of women and tudors and the coats of arms. Thanks :)

Thank you for this wonderful video. Grace O'Malley fascinates me. Have you done a video on Queen Bodica? Id love to hear about her. Thanks!

Technically, "fl." stands for "floruit," which indeed means "flourished." ;)

Fascinating story. I listened to it ages ago but had to hear it again. You attention to detail is phenomenal! Kiss Oliver on the cheek for me

Thank you indeed,I love Uk's television, m from India's North-East(erstwhile-Naga Hills district)I love ur shows indeed.keep updating.

I love the legend of how Grainne Mhaol got her name: lit. Bald Grainne. Her father didn’t want her to go to see because she was a girl so he told her that her hair would get in the way, so she shaved her head.

I've nothing to add; this lesson is new for me, and I'm pleased to learn it.

LOVE this video, my mom is from Achill Island in and in Kildownet, Grainne Ni Mhaille's castle, visited it many times, 20 minute walk down the road from my Aunts

It is funny that you would cover Grace O'Malley, because one of the historical fiction books I read as a teenager that sparked my interest in history especially Elizabethan history, was a book by a woman named Bertrice Small and the book was called Skye O'Malley. It was based on a fictional character that was related to the O'Malley family.

Yes. A Leader in her own right. Excellent. Thank you.

I remember reading a series of fictionalized books based on her about 40 years ago. They were great fun and showed a brilliant woman. Thanks for the video!

Thank you for this!

You should check out Warrior women with Lucy Lawless. She did a show on Grace. I don’t know how accurate but it was entertaining.

Love her story!

As an assertive daughter of Mayo, my parents nicknamed me "O'Malley". Thank you for all of your incisive, interesting videos, Pat

Great Story- Thank You !

Love your videos 😊

God she’s irrevocably awesome. I didn’t know her Irish name, thank you.

Love this!

I enjoyed watching the video of grace O'Malley !

The Anne Chambers book is very good... Thank you this was very interesting...

Hi,I just discovered that Grace o malley is my 13th great grandmother, thru my mums Mc Carthy side. How cool!

I know that this is two years since you did this, I absolutely loved her story and the version told by Morgan Llewellyn. Read the book several years ago

Very interesting!

Loved this..

I'm here living beside one of her castles

I admire her, as a pirate,mother of leaders,and standing up to English bureaucrats,and Elizabeth.Guts.

I have the same editions of the De Sade and Angela Carter books you have on your shelf!

Have you done a video on Boudica yet? If not, that could be another interesting topic to cover!

This was awesome

Fantastic historical narrative

Great video about a great woman from history.

Oh that's really interesting. Were these question asked every royalty is this standard or exception? Would love to hear more about it. :)

The O'Neills were also a sea fairing clan, merchant sailors. Hence the fish and waves on our family crest.

In another video you spoke of speaking about "The Beginning Of Empires". Would you be able to adapt that talk for a video? Thanks. I am so glad that I came aceoss your channel.

Another great video. 2 Suggestions: a) Would love to see / hear another collab video with you and Jaime. This time analyzing the series or overall story / series, of "Victoria" w/ Jenna Coleman and R. Sewell. Tell me something ....... as a native Brit and historian how convinced are you that QV would have EVER given instructions to ANYONE to destroy almost 1/3 of her journals? Let's think about this. QV was encouraged by none other than the Duchess of Kent, her mother, to "keep a daily diary". That being said and coupled with the fact she never made mention (that we know of) during her lifetime to destroy her writings how convinced are you that this was truly HER wish and NOT Beatrice's way of getting back at her mother for keeping her 'tied to her mother's apron'? Two last questions on the subject is there any idea how LONG it took her to recreate vast sections of QV's journals? Were her siblings aware of what she had done? b) The Battle of Culloden Incident i) How come mention of the Battle of Little Ferry ?? (which took place just before Culloden's incident) never makes it into the narrative of mainstream media? ii) Also, how come no one ever bothers to clarify the little known fact that KGIII's forces DID NOT destroy every building in sight from North to South in their scorch and burn property? In other words I found out only recently from a HPW that the Jacobite homes and manor houses that were left standing more often than not belonged to or were owned by persons sympathetic toThe Crown. As a non-Brit I did not know that NOR had I ever heard of that before. I only found out about that recently after being told this by a British property worker.

