User:Moilleadóir/Gráinne Ní Mháille/Anthologia Hibernica

ANTHOLOGIA HIBERNICA o r m o n t h l y   c o l l e c t i o n s  o f  SCIENCE, BELLES-LETTRES, AND HISTORY. For  J U L Y   1793.

An Account of Grana Uile’s Castle :—with an Engraving.

T HIS Castle stands in Carrick a Owly, at the end of a nook, or inlet, in the bay of Newport, in the county of Mayo. The proper name is Carrick a Uile, or the rock in the elbow ; alluding to the impending mountain, or the strength of the castle, and the recess in which it is situated. The castle is a strong square tower, of about 50 feet in height, divided into four stories. At the north and south angles are two small projecting turrets ; and the roof was raised considerably above the parapet wall that surrounds it, as may be perceived by the gable ends, in one of which was a window. This served as a banqueting-room, as it has a chimney, the only remains of one to be seen. On the south-west angle is a low round tower, which served for the guard room. This has two stones and loop-holes for the discharge of musquetry.

In this castle lived Grace O’Maly, known among the Irish by the name of Grana Uile ; she was the daughter of Owen O’Maly, and widow of O’Flaherty, two Irish chiefs in those parts. After the death of the last, she married Sir Rickard Bourke, styled Mac William Eighter, who died in 1585, after having by her three sons and one daughter. Lord Deputy Sidney writ to the council in England, in 1576, that O’Maly was powerful in gallies and seamen. Grana, who was a high spirited lady, became fond, at an early age, of the watry element, and accompanied her father and his sept, in many naval expeditions. The coast was plundered of cattle and other property, and many people were murdered in these excursions. Grana was ever foremost in danger : courage and conduct secured her success : and the affrighted natives trembled at her name along the north-west shore of this isle. Her fame attracted many desperate and hardy mariners from distant parts. Her larger vessels were moored in Clare island, where she had a strong castle ; and her smaller craft she kept at Carrick a Owly. A hole in the castle-wall is now shown, through which a cable was run from a vessel, and fastened to her bed, that she might be the earlier alarmed and prevent surprize.

Tradition says, that her piracies became so notorious, and her power so dangerous, that she was proclaimed, and [fi]ve hundred pounds offered as a reward for apprehending her. This she disregarded for some time ; but the English power growing strong in Connaught, she resolved to make her peace with Queen Elizabeth, and went to her court. The queen, surrounded by her ladies, received her in great state. Grana was introduced in the dress of her country : a long mantle covered her head and body ; her hair was gathered on her crown, and fastened with a bodkin ; her breast was bare, and she had a yellow boddice and petticoat. The court stared with surprize at so strange a figure, when one of the ladies perceived that Grana wanted a pocket handkerchief, which was instantly handed to her. After she had used it she threw it into the fire. Another was given her, and she was told by an interpreter, that it was to be put in her pocket. Grana felt indignant at this intimation, and applying it to her nose, threw it also into the fire, declaring, that in her country they were much cleanlier that to pocket what came from their nostrils.

After having made her peace, she returned to Ireland, and landed in a little creek near Hoath. She walked up to the castle, and found the gates shut, for the family was at dinner. After some inquiries, she discovered that Lord Hoath had a child nursing not far off ; it was a boy, and heir to the title : him she carried on board ship, and immediately set sail, and arrived safe at Carrick a Owly ; nor did she return him until paid a large ransom, as a punishment for his inhospitality. For many years after, whenever the family of Hoath went to dinner, the gates and doors were thrown open.

The celebrity of Grana Uile had been a prime topic of bardic song for many years. In the year 1753, during the political contests of the Duke of Dorset’s administration in Ireland, a very popular song was formed, partly English and partly Irish, to the old air, and the burden - Grana Uile. This we have endeavoured to procure, but hitherto without success. We shall thankfully receive it from any of our numerous readers who may possess it, and gladly give it a place in the Anthologia.

D.

