Ireland in Schools Birmingham Pilot Scheme

English & Irish history for primary schools Version 1, 11 September 2007

Should We Call Grace O’Malley* a Pirate?

Contents
About this unit/helpful texts/lesson plans
Lessons, sources & worksheets
1. What is a pirate?
2. What were the main events of Grace O’Malley’s life?
3. What do you think happened when Grace met Elizabeth I?
4. How far does Grace fit your image of a typical pirate?

Notes
1. ‘Grace O'Malley aroused the excited curiosity of Years 1 & 2'
2. More about Grace O’Malley on the Internet
3. Historical novelist’s account of Grace’s meeting with Elizabeth I
4. Every Child Matters

* Grace is also called Granuaile (Grace the Bald) in the Irish.

A rough phonetic pronunciation is GRAN-YAH WAIL.

For a PowerPoint of the pictures used, and more resources, please go to:
http://iisresource.org/pirates.aspx

Key Stage 1
University of Birmingham BASS University of Northampton
About the study unit

This study unit is intended as a depth study within the Key Stage 1 Prior knowledge
History curriculum when studying the lives of significant men, women Children will be expected to know
and children drawn from the history of Britain and the wider world. something about pirates.

The key question asks: Should we call Grace O’Malley a pirate? It would be helpful if the children were
aware that sources help them to learn
Using a variety of stimulus material, the unit encourages children to about the past.
explore the past by examining the image of pirates, with particular
reference to Grace O’Malley.

The key question leads children to consider what are the characteristics
of a pirate and to challenge stereotypes in the light of historical enquiry.

The key question also leads to a better understanding of the complexities

of the life and values of a significant woman living in the more distant
part.

The unit also offers scope for work in Literacy and PSHE/Citizenship.

National Curriculum Historical objectives - Key Stage 2

1. Chronological understanding
a. place events and objects in chronological order
b. use common words and phrases relating to the
passing of time
2. Knowledge and understanding of events, people and
changes in the past
a. recognise why people did things, why events
happened and what happened as a result
b identify differences between ways of life at
different times.
3. Historical interpretation
Pupils should be taught to identify different ways in
which the past is represented
4. Historical enquiry
a. how to find out about the past from a range of
sources of information
b. to ask and answer questions about the past
5. Organisation and communication
Pupils should be taught to select from their knowledge of
history and communicate it in a variety of ways

Every Child Matters

The unit fully embraces the Every Child Matters strategy - see Note 3.

Helpful texts
My Very First Books of Pirates by Richard Walker, Barefoot Granuaile. The Pirate Queen by Morgan Llywelyn
Press, 1-84148-304-4 O’Brien Press, 0-86278-578-2 (historical fiction)
Granuaile. Chieftain, Pirate, Trader by Mary Moriarty The Ghost of Grania O’Malley by Michael Morpurgo
O’Brien Press, 0-86278-162-0 Egmont, 0-74974-691-2
Granuaile. The Life & Times of Grace O’Malley by Anne
Chambers, Wolfhound Press, 0-86327-631-8

Thank you
This unit is indebted to Sandra Kirkland, Naseby CoE Primary School, and Maria Wykes, Northamptonshire Inspection &
Advisory Service, who devised the original Ireland in Schools study units on Grace O’Malley:
http://www.qca.org.uk/history/innovating/history_matters/worked_for_me/ks1/cameo-1/index.htm
Lesson plans on following page.

