The Most Badass Lady Pirate You've Never Heard Of

Contrary to popular belief, not all pirates hobbled on peg-legs with talking parrots perched on their shoulders, patches covering their eyes, and broad West Country accents sharpening their vowels. One of the most important, fascinating, and relatively forgotten pirates was actually a woman, known to history as the so-called "Pirate Queen."
There have been other lady pirates in history, but perhaps none as significant as Gráinne Ní Mháille, better known by the Anglicized version of her Irish name, Grace O'Malley. She was born in western Ireland around 1530. Though brought up in a life of relative privilege and wealth, she also faced limitations on her ambitions. The Ireland of her birth was one of eroding independence, as England sought to exert more and more influence over the island to its west.
#GraceOMalley #FemalePirates #WeirdHistory

[@Sam-1856]

I feel like this could make a really good movie or TV series.

[@Lady_Chalk]

Ok but who would be best to play her? They MUST be a natural redhead. Sophie Turner? Emma Stone?

[@ireneariascervantes3341]

@@Lady_Chalk Saoirse Ronan! She's Irish and an excellent actress.

[@tdog652041]

@@Lady_Chalk Eva Green, she’s rough and does well with the physical roles.

[@moonhunter9993]

ok, so you've never seen 'black sails'? because she was a main character in it.

[@daisyhalligan798]

it was made into a stage musical by the same people who wrote les mis called ‘The Pirate Queen’ but it didn’t last long on broadway

[@coreybeezy]

Never thought I’d see a “She’s the Man” reference in 2020.

[@jgallardo7344]

I can’t believe it’s been 14 years since that movie came out. I feel old

[@nofosho3567]

anything can happen in 2020

[@NobleKorhedron]

@@jgallardo7344 What movie...?

[@brittneybabeee4031]

Such a great “classic” movie, though! 💕

[@teddrickjohnson2050]

O'Malley's Up,The Irish have a lot in common with the black struggle.

[@isooyoung2525]

You forgot my favorite part of Grace O'Malley & Queen Elizabeth I encountered! It said that O'Malley sneezed, and was offered an expensive handkerchief as a polite gesture, but rudely blew her nose in it and threw it in the fire. The Queen told her that it was meant as a gift and reprimanded her for her rude behavior. Grace replied that in Ireland, their standards would not allow them to keep a soiled cloth in their pockets. The rest of the court was utterly shocked, and expected the Queen to execute her for insulting the Queen. However, the Queen was so fond of O'Malley that she actually started laughing! That is 💯 BADASS!

[@danighourla6094]

THAT'S SO FRGGN COOL OHMYGOD Two powerful besties 😩😭💕

[@theblissfullone]

I remember reading of this, as well. 🙂

[@Hellheart]

Nj😅😅😅!¡!!!

[@sarahprince2412]

Can I just say that I absolutely looovvvvveee the narrator. He is hilarious.

[@elscourou6654]

‘The man who slaughtered her boo’

[@graftongodofmemes]

Well the writers are hilarious

[@sarahprince2412]

@@graftongodofmemes True.

[@graftongodofmemes]

I like your name 😊😊😁

[@angelserenade]

She just gave birth to a baby and proceeded to plunder her enemies. What a badass!

[@Nyrufa]

She probably viewed the plunder as birthday gifts for her new son!

[@PresidentFunnyValentine]

Brutal.

[@thunderbird1921]

@@Nyrufa "Time to get me boy a birthday gift!"

[@jameshokanson9768]

she’s my great great great etc grandma

[@iiisparklepastel8816]

@@jameshokanson9768 no she is my great great lots of greats grandmother and it’s real

[@Aishiteru1803]

"...her hometown of mayo" *picture of mayo on map* 😂😂😂😂

[@ryanmeenk2144]

This is really hot!

[@FintanOMalley]

Kathrin Kleinknecht up mayo, I come from Kilsallagh

[@edgelord8337]

I'm just waiting on the video about the Chinese pirate queen. She was actually probably the most powerful pirate ever get isn't remembered like black beard.

