“Óró, Sé Do Bheatha Bhaile” is an Irish traditional song that, like many folksongs, has a disputed origin. Many scholars believe it was, in its original form, used to welcome a new bride to her husband’s home. The refrain is:
Óró, sé do bheatha ‘bhaile, Oh-ro, You are welcome home
Óró, sé do bheatha ‘bhaile, Oh-ro, You are welcome home
Óró, sé do bheatha ‘bhaile Oh-ro, You are welcome home
Anois ar theacht an tsamhraidh. Now that summer's coming
In the 18th century, the melody and refrain were used with different lyrics to rally the Irish to the Jacobite cause: putting Bonnie Prince Charlie (the Catholic Charles Edward Stuart, son of James II of England) on the British throne and deposing James’ Protestant daughter, Mary, and her husband, William of Orange. William, in particular, had been making life intolerable for the Gaelic Irish (who were, in large part, Catholic).
Going into the history would be a long detour here so I’ll leave it to you to explore. I’ll just mention that the Jacobite version of “Óró…” tells the story of the poor young prince being sent into exile. The narrator goes on to express his ardent desire to see the young rightful king (in the narrator’s eyes) returning to Ireland, accompanied by a thousand warriors, and kicking out all the heretics (the Protestants) and the foreigners (the British).
In Irish, the third verse is:
Tá Séarlas Óg ag triall thar sáile
Béidh siad leisean, Franncaigh is Spáinnigh
Óglaigh armtha leis mar gharda
‘S bainfidh siad rinnce as éiricigh!
Irish Music Daily translates this into English as:
Young Charles is coming over the sea
With French and Spanish volunteers
Armed and ready to protect him
And they’ll make the heretics dance!
So, what has any of this to do with a pirate queen called Gráinne? I’m glad you asked. In the 20th century, Padraig Pearse, one of the leaders of the Easter Rising of 1916, an event that led to the Irish War of Independence, took a cue from the Jacobites and used “Óró…” to rally the Irish to the cause of independence from Britain. His main theme is a call for the Irish to come home and fight for Ireland. And, again taking his cue from the Jacobites, he puts in his lyrics a rallying figure, an inspirational leader who will lead the fight. But he throws Charles out. After all, Charlie is British! This new symbol of the cause is Irish and she is not accompanied by French and Spanish soldiers. Her soldiers are Irish.
Here is the second verse of Pearse’s lyric:
Tá Gráinne Mhaol ag teacht thar sáile,
Óglaigh armtha léi mar gharda,
Gaeil iad féin is ní Gaill ná Spáinnigh,
Is cuirfidh siad ruaig ar Ghallaibh.
Gráinne O’Malley comes over the sea,
With armed warriors as her guard
They’re Irishmen – not French nor Spanish
And they will rout the foreigners!
(English translation from www.irishmusicdaily)
The Irish Music Daily website says Padraig Pearse’s Irish lyrics are not translated here word-for-word, but instead “are intended to give the meaning and feel of the Irish [language] rather than sticking rigidly to the original text.” This is a good idea when translating poetry as poetry is, at least in part, about words, flow, and rhythm. But I have to say you miss a bit this way. After all, Gráinne Mhaol, translated literally, means “Bald Gráinne.” And that intriguing nickname is just one peek at this formidable 16th century Irish woman.
So, who was this pirate woman with the odd nickname and how is she a symbol of Irish independence? Let’s explore.
Gráinne Ní Mháille was born around 1530 AD into the powerful seafaring clan of the O’Malleys of County Mayo. As a youngish girl, she wanted to go with her father on an expedition to Spain. He refused, saying her long hair would get entangled in the ship’s ropes. Not one to be deterred, Gráinne cut her hair. This, according to folklore, resulted in her earning the nickname Gráinne Mhaol (Bald Gráinne). It also got her what she wanted. Her father took her with him. And she kept going, becoming a member of the crew and working her way up through the ranks.
Her father, a chieftain, made sure, however, that his daughter became more than a sailor. He ensured Gráinne received an excellent education, including learning Latin. It is said that she learned other languages, including Spanish, French, Scots Gaelic, and possibly English (her native language was Irish) from the trading expeditions with her father. And, while the O'Malleys were fierce fighters, scholars debate how much of a “pirate” Gráinne actually was.
When she was sixteen, she married Donal O'Flaherty. How much of a love match this was is unknown. The O'Flahertys were another powerful coastal family and allies with the O’Malleys. So, Gráinne and Donal’s union may have been for political and economic purposes.
Gráinne had three children by Donal. But becoming a wife and mother didn’t turn into a mild mannered little wifey. She gave birth to Murchadh (Murrough), her third child, while at sea. Then, according to folklore, a few hours later, joined her crew in a fight to defend her ship from Algerian pirates.
When she was twenty-three, members of the Joyce clan ambushed and killed her husband. She was at home in her castle with her children at the time. The Joyces decided to take possession of it since it was defended just by a woman. Not all of them lived to regret that mistake.
After the death of her husband, Gráinne, having won the undying loyalty of her men and inherited her father’s title and lands, took command of the O’Malleys' extensive fleet.
At some point after her husband’s death, Gráinne became lovers with a shipwrecked sailor she’d taken in. When he was killed by the MacMahon clan, she is said to have gone to their castle, Doona, and exacted revenge to such a fierce degree, she became known as “the Dark Lady of Doona.”
Sometime around 1567 or ’58, she entered into a trial marriage (handfasting) with Richard Burke, a wealthy chieftain. These marriages, in the Celtic tradition, ordinarily were sanctified on Lughnasa (August 1st) and were a commitment of a year and a day, after which the couple could marry officially or either partner could walk away. When Burke came home to find the castle locks had been changed, he got the message that Gráinne had no desire to continue the union. Nevertheless, their union did produce a lasting outcome: a son named Tibbot Burke. Some versions of Gráinne’s story say he was the son who was born at sea just before the ship was attacked by Algerians.
Sir Richard Bingham was appointed in 1584 to the post of Governor of Connacht. He became a huge thorn in Gráinne’s side. His brother captured and killed her son, Owen. Later Sir Richard himself imprisoned her sons Murchadh and Tibbot as well as her half-brother, Donal. After some diplomacy and a lot of red tape, Gráinne managed to arrange a meeting with Queen Elizabeth I. Apparently, she impressed the Tudor Queen as Elizabeth ordered Bingham to release Gráinne’s family.
Or perhaps Elizabeth and Gráinne simply made a mutually beneficial trade. Elizabeth’s order to release the prisoners came along with Gráinne’s agreement to support the English against an Irish rebellion led by Hugh O’Neill. This, some scholars say, is what got Gráinne banished from Irish history books until Padraig Pearse decided to use her fighting spirit and fierce independence as an inspiration to rally the Irish to fight for their freedom from British rule.
Is a pirate who could be vengeful and ruthless, and who sided with the English against the Irish because it served her purposes the best symbol for Irish freedom? I leave it to you to decide. But I hope you enjoyed reading about this fiercely independent Irish woman.
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Slán go fóill
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