IiS, Grace O'Malley - a pirate?, 2

 Lesson Key Starter
question
1 What is a Watch the Lazy Town
pirate? video ‘You are a Pirate’
video
http://uk.youtube.com/watc
h?v=3AzpByR3MvI
(for karaoke version, go to
http://www.youtube.com/w
atch?v=_ylIuTCn02s).
What have they done to
look like pirates?
2 What were Look at this picture of
the main Grace O’Malley playing
events of cards as a child?
Grace Which one is Grace?
O’Malley’s What does this tell you
life? about her?
3 What do Look again at picture of
you think Grace meeting Elizabeth.
happened Which phrases do you
when think apply to Granuaile
Grace met and
Elizabeth which to Elizabeth I?
I? linen saffron smock gown
richly embroidered
lace handkerchief
weather-beaten face
chalk-like face large
woollen sleeveless cloak
sober dress ornamental
style.
Why do you think their
clothes are different?
4 How far Thought-shower words you
does Grace would use to describe
fit your Grace O’Malley.
image of a
typical
pirate?
* At this stage the teacher should explain that we do not know what Grace looked like. There is no
surviving picture of Grace from her own lifetime.
The nearest we have is this portrait of her great-great granddaughter, Maud Burke, born around 1642.
The result is that people make up their own minds of what Grace looked like, as the selection of pictures
shows.
NB. If you have difficulty in obtaining resources from the Internet, please contact Ireland in Schools at:
iisresources@yahoo.co.uk.
IiS, Grace O'Malley - a pirate?, 3
Activities NC
History
PSHE
1. Whole class activity. Look at the picture of Blackbeard. What 2a
tells you he is a pirate? 3
2. Look at these pictures of pirates with captions. 4b*
a. Who looks like a pirate and why? Explain you choices. 5
b. Are you surprised by any of the pictures? Have you any
questions you want to ask?
3. Review. Look again at the pictures of Grace O’Malley and 1a
Francis Drake and also at pictures of their statues. 2a, c
a. Teacher explains why Drake met the queen and that in the next 5g
lessons we will be finding out why Grace O’Malley met the
queen.
b. What else would you like to know about Grace?
1. The story of Grace O’Malley. 1a*, b
a. Display pictures illustrating the story. Teacher reads story 2a, b
twice, the first time stopping and explaining the differences 4a, 4b
between then and now, the second time dramatically 5
b. Discuss the questions in the story.
2. Working in groups of four, sequence the pictures of Grace’s
life. 1a
(Encourage pupils to use conventional and sequential language in 2a, c
discussing the sequencing, eg.day, night, weeks, months years; 5g
long ago, before, after, next.)
3. Review.
a. What have you learned about Grace?
b. How do we know that she lived a long time ago?
c. Have you answered any of the questions from Lesson 1?
1. Whole class activity, rehearse the points made about Grace’s 2a*, b*
letter to Elizabeth in Lesson 2. 4a*, b
2. Whole class activity. Teacher displays meeting cards one by 5
one and children decide to whom each one refers.
3. In groups of four, fill in the speech and thought bubbles and
place and choose four to place on the meeting worksheet- two 2a
speech and two thought bubbles for Grace and the same for 4c
Elizabeth.
4. Use Drama conventions and ideas from activity 3 to reconstruct
the picture of Grace and Elizabeth. Reconstruct the conversation
between the two women, e.g., ‘Still image’ and ‘Thought
tapping’.
Or Use hand puppets to act out the imagined conversation.
5. Review. Have your views of Grace changed as a result of this
lesson?
1. Look again at the pictures of pirates in Lesson 1 and recall your 2a
ideas of what pirates were like. 3*
2. How far do you think Grace was a pirate? Place a picture of 5
Grace on a continuum line (1, least like, 10 most like) and explain
why you think that.*
3. Look at the images of Grace, which one would you choose as a 2a
front cover for the story you heard in lesson 2.P25 to 4, plus MLs. 4c
4. Write a blurb for the back cover of your book. 5g
Lesson 1
What is a pirate?

Starter Activities NC
History
PSHE

Watch the Lazy 1. Whole class activity. Look at the picture of Blackbeard. 2a
Town video ‘You are What tells you he is a pirate? 3
a Pirate’ video 2. Look at these pictures of pirates with captions. 4b*
http://uk.youtube.co a. Who looks like a pirate and why? Explain you choices. 5
m/watch?v=3AzpByR b. Are you surprised by any of the pictures? Have you any
3MvI questions you want to ask?
(for karaoke version, 3. Review. Look again at the pictures of Grace O’Malley and 1b
go to Francis Drake and also at pictures of their statues. 2a
http://www.youtube. a. Teacher explains why Drake met the queen and that in the 4c
com/watch?v=_ylIuT next lessons we will be finding out why Grace O’Malley met 5g
Cn02s). her.
What have they b. What else would you like to know about Grace?
done to look like
pirates?
* For a karaoke version, go to http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_ylIuTCn02s.
For a Pirates of the Caribbean version, go to http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3NpSG0h_bo0.

L1, Starter
Lazy Town video ‘You are a Pirate’ video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bEBbu-wkKrs

IiS, Grace O'Malley - a pirate?, 4

L1, Activity 1

Blackbeard (c. 1680-1718)

Also known as Edward Teach.
Notorious Golden Age pirate renowned for his devilish appearance and rule-by-fear tactics.

IiS, Grace O'Malley - a pirate?, 5

L1, Activity 2

Hook, Captain L’Ollonais, Francois (c. 1635 - c. 1668)

Renowned fictional bewigged pirate featured in J.M. Born Jean David Nau. One of the most cruel and sadistic
Barrie’s legendary Peter Pan. pirates known.

Silver, Long John Bonny, Ann (c. 1698 - d ?)

One-legged pirate in the story Treasure Island by Robert Irish pirate who partnered Calico Jack in the Caribbean.
Louis Stevenson.

IiS, Grace O'Malley - a pirate?, 6

Sparrow, Captain Jack Grace O’Malley, aka Granuaile, (1530-1603)
The fictional character in the Pirates of the Caribbean Meeting Queen Elizabeth I, 1593 - 18th century
films, played by Johnny Depp. engraving.