[@telmomoreira7616]

@@jimmyshrimbe9361 nope

[@moinkallo689]

edge lord She was more a Queen then a pirate at the end

[@steamyvegetables1445]

@Natural Heel And?

[@nameofthename]

a fucking chinese pirate queen sounds so badass

[@ryanmeenk2144]

@@nameofthename tes please!

[@NewMessage]

Elizabeth Swann: "...oh, fine! Let's just haul out our swords and start banging away at each other, that will solve everything!" Grace O'Malley: "Hold my Guinness."

[@Cuban20]

The difference between an English Aristocrat and an Irish Pirate Royal

[@ryanmeenk2144]

@@neitharsis hey

[@VandalAudi]

Karen Gillian : Hold me Caledonia Best ye timourous beasties.

[@alyza_arts4153]

lol

[@thunderbird1921]

Difference between a real pirate and a Hollywood made one!

[@honkylips9072]

My daughter is named Grace O'Malley after Granuaile herself. She was born 3 months premature and we needed a strong name to get her through those early months. 7 Years later and all is well.

[@legitbeans9078]

That’s really cool 😎

[@btetschner]

Great name :)

[@torgeirbrandsnes1916]

Cool! I was born three months premature myself back in 1970. I did get Cerebral Palsy in my left side of my body. No biggie. I live a normal life. What the feet cant give you, your mouth and brain has to cover for you. Lol!

[@theblissfullone]

@@torgeirbrandsnes1916 You are awesome!

[@emiliemrsk2510]

“She wasn’t a regular mum...” No, she was a cool mum! “... she was a fierce fighter and a respected widow” Okay. That too I guess

[@thunderbird1921]

Read up on Olga of Kiev. Many can't decide whether she was a passionate avenger of her husband, or some kind of psychopath.

[@ciaranhorkan2633]

Okay jeans

[@alans4081]

This would make a great movie

[@KeikoKeepSmiling]

Pirates of the Caribbean 12.

[@ryanmeenk2144]

@@KeikoKeepSmiling what is that?

[@russhall1414]

@@KeikoKeepSmiling 😂

[@gia1440]

It was a broadway musical

[@maddaddy6219]

Closest movie I have seen was "Cutthroat Island" with Geena Davis....

[@Kat-yv1yq]

It’s impossible not to know of Gráinne Mhaol when you’re Irish. There’s a folk song about her: “Óró, sé do bheatha bhaile”

[@deaconsmom2000]

We fake Irish in the US also know of Gráinne Mhaol.

[@joermnyc]

She’s not that obscure, they produced a Broadway Musical about her!

[@NobleKorhedron]

Indeed; written by P.H. Pearse himself!

[@K1ddkanuck]

I'm second generation Canadian. Grandparents came from county Cork. My Granny used to tell me about her. Was one of my favorite bedtime stories.

[@sophieennis6628]

Not to mention ripples in the rockpools by Shaun Davey from the granuaile suite

[@jagermini]

And: Under Irish Brehon law, one of the oldest codified systems of law in the world, shouting out the window dismissing your husband after 1 year of marriage was entirely legal. She didn't recognize english laws. C'mon, google tells you this.

[@klub5158]

jagermini and if memory serves me correctly in Indian or Arabic culture (I forget which) shouting the word “Divorce!” three times in rapid succession is also entirely legal.

[@redlipsblacklace3373]

Very cool thank you! I love fokes that no there history.

[@redlipsblacklace3373]

Or tie your wife to a chair & light your poor wife on fire and say divorce and poof done up in smoke . this is a Very sad true fact in some India village's

[@merakiminx]

I hear this also applies to bankruptcy by shouting "I. DECLARE. BANKRUPTCY!"

[@BlurryKnight78]

@@merakiminx I needed that lol thank u

[@JustADioWhosAHeroForFun]

It's "Captain" Gracie O'Malley

[@Cuban20]

No, her Imperial Majestt Pirate Queen Grace O'Malley I True Ruler of the Irish Sea and Protector of Ireland.

[@lizzdoe2821]

Yessss!!

