Pirate Queen of Ireland

by Anne Chambers

This is the true story of Grace O’Malley, or Granuaile, who ruled on land and sea in Connaught over 400 years ago. A Pirate Queen and Chieftain, she became a legend. We meet Grace as a young girl on Ireland’s west coast. Her father is a strong chieftain and loves the sea. Despite her parents’ objections, Grace becomes a better sailor than any of her father’s crew and so the adventures of the Pirate Queen begin. We set sail on her galley to Spain where war with England affects Grace and Ireland. We meet her husbands, Donal of the Battles and Richard in Iron, and are on board ship for her son’s birth and pirate attacks. After many escapades we sail to London for her famous meeting with Queen Elizabeth I. And we stay with her in her castle at Rock Fleet where she dies in 1603. This non-fiction account is a must for children who love Irish history! Similar to: Michael Collins: Most Wanted Man by Vincent McDonnell and Tom Crean: Ice Man by Michael Smith.

Genres: History, Ireland, Pirates, Nonfiction

123 pages, Kindle Edition

First published March 15, 2006

About the author

Anne Chambers is an Irish biographer, novelist and screenplay writer who lives and works in Dublin. She is best known for her biography of the 16th-century Irish Pirate Queen, Gráinne (Grace) O'Malley.

Reviews

[k]

2.5

[Talyah]

I'm a huge Grace O' Malley fan, I just wish that there was more information on her! This held a little more info than I knew but not enough.


My search for more infomation on this elusive historical creature continues!

[R.L.]

Κριτική στα Ελληνικά πιο κάτω...

3½/5
This is a biography of a very interesting historical figure, written for kids, but the writting is too didactic and dry, simply stating facts and not offering much as a literature material. At times it felt like I was reading a list of key points in preparation of a lecture or essay rather than a book. Still I learned a lot and I'm indrigued to seek futher information for Grace O' Malley, a name I encountered every now and then but never having the chance to look very closely too...

3½/5
Θεωρητικά παιδικό βιβλίο/βιογραφία για μία πολύ ενδιαφέρουσα προσωπικότητα της Ιρλανδίας του 16ου αιώνα. Δυστυχώς το βιβλίο στερείται λογοτεχνικών αρετών, η γραφή είναι διδακτική, ξερή και απότομη, απλά απαριθμώντας τα βασικά γεγονότα και μοιάζει σαν τις σημειώσεις κάποιου για να προετοιμάσει διάλεξη πάνω στο αντικείμενο, παρά σαν ολοκληρωμένο βιβλίο, είτε για παιδιά είτε για ενήλικες.

Παρ΄όλα αυτά πράγματι έμαθα πολλά για την Grace O' Malley, ένα όνομα που μου ήταν αμυδρά οικείο, αλλά δεν το είχα ψάξει με λεπτομέρεια ως τώρα. Πλέον μου κινήθηκε η περιέργεια να το ψάξω ακόμα περισσότερο...

[Tarsila Krüse]

This short book on Grace O’Malley (Gráinne Ní Mháille or Granuaile) is a very brief historical account of who she was as a woman and what happened politically between the west of Ireland and England during the mid to late 1500s.

It is written in short paragraphs and it has a lot of names and places so you need to be a history enthusiast to enjoy it. Though there are illustrations the work could be more refined and enticing, portraying more exciting and interesting bits of her life.

Although this book gives historical insight of who Gráinne Ní Mhaille was it could highly benefit from a different visual presentation.

[kitty Kat]

This isn’t what I thought it was going to be
Too fast for me to understand and keep with, struggling to understand the Gaelic words but that’s more my fault then the books
I loved the story she was an inspirational woman at a time where women were seen as possessions and repressed
I think next time I’ll go for a more in-depth book or one that just is more like a storytelling rather than just like an overview of history

[Jmmaher]

Took a class on this woman, thought reading more about her time in history would be more revealing, but the writing wasn't engaging, and the story left many points uncovered. (This may in part be due to the fact that it was the 1500's in Ireland). Can not recommend this read.

[Jessica Webb]

Definitely a recount of historical information and collection of noted facts, but an interesting and informative read that I really enjoyed!!
Written well, and shows an incredible woman who lived and fought in the time of man!
Great read!

[Emma M]

It was interesting but didn’t have lots of detail but a great introduction to someone I had never heard of before.

[Sarah Schneider]

It was an interesting book; but it felt like I was reading a lot of signs in a museum in Ireland rather than reading a book.