Morgan, Captain Henry (1635-87) Sir Francis Drake (c. 1534 - 1596)
Notorious Welsh buccaneer who became ‘the greatest of Being knighted by Elizabeth I on board the Golden Hind,
the Brethren of the Coast’. 1571 - 19th century painting.

IiS, Grace O'Malley - a pirate?, 7

L1, Activity 3

Grace O’Malley, aka Granuaile, (1530-1603)

Meeting Queen Elizabeth I, 1593 - 18th century engraving.

Sir Francis Drake (c. 1534 - 1596)

Being knighted by Elizabeth I on board the Golden Hind, 1571 - 19th century painting.
The queen was rewarding Drake after his successful voyage around the world and
for giving her riches of gold, silver and other treasures taken from the England enemy, Spain, and others.

IiS, Grace O'Malley - a pirate?, 8

Lesson 2
What were the main events of Grace O’Malley’s life?

Starter Activities NC
History
PSHE

Look at this 1. The story of Grace O’Malley. 1a*, b

picture of Grace a. Display pictures illustrating the story of Grace O’Malley. 2a, b
O’Malley playing Teacher reads story twice, the first time stopping and explaining 4a, 4b
cards as a child? the differences between then and now, the second time 5
Which one is dramatically.
Grace?* b. Discuss the questions in the story.
What does this 2. Working in groups of four, sequence the pictures of Grace’s 1a
tell you about life. 2a, c
her? (Encourage pupils to use conventional and sequential language in 5g
discussing the sequencing, eg., day, night, weeks, months years;
long ago, before, after, next.)
3. Review.
a. What have you learned about Grace?
b. How do we know that she lived a long time ago?
c. Have you answered any of the questions from Lesson 1?
* Bottom left.

IiS, Grace O'Malley - a pirate?, 9

L2, Starter

Grace loved to play cards - one of her nicknames was ‘Grace of the Gamblers’.
Drawing by David Rooney
Granuaile. Chieftain, Pirate, Trader by Mary Moriarty & Catherine Sweeney, O’Brien Press, 0-86278-162-0, p. 11.

IiS, Grace O'Malley - a pirate?, 10

L2, Activity 1
The story of Grace O’Malley - supporting maps & pictures start on page 13

Grace O’Malley was one of the most successful pirates ever to sail the seas off
the west coast of Ireland. She had lots of ships and over 200 men. She robbed
any ship that dared to sail through waters she ruled.

According to the English, Grace ‘has not acted like a woman and has caused a lot
of problems as chief commander and director of thieves and murderers at sea.
She has thieved from this part of Ireland’.

Grace also traded as far away as Spain where she sold fish and cows’ hides
[skins]for wine, salt and iron. She was at sea so much that her youngest son was
born aboard ship in 1567.

Grace had a very exciting life. Many stories are told about the adventures she
had. Here are four of them.

Why she was called Grace the Bald

Even though she had long, dark hair, Grace is often called Grace the Bald. It is
said that when Grace was a young girl, she asked her father could she sail with
him. He refused to take her, because she was a girl. However, Grace was
determined to go with him, so she cut off all her hair and dressed in boys’
clothes. She went back to her father and said, ‘Now will you take me?’ We don’t
know what her father answered. What do you think he said?

How Grace showed that she was strong

When Grace was sixteen years old, she married her first husband, a chieftain
called Donal O’Flaherty. He was always fighting. Donal captured a small castle
from his neighbours, the Joyces. Donal fought so fiercely that he was given a
new nickname Donal the Cock. The castle was renamed Cock’s Castle.

Shortly afterwards, in 1565, Donal was killed by the Joyces when he was out in
the mountains. Luckily, some of his men managed to return to the castle to warn
Grace. The Joyces thought that it would be easy to get their castle back. They
were wrong. Grace and her men fiercely defended the castle and won. The
Joyce’s ran away liked scared rabbits. The castle’s name was changed to Hen’s
Castle to show how brave Grace was. What does this story tell us about Grace?

IiS, Grace O'Malley - a pirate?, 11

How she taught Lord Howth lesson
Many years later, in 1576, Grace’s galleys landed at Howth near Dublin. At that
time, Irish chieftains offered food and shelter to other chieftains who were
travelling through their lands. When Grace went to Howth Castle to be
welcomed as a guest. Imagine her surprise and anger when they would not even
let her in. She was furious.

On her way back, Grace came upon the son of the lord playing with his friends.
She kidnapped the boy and sailed off with him. Lord Howth was very upset when
he found out what had happened. He went to see Grace and offered a lot of
money to get his son back. Grace did want not money. What she wanted was to
teach Lord Howth a lesson he would never forget.