[@mr.personhumanson6871]

*Unpopular Opinion* : Pirates are just vikings with guns

[@yuyuricha]

Mr. Person Humanson vikings are just pirates with axes

[@gimmboi7408]

vikings are technically pirates as well

[@calebgamer1720]

Vikings were from a specific ethnic background and culture, pirates came from different countries and backgrounds

[@gimmboi7408]

but vikings pirated stuff making them pirates lmao

[@EmmaAppleBerry]

Vikingars are raiders who used ships to travel. Pirates tended to be sea based and raid other boats rather than towns and whatnot. I mean yes theyre very similar but they are different. Pirate is basically an umbrella term though. I mean a thief is technically a pirate. Pirates exist in modern era. Vikings however... not in the raiding and pillaging way but their land based legal culture still is honored and existing so yeah. I like em both on principal but i wouldnt want to know either then or now... lol. Basically like the mafia.

[@j.h-j5j]

That woman is badass, they should make a movie about her.

[@yellowlabsrunning]

I used to listen to audio books of pirate stories when i was little and she was one of my favorite to listen to and inspired a lot of my stories that i would play out with my toys thank you so much for doing this! I really appreciate it and brought back lots of my childhood memories

[@Danheron2]

I HAD THAT TO!!!

[@rozae1935]

Is she badass enough to eat oreos with orange juice in front of me?

[@PureFPSPwnage]

Or drink orange juice after brushing her teeth

[@mariamatedei]

Like a cereal? Yum

[@jesseelliot4804]

Drink orange juice after brushing my teeth doesn’t effect me, what am I supposed to expect it to be nasty, sour, gross idk someone explain

[@GuildsmanPirate]

Gotta click any and all pirate related content

[@klub5158]

Mitchel Davilo Same man. Same. Been a pirate geek for as long as I can remember.

[@potatomatop9326]

Is she badass enough to put milk first then cereal in front of me?

[@deaconsmom2000]

She'd milk you to top her cereal.

[@TheLyingFigure]

She would look you in the eyes and use tap water instead.

[@Ultima228]

Miracle of Sound literally did an entire song based on her. And its amazing.

[@jamesferris4573]

I grew up around strong women. A strong woman who was a pirate, and a warrior would be a force I wouldn't want to face.

[@jagermini]

Your map of Ireland seems to be missing a large chunk in the top right corner. It's an island, shouldn't be too hard...

[@eagleswin2621]

As much as the enjoy this channel they consistently get lots of basic information wrong.

[@pandahsykes602]

So when they show random pictures of unrelated content you don’t nitpick that ? The images shown are , for whatever reason , skewed sometimes but that shouldn’t interfere with the story being told .

[@GodlessValkyrie]

i’m very VERY proud to say that i’m the great-great-great granddaughter of Grace O’Malley. i have so many stories about her and the descendants of her that have been passed down from generation to generation.

[@boudika100]

You should write a book

[@Flyn4thewin]

I am so, so jealous. I've always felt I must have some of her lineage.

[@kathygraham6251]

me as well, raised all my life with tales of her exploits

[@HowLongOLordFaithfulandTRUE]

My Grandma did our genealogy in Ireland, when she lived there and told us we're related to her as well.

[@airly_subs5373]

Ayo! She is also an ancestor of mine as well!

[@candicers7697]

Love this. Recently learn via Ancestry research that she is one of my family ancestors.

[@artemis2520]

Wait seriously?!!! How did you do that on ancestry? I'm part Irish and I want to know if I'm related to anyone famous from back then.

[@thesultanah.m]

Omg me too!

[@connoromalley6591]

heyyy omalley clan things

[@K3llY657]

SAME

[@eamonlyons8318]

Same, no big deal, irish families were larger than most other European ones

[@i.g.m2884]

"... Slaughtered those jerks right back" I cant

[@Lokim23]

I want a strong woman like this in my life - no not want, need. To many karens and weak ones out there

[@Lokim23]

@Maria Bravo Unfortunately no :(

[@kaidblahh1798]