Grainne was no stranger to danger and prized courage and valor. Her contempt for cowardice is told in one tale of when she was fighting the Stauntons of Kinturk castle. Apparently in the midst of battle her son Tibbot faltered and drew back to shelter behind his mother. 'An ag iarraidh dul i bhfolach ar mo tho'in' ('Is is trying to hide behind my backside you are -- the place you came from?') she asked. Thus mortified he stood his ground and the Stauntons eventually surrendered. Each family in the region was levied a barrel of meal, a pig and an ox.

In 1577 while raiding the Earl of Desmond she was captured for the first time. She was handed over to the President of Munster, the Lord Justice Drury who wrote

• Grany O'Mayle, a woman that hath impudently passed the part of womanhood and been a great spoiler, and chief commander and director of thieves and murderers at sea to spoille this province, having been apprehended by the Earle of Desmond this last year, his Lordship hath now sent her to Lymrick where she remains in safe keeping.

Later she was transferred to the dungeons of Dublin castle, demonstrating her importance as a prisoner. Very few thus incarcerated live long but by whatever means Grainne was set free to return to Connaught with a promise of good behaviour.

The Gráinne Mhaol - Directors Note

This production has been inspired by the extraordinary life of Gráinne Mhaol; a woman who shared many parallels with Queen Elizabeth 1. Grace O’Malley (c. 1530-1603) was born at a time of great political turbulence when the prevailing ethos in Ireland was still essentially, Gaelic. During her turbulent lifetime all of that was to change. Her challenge was to adapt to these changes or perish.

Kathi Leahy - July 2002

Media Reviews

Grainne Mhaol wanders from time to time but usually comes back to this basic rule. Along the way there are stunning set-pieces the construction of Grace's first ship, a brilliant evocation of trade with Spain -that revel in the sheer joy of having 70 performers to play with. And it all builds towards a delightful visual coup in the eventual confrontation of two goddesses, Elizabeth and Grace.

This is, then, both a formidable achievement in itself and a bold revival of a dead form that opens the way for Macnas's future. If only the Orange Order would commission Macnas to re-invent the 12th of July.

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 from you.

Jim Aherne

e-mail me at :

grainne-show@excite.com