She made him promise that the gates of Howth Castle would never again be
closed to anyone looking for food and shelter and that promised an extra place
would always be laid at the dinner table in Howth Castle to remind the people of
the castle of how badly they had treated Grace. Only then did Grace give the
lord back his son. To this day, there is always an extra place at the dinner table
in Howth Castle. Do you think Grace behaved properly?

How did Grace try to deal with her biggest enemy?

Sir Richard Bingham was a very important man in Ireland. He had been sent to
the west of Ireland by the Queen of England to control the Irish. Grace and
Bingham were deadly enemies. He made life very difficult for Grace, taking her
lands and cattle. Once, locked her away in jail. Grace became so angry that, in
1593, she wrote to Queen Elizabeth I to complain about Bingham and his nasty
ways. What do you think Grace wrote?
[Note to teacher. Store responses for use in next lesson.]

Elizabeth agreed to see Grace. She was probably curious to meet this Irish
woman who had caused the English in Ireland so much trouble. Queen Elizabeth
must have liked Grace because she ordered Bingham to return the lands and
cattle which he had taken from her. Grace returned to home only to find
Bingham had not changed his ways. She died about ten years later.

IiS, Grace O'Malley - a pirate?, 12

L2, Activity 1 - pictures to support ‘The story of Grace O’Malley’

Grace’s sheltered but strategically-placed territory in Mayo (in red) and neighbouring counties
Galway and Clare - in light red) in the west of Ireland, the province of Connaught or Connacht.

IiS, Grace O'Malley - a pirate?, 13

Granuaile. the Life & Times of Grace O’Malley by Anne Chambers, Wolfhound Press, 0-86327-631-8, p. 14

IiS, Grace O'Malley - a pirate?, 14

An artist’s impression of Time Traveller 2 by Roddy Day, CJ
Grace O’Malley Fallon, 0-71441-129-9, p. 84

IiS, Grace O'Malley - a pirate?, 15

IiS, Grace O'Malley - a pirate?, 16
Time Traveller 2by Roddy Day, CJ
An artist’s impression of Grace’s galley. Fallon, 0-71441-129-9, p. 83.
 Time Traveller 2 by Roddy Day, CJ
Why she was called Grace the Bald Fallon, 0-71441-129-9, p. 84

IiS, Grace O'Malley - a pirate?, 17

Carraighowley Castle, Co. Mayo, Ireland, one
of Grace’s favourite homes.

IiS, Grace O'Malley - a pirate?, 18

IiS, Grace O'Malley - a pirate?, 19
My Very First Book of Piratesretold by Richard Walker & illustrated
How Grace taught Lord Howth lesson. by Olwyn Whelan, Barefoot Books, 1-84148-304-4, p. 38.
Sir Richard Bingham

How did Grace try to deal with her

biggest enemy?

Queen Elizabeth I

IiS, Grace O'Malley - a pirate?, 20

L2, Activity 2 - cards for sorting & sequencing Grace’s life
* Drawings by David Rooney in Granuaile. Chieftain, Pirate, Trader by M. Moriarty et al., O’Brien Press, 0-86278-162-0
G5/9 Time Traveller 2 by Roddy Day, CJ Fallon, 0-71441-129-9, p. 84; G8 Horrible Histories. Ireland by Terry Deary, Scholastic, 0-43901-436-0

G7. Grace loved to play cards - one of her G.3. Upset when her father refused to take her on a
nicknames was ‘Grace of the Gamblers’.* [sea] trip because she was a girl, the story goes that
Grace cut off her hair and donned male clothes.*

G1. Terrified English soldiers flee Hen’s Castle as G2. Attacked by Turkish pirates, the story goes that
Grace’s men pour molten metal down on them.* Grace rushed on deck and blasted them off the
ship.*

IiS, Grace O'Malley - a pirate?, 21

G8. Grace’s son Tibbott (Toby) was born aboard her
ship. She defended her new-born son from an
attack from Barbary Pirates.

G9. Grace’s galley. G5. Grace teaches Lord Howth a lesson.

G6. Imprisoned in the dungeons of Dublin Castle, G4. The meeting between Grace and Queen Elizabeth
Grace must have longed to be home in Connaught.* at Greenwich Castle, London.*

IiS, Grace O'Malley - a pirate?, 22

Lesson 3
What do you think happened when Grace met Elizabeth I?

Starter Activities NC
History
PSHE

Look again at picture of
Grace meeting Elizabeth.
Which phrases do you
think apply to Granuaile
and
which to Elizabeth I?
linen;
saffron smock;
gown richly embroidered;
lace handkerchief;
weather-beaten face;
chalk-like face;
large woollen sleeveless
cloak;
sober dress;
ornamental style.
Why do you think their
clothes are different?
1. Whole class activity, rehearse the points made about 2a*, b*
Grace’s letter to Elizabeth in Lesson 2. 4a*, b
2. Whole class activity. Teacher displays meeting cards 5
one by one and children decide to whom each one
refers.
3. In groups of four, fill in the speech and thought 2a
bubbles and place and choose four to place on the 4c
meeting worksheet- two speech and two thought
bubbles Grace and the same for Elizabeth.
4. a. Use Drama conventions and ideas from activity 3
to reconstruct the picture of Grace and Elizabeth.
b. Reconstruct the conversation between the two
women, e.g., ‘Still image’ and ‘Thought tapping’.
Or Use hand puppets to act out the imagined
conversation.
5. Review. Have your views of Grace changed as a
result of this lesson?