Very interesting. I would love to hear more about Margaret Beaufort. She was an interesting woman.

My goodness! I bet Liz was charmed! When you first said they shared an era, I wondered if they'd met, thinking it would be a bright spot in Liz's daily grind. 😊 Don't you feel that Liz could imagine herself able to do the same? A vicarious thrill. Of course the 18 questions were only fair, and were answered. Our Liz knew the drill. Trust but Verify! 👵

And we complain about motherhood now.... fighting off pirates just after child birth 😰

My uncle and grandfather were named Richard Burke! That made me sit up and take notice!

D. Murphy. How about videos about kathryn swynford and sister of edward iv margaret of burgandy. Always interested in more inf on grace o'malley.

It was said that as child she was so keen joining her father on the ship, her father wouldn't let her as he was afraid her long hair would get tangled up somewhere, so she cut it short

Hello, Thank you for your video's. Have you done any research on surname's McCrossan, Crosbie, Ewer, Sharp(e)?

Okay, who should play her in the movie?

I was happily educated on Grace O'Malley for the first time. I have done a bit of research about the Jacobite rising of 1745 (I am a proud clan McLeod descendant). Maybe you could do a video about some of the brave Jacobite women, like Lady Anne Macintosh. I served in the US Army and named my M-16 rifle the "Lady Anne." Silly but true!

This video should be rated ARRRR!

Wait...what happened next? She never got an answer from Elizabeth but then what? Was she successful on her own? What happened to her children?

I would like to hear something about Black Beard as well.

Who needs fiction when actual history is so rich?!

Thank you for this wonderful story. Could you look at Saint Nicholas Owen the great priest hole builder

My middle name is Gráinne, and growing up I was convinced I was named after this piratical Gráinne. Turns out my namesake was someone more modern connected to the family. But it did result in my parents naming me two names that mean grace (Anna derives from the Hebrew ‘chanah’ meaning ‘grace’).

How about a topic on some of the Egyptian queens. Cleopatra, hapsetsut, Nefertiti.

Enjoyed this so much ! Stirring my scotch Irish blood!!! Have read up alot on grace O,MAllEY ! Watching you every day ! I have a passion for history! I do wish I could ti.e travel.lol haha 😄 have a blessed day ! I have joined your Instagram page

This made me think of Sir Walter Raleigh - I was thinking of his voyage and the Pirates of North Carolina - but what about his relationship with Elizabeth. And one other question - what was the relationship between Elizabeth and her sister’s mother - Mary - I think is her name....I learn so much from watching your videos. Thank you!

Grace's ring remained with my aunt ( lineal decedant) until around 1953 when it was stolen at the Curragh races near Dublin. It bore some kind of inscription. Bingham was a violent blaggard and out of control as everyone in the area knows to this day.

I'm going to have to listen to this twice bc I'm an O'Flaherty

My Hero I read everything I can about her. I am related to her through the Flaherty’s of my family and most of the men in my family are in the Navy. Ironic.

Have you talked about Queen Boudica?

Thank you Dr. Kat.... for the most comprehensive detailing of this most fascinating Irish matriarch I have heard yet. I have long been a fan of her because of songs sung (or played) by Celtic Woman which include her reference. Grainne Mhaol is seen as the epitome of the strong, independent Irish matriarch, and a worthy role model for Irish girls and women. There is a movie about her now that I have not seen yet.... www.imdb.com/title/tt2766800/

Where can I go for her answers?🙂

They should make a film on her!

i loved it