Sir Philip Sidney had accompanied Sir Henry and apparently was quite taken with Grainne and spoke at length with her. He corresponded at length about her but most had been lost. One story does relate how Sir Henry had asked her to conduct him and his entourage around the bay to view the city's harbour and defenses. She did agree, but being a business woman, demanded and was given payment.

Another traditional tale says that when returning from England she stopped to restock in Howth, the main port for Dublin at the time. She went directly to the Lord of Howth seeking hospitality as was the Gaelic custom. The gates of the castle were locked before her and the servants would not let her in as the Lord was at dinner and was not to be disturbed. Furious at this breach of hospitality she came upon the heir of Howth and seized him on the way back to the ship. The Lord of Howth travelled to Connaught to bargain for the return of his son for any ransom. Grainne scorned the offer of ransom and demanded in return that his gates never be closed against anyone asking hospitality and that an extra place always be set at table. This practice is still followed to this day in Howth castle.

The Gráinne Mhaol - The Process

In March we selected 50 individuals who became the community cast. They then explored performance and Theatre techniques with Judith and other Macnas performers until June when they joined the professional cast in an intensive rehearsal process directed by Kathi. We have also being running drumming workshops to develop all the rhythms for the street and indoor scenarios overseen by Johnny Donnelly.

Declan Gibbons - General Manager - Macnas - July 2002

Media Reviews

The Grainne Mhaol story is also well chosen, for it is part history and part myth. Grace O'Malley was a real person, but it is not as just another tribal chieftain during the twilight of the Gaelic order that she has attracted contemporary artists such as Garry Hynes and Shaun Davey. She is the Irish counterpoint to the English myth of Elizabeth I, our sea goddess against theirs.
Elizabeth is the imperious Virgin Queen, so Grainne Mhaol is the fecund Pirate Queen. And yet, as defiant women rulers, they also belong together.
Thus, Grainne Mhaol runs into trouble whenever Patricia Forde's generally adept script tries to be a historical drama and works wonderfully when it remembers that it is a mythological pageant.
Fortunately, the mythic note is dominant. The aesthetics of the procession are not those of drama.
Processions work on a simple narrative: this happens, then there's this, and this comes next. If they stop and try to explain themselves, the crowd gets restless.

Fintan O'Toole - Irish Times

Friday 19th July 2002

Memories

I invite all participants and/or those who saw the show to enter their memories into this space. Photos of the show most welcome

I look forward to hearing your comments.

Jim Aherne

e-mail me at :

grainne-show@excite.com