L3, Starter
Which phrases do you think apply to Grace and which to Elizabeth I?

lace handkerchief weather-beaten face

linen saffron smock gown richly embroidered

sober dress ornamental style.

large woollen sleeveless

chalk-like face
cloak

IiS, Grace O'Malley - a pirate?, 23

L3, Activity 2 - meeting cards
1, 4, 7, & 9 might have been thought by Grace; 2, 5, 8 & 10 by Elizabeth; 3 & 6 by either.
The blank cards be used for more thoughts.

1 2 3
What has she got Is she impressed by I wonder what she’s
around her neck. my outfit? really thinking.

5
4 She is not the 6
Isn’t she pale? ruffian I thought Can I trust her?
she would be.

7 8
Why does she need Where are the rest
so many people her? of her servants?

10
9
What will happen if I
Was it really worth
give her what she
coming all this way?
wants?

11 12
She is very small. She is very big.

IiS, Grace O'Malley - a pirate?, 24

L3, Activity 3 - meeting worksheet for thought & speech bubbles enlarge to A3

Grace’s thoughts & speech Elizabeth’s thoughts & speech

IiS, Grace O'Malley - a pirate?, 25

IiS, Grace O'Malley - a pirate?, 26
IiS, Grace O'Malley - a pirate?, 27
Lesson 4
How far does Grace fit your image of a typical pirate?

Starter Activities NC
History
PSHE

Thought-shower 1. Look again at the pictures of pirates in Lesson 1 and recall your 2a
words you would ideas of what pirates were like. 3*
use to describe 2. How far do you think Grace was a pirate? Place a picture of 5
Grace O’Malley. Grace on a continuum line (1, least like, 10 most like) and explain
why you think that.
3. Look at the images of Grace, which one would you choose as a 2a
front cover for the story you heard in lesson 2? 4c
4. Write a blurb for the back cover of your book. 5g
* At this stage the teacher should explain that we do not know what Grace looked like. There is no surviving picture of
Grace from her own lifetime.

The nearest we have is the portrait below of her great-great granddaughter, Maud Burke, who was born around 1642.

The result is that people make up their own minds of what Grace looked like, as the selection of pictures shows.