""

[For  M A Y   1794.]

To the Editor of the Anthologia Hibernica.

Traditions concerning Grana Uille.

S i r,

O N seeing in your collection for July last, a biographical sketch of the celebrated Grace O’Malley, of the county Mayo, and knowing the late Dr. Leland in his history, and others, to have made honorable mention of her, and in compliance with your wish relative to her song, and which I am promised, but have not yet obtained, induced me to go to her native country and endeavour to satisfy public curiosity relative to so extraordinary a character, and could learn her family were time immemorial considerable on the north west coast of this kingdom ; their principality extending from the lake called Lough-Coril, in the county Galway, to Crogh Patrick, in the county Mayo, and from thence to the borders of the city of Sligo ; a considerable part of which was still called the Uisles of O’Mally—a fine fertile tract, mostly skirted by the sea, the bays and harbours excellent, and beautifully interspersed with valuable islands, many of them inhabited. Those lords of the soil, became early conspicuous from aptness of situation, for maritime affairs, and naval exploits, which the motto of the name and family at this day, “Terra marique potens,” seems to indicate. The prince of that name, at the accession of queen Elizabeth, seemed to be of consequence in that county, from Sir Richard Bingham, her commander in chief there, as provost martial of the province of Connaught, at this assises held for Mayo, calling him fist, &c. who, at his death left a son a minor, and his daughter Grace, grown up, who was therefore thro’ necessity obliged to take the management of the family concerns, and of which she acquitted herself with firmness, by keeping her fleet for the protection of their castles and property, so necessary in unsettled times, respectable, from which some would have her (tho’ in general popular) considered a pirate. She seemed early to favour the English government. The Burkes, then known by the Irish title Clanagh Leeme, numerous and powerful in that county, opposed Sir Richard, the provost martial, and a pitched battle ensued at a place called Kuellideere in that county ; and when Sir Richard, too secure by numbers to be overpowered, Grace ordered her forces to fall on in behalf of the queen, which turned the fate of the day, the Burkes being completely routed, and many of then taken prisoners ; among whom were six chiefs, tried next day for high treason, at a sessions specially held for the purpose, at Cloghan Lucas, in that county, and hung the same day on the spot ; a means of establishing, immediately, the English government, for which the queen was so thankful as to write a letter of invitation to her (still extant among the papers of the late lord viscount Mayo, her descendant) to come to the court of London, which she accepted of, though far gone in pregnancy from her husband, Sir Richard Burke, and in consequence was brought to bed on ship-board. The queen received her graciously, and offered to create her a countess, to which she answered, both were princesses and equals, and no honours could therefore be conferred on either by the other, but not to decline her intended favours, she told the queen she might confer any she pleased on her little boy she had on ship-board, called from thence, Tubodnugh Lung, or Toby of the Ship : he was accordingly brought into the queen’s presence, and knighted ; and afterwards by patent created lord viscount Mayo. The queen offered her a favourite lap-dog, which the heroine rejected as useless ; however, at her return she very much assisted the servants of the crown in the settlement of the country.

To the anecdote you related of the transaction at Howth, she added, that of having her doors open at meal hours, was a mark of distinction and hospitality, and her practice becoming an honorable and ancient family. From hatred to adultery she seemed rather to countenance the early marriages becoming about that æra common in Ireland. Her family had many castles exclusive of Carrick Ooley you mention, and in particular one in the valuable island of Clare, in which is a fine harbour and quay, and so esteemed by Oliver Cromwell that he erected a fort and barrack in it, in which he kept a garrison during the protectorship. Grave endowed a monastery on it, in which she lies interred, with her arms and motto, still to be seen on her tomb-stone, quartered with those of her husband. It seem this island is still an estate in that name, and continued till lately the family burial place.

A Subscriber.

""

"For a curious account of this famous Heroine, and her visit to Queen Elizabeth, see the Anthologia Hibernica, vol. ii. p. 1, and iii. p. 340."