IiS, Grace O'Malley - a pirate?, 28

L4, Activity 1 - pirates from Lesson 1

IiS, Grace O'Malley - a pirate?, 29

 L4, Activity 2
Continuum line

IiS, Grace O'Malley - a pirate?, 30

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

Least like Most like

L4, Activity 3 - images of Grace O’Malley

C1 C2 C3

C4 C5 C6

C7 C8 C9

IiS, Grace O'Malley - a pirate?, 31

Note 1
‘Grace O’Malley aroused the excited curiosity of Years 1 & 2'
Tired of teaching Florence Nightingale, Sandra Kirkland at
Naseby CE Primary School gave herself a new lease of life and
aroused the excited curiosity of Years 1 & 2 by announcing
that they were going to study an Irish pirate. The excitement
became almost irrepressible when it gradually dawned on the
children that the pirate was a woman - the fearless Grace
O’’Malley (c.1530-1603), also known as Granuaile
(pronounced Gran-oo-ale).
Telling a good story
More than the ‘‘pirate queen’’ of Irish legend, Granuaile was
a courageous woman who stood up for her rights during the
turbulent Tudor conquest of Ireland. When young, it is said
she cut off her hair and wore male clothes to go to sea.
More than a woman, Granuaile was a Gaelic chieftain. She
commanded a fleet of war and merchant ships, trading with
France, Spain, England and Portugal, dominating the waters off
Western Ireland, resisting and then treating with the invading
Tudors. By land Granuaile stormed and defended castles,
engaged in the then favourite Irish practice of cattle-rustling,
gave birth to four children and generally showed she was the
equal if not the better of any man.
According to one horrified Tudor official, she ‘‘hath
impudently passed the part of womanhood and been a great
spoiler and chief commander and director of thieves and
murderers at sea’’. Such was Granuaile’’s power that in 1593
Elizabeth I agreed to meet her in London to consider requests
for money and permission ‘‘to invade with sword and fire’’ the
queen’’s enemies.
The only Gaelic woman ever to appear at court, ‘‘the wild
grandeur of her mien erect and high, before the English Queen
she dauntless stood ... well used to power [and] dominion over
men of savage mood’’. Her petition was successful, but
Granuaile died ten years later outwitted and impoverished by
Tudor officials who never forgave her earlier ‘‘betrayals’’.
Enlivening the History curriculum
Sandra unfolded Granuaile’’s life in a series of compelling
stories, drawn from a number of accessible texts, including My
Very First Book of Pirates (R. Walker, Barefoot Books, 1-
84148-304-4, pp 34-41), Time Traveller 2 (R. Day et al., C.J.
Fallon, 0-71441-129-9, pp 83-8); a biography, Granuaile (M.
Moriarty & C. Sweeney, O’’Brien Press, 0-86278-62-0), and
an historical novel, Granuaile (M. Llywelyn, O’’Brien Press,
0-86278-578-2).
These stories provided the basis for five key questions: How
many Irish people can you name? Who was Granuaile? What
adventures did Granuaile undertake throughout her life? What
was Granuaile like? Why did Granuaile meet Queen Elizabeth
I?
This approach encouraged children to develop a range of
historical skills almost without noticing. They were delighted
that their pictures of Granuaile were as valid as any of those
produced in the books they read - there are no contemporary
portraits of her. They debated the reliability of the evidence on
IiS, Grace O'Malley - a pirate?, 32
which accounts of her life are based - mainly English State
Papers. How far could English officials in Ireland be relied
upon to report fairly on a woman who was often their enemy?
There were imaginative dramatisations of Granuaile’’s meeting
with Elizabeth, accompanied by much disagreement on how
fairly or otherwise Elizabeth and her officials treated Granuaile
towards the end of her life.
Addressing the whole curriculum
The enjoyment and learning went beyond History. Central
issues in PSHE were addressed in the debate on gender roles,
then and now, stimulated by Granuaile’’s disguising herself as
a boy to go to sea, while the English dismissal of Granuaile as
a ‘‘pirate’’ prompted a debate about perceptions - ‘‘pirate’’ to
some, ‘‘freedom fighter’’ to others.
The existence of a suite of songs, with telling words and
evocative music (Granuaile, sung by Rita Connolly, Tara CD
3071), encouraged the children to ‘‘explore and express their
ideas and feelings about music using movement [and] dance’’
and to appreciate ‘‘how music is used for particular purposes’’.
The song ‘‘Free and Easy’’ prompted children to apply their
geographical skills by asking ‘‘What can you see from the
masthead? ... Spanish ships a-fishing.... A Portugee from
Newfoundland.... A trading ship from Galway.’’ and ‘‘Where
shall we go for a cargo? We’’ll run right down to Vigo....
We’’ll take a look in at Bordeaux.’’
Building on Key Stage 1
What is more, work at Key Stage 1 can be built upon at Key
Stage 2 to offer a different perspective on the Tudors. Ireland
became ‘‘Elizabeth’’s Vietnam’’ as Irish chieftains responded
to the English invasion of their territories. Some, like
Granuaile, tried to be clever, pretending to co-operate with the
Tudors, yet continued in their old ways. Others resisted
violently and, according to one Englishman, ‘‘They spoil and
burn and bear away as fit occasion serve’’.
Exploiting the Literacy Hour
Finally, for some History teachers, Granuaile provides a way
of asserting the place of History in the curriculum. Maggi
Denton of St Paul’’s Catholic Junior School in Liverpool uses
four stories about Granuaile primarily for non-fiction work in
the Literacy Hour in Year 3 but also to develop historical
skills. At Gorsemoor Primary School in Staffordshire,
Rebecca Brookes encourages children to distinguish between
fact and fiction by using historical texts on Tudor Ireland and
an imaginative novel, The Ghost of Grania O’’Malley (M.
Morpurgo, Egmont, 0-74974-691-2).
Enriching the curriculum through Ireland
The story of Grace O’’Malley, Granuaile, is just one of
Ireland’’s rich store of stories which help to provide a
‘‘sounder map of the past’’ and increase ‘‘choice, range and
fun in our teaching’’. Teachers - and their pupils - can only
benefit by taking more account of Ireland and its stories. It is
easy to do since Ireland in School provides - without charge -
a wealth of teaching and learning materials and advice:
http://iisresource.org.
Note 2
More about Grace O’Malley on the Internet
Songs about Grace
Óró sé do bheatha ‘bhaile (You are welcome home) is a rousing song about Grace as Ireland’s saviour. For further
details and download links, please go to pages 20-1 in
http://iisresource.org/Documents/Pirates_Grace_Drake_Booklet_01.pdf.

Granuaile, TARA CD 3071 (1985), is an engaging album of songs, sung by Rita Connolly, and based on a mixture
of legend and fact surrounding the life of Grace O’Malley. Particularly evocative are ‘The Defence of Hen’s Castle’,
‘Free and Easy’ and ‘The New Age; which respectively capture Grace’s bravery, her life on the ocean and her
optimism about meeting Elizabeth I. For further details and media clips, please go to:
http://www.taramusic.com/sleevenotes/cd3017.htm.

Videos
Warrior Women 2 - Grace O’Malley. Short documentary hosted by Lucy Lawless; 8+ mins
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yAm2kAlP-KQ
A Pirate’s Life for She. Morgan Llywelyn on Granuaile becoming a musical; 4 mins
http://video.google.co.uk/videoplay?docid=3446421899632807146
Granuaile. Sung by Rita Connolly; 10 mins
http://video.google.co.uk/videoplay?docid=-8307735547834017733

Texts
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grace_O’Malley
Wikipedia
http://www.graceomalley.com/whowasgrace.php
‘The Official Site’ by Anne chambers. Grace’s biographer
http://journals.aol.co.uk/iis04/GraceOMalley
Ireland in Schools resources
www.geocities.com/Heartland/Park/7669/granuaile.html
Good context
www.omalley_clan.org/uow/omalley_web/granuaile.htm
Web resources
http://bestoflegends.org/pirates/grainne.html
Pirates and privateers.
http://www.thepirateking.com/bios/omalley_grace.htm
An excellent resource for pirates and their vessels
www.rootsweb.com/~nwa/grace.html
Biography of Grace O’Malley, Irish Chieftain, pirate, trader and seafarer.
http://www.rencentral.com/oct_nov_vol1/graceomalley.shtml
Illustrated biography
www.themediadrome.com/content/articles/history_articles/grace_omalley.htm
‘Put down that Barbie doll, sweetie, I have a story for you…’
http://home.fiac.net/marshaw/mhaille.htm
Informative
www.angelfire.com/dragon2/supercooper/index.htm
Questions about Grace, but with annoying pop-ups
http://www.irishcultureandcustoms.com/1Kids/PlateHowth.html
The Howth story
www.guardian.co.uk/travel/2007/apr/08/escape.ireland.restandrelaxation
A tourist attraction

IiS, Grace O'Malley - a pirate?, 33

Note 3
Historical novelist’s account of Grace’s meeting with Elizabeth I
Granuaile. The Pirate Queen by Morgan Llywelyn, O’Brien Press, 0-86278-578-2, pp 146-9
Although she will never admit it, Granuaile’s heart is in
her throat when she calls upon Elizabeth at her palace at
Greenwich. The queen has already received angry letters
from Bingham about her. It is up to Granuaile to present
a very different picture of herself.
To remind Elizabeth that they are both she-kings, she
dresses as a woman of the Gaelic nobility. The green
velvet of her gown is fabric she herself once imported.
The gown is made with slitted arms to reveal the
bell-shaped sleeves of an Ulster linen smock beneath.
The bodice is cut low to show that Granuaile’s throat and
bosom are still as firm as a girl’s. Although they are the
same age, Elizabeth cannot make the same boast.
Over her gown Granuaile wears a great fur cloak,
lined with silk. Its fringed hem sweeps the ground. The
English like to believe that the Irish go barefoot, but in
truth, almost everyone has leather shoes. Until the
English began seizing Irish herds there was plenty of
leather. For her meeting with Elizabeth, Granuaile selects
a pair of soft boots made from Mayo hides. The toes are
ornamented with gold embroidery.
Hidden in her belt is a dagger. A Spanish dagger. The
English never think to search this mere woman for
weapons.
When Granuaile is brought before the queen in her
audience chamber, she fights to hide her astonishment.
She expected someone as tall as a Gaelic chieftain, a
mighty monarch, a warrior like herself. But Elizabeth
Tudor does not reach her shoulder. She is a wee brittle
thing Granuaile could break over her knee.
Attendants cluster around the English queen, doing
everything but breathe for her. Her face is as white as
chalk. At first Granuaile thinks Elizabeth is ill. Then she
realises the woman’s skin is caked with powder.
Granuaile’s heavy hair is pinned with silver bodkins.
Elizabeth wears a red wig of a most unnatural hue. Can
it be the woman is bald? Granuaile wonders.
The English queen’s costume seems ridiculous. A
vast lace collar surrounds her face and head. She cannot
possibly see anyone sneaking up behind her. The bodice
of her gown is so rigid she can hardly breathe. Jewels
encrust her person from head to heels, weighing her
down. Her feet are squeezed into tiny shoes with heels so
high she can hardly walk. What could she do if she was
attacked? Granuaile bites her lip to keep from laughing.
Then their eyes meet. And lock.
A strange sensation passes over Granuaile.
IiS, Grace O'Malley - a pirate?, 34
She knows Elizabeth. Knows her as she knows the sea
or the wind. The queen of England is a woman who has
suffered, as the Irish she-king has suffered. Granuaile
feels a sudden pity for Elizabeth. This immensely
powerful woman, imprisoned within her stiff clothes and
her crowding courtiers, can never be free.
Granuaile refuses an interpreter and speaks with
Elizabeth in Latin. The two women were born in the
same year, Granuaile learns. ‘Had we been born in the
same place we might have been friends,’ she says to the
queen.
Elizabeth invites Granuaile to sit beside her while
they talk together. Her courtiers wait, shifting from one
foot to the other. The queen does not invite them to sit.
For all her physical weakness, it is soon obvious that
Elizabeth Tudor has the mind of a born ruler. Hard,
practical. Granuaile treats the queen with the respect she
seeks for herself. She does not lie to Elizabeth. She does
not tell all the truth, but what she does say is true.
She puts her case calmly and reasonably, and the
queen listens in the same way. During the long afternoon
they speak of many things. They discuss what it is like
for a woman to be a leader of men. Elizabeth says she is
amazed by Granuaile’s success. Granuaile replies that
she is equally amazed by Elizabeth.
The queen does not smile, but her eyes dance. They
are fine eyes. She must have been beautiful, once.
When their meeting is over, Elizabeth offers
Granuaile the hospitality of the palace until a decision is
made about her case. Granuaile thanks her and starts to
leave the chamber. Abruptly, the Irish woman sneezes. A
great big whoop of a sneeze. The queen nods to one of
her attendants, who hands Granuaile a tiny square of
cambric.
She blows her nose long and loud. Then she tosses the
handkerchief into the fire on the hearth.
Elizabeth cannot raise her eyebrows, for she has none.
But there is icy disapproval in her voice. ‘In England we
put our used handkerchiefs back into our sleeves,’ she
says.
‘In Ireland,’ Granuaile replies, ‘we are not so unclean
that we stuff soiled handkerchiefs into our clothing.’
Elizabeth stares at her.
She stares back.
Slowly, Elizabeth begins to smile. The powder on her
face cracks like glazed porcelain, but she smiles.
Note 4
Every Child Matters
Every Child Matters
Be healthy
Physically healthy
Mentally and emotionally healthy
Sexually healthy
Choose not to take illegal drugs.
Stay safe
Safe from maltreatment, neglect,
violence and sexual exploitation
Safe from accidental injury and death
Safe from bullying and discrimination
Safe from crime and anti-social
behaviour in and out of school.
Have security, stability and cared for.
Enjoy and achieve
Ready for school
Achieve stretching national and
educational standards at primary
school
Achieve personal and social
development and enjoy recreation.
Make a positive contribution
Engage in decision-making and
support the community and
environment
Engage in law-abiding and positive
behaviour in and out of school
Develop positive relationships and
choose not to bully and discriminate
Develop self-confidence and
successfully deal with significant life
changes and challenges
Develop enterprising behaviour.
Achieve economic well-being
Engage in further education,
employment or training on leaving
school
Ready for employment.
Live in decent homes and sustainable
communities
Access to transport and material good
Live in households free from low
income.
IiS, Grace O'Malley - a pirate?, 35
Evidence in History
Developing self esteem by including
aspects of a pupil’s community’s
history
Developing a questioning
disposition so pupils do not take
things at face value.
Challenging stereotypes and
exploring the histories of different
people and their society or context.
Providing opportunities to explore
and value pupil’s identity and place
in the world.
Providing opportunities to enjoy
finding out exciting and interesting
experiences of different people in
the past.
Providing opportunities to enjoy and
reach their potential through a wide
range of teaching and learning
experiences (e.g. drama).
Providing opportunities to work
collaboratively, e.g. in discussion.
Providing an appreciation of a
child’s place in the wider world by
exploring the achievement of other
people within their society and other
parts of the world.
Providing opportunities to develop
literacy and communication skills to
explore historical issues
Providing opportunities for problem
solving when exploring historical
questions.
Developing critical abilities when
examining sources such as artefacts,
pictures etc
We do
By focussing on an Irish
female pirate we give status to
those of Irish ancestry and
girls.
The unit challenges the image
of pirates.
The unit a highlights the
heroic nature of female
characters so often written out
of history. It also shows the
violent reality of piracy.
By providing a Unit that is not
Anglo-centric in approach and
looks at the ‘wider world’.
The unit deals with an
interesting, popular and
‘Romantic’ historical topic.
A range of pedagogic devices
are used enabling all pupils to
experience success.
Throughout the unit pupils
work in a variety of grouping
and ways.
The Unit challenges
stereotypical views of people
i.e. pirates, women.
The unit places the characters
in a variety of contexts thus
emphasising the global nature
of the stories.
The pupils communicate their
conclusions in a variety of
ways in the unit.
Problem solving is central to
the activities
The core of the unit is to
challenge popular concepts of
piracy and lawlessness.
 Ireland in Schools
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For more free teaching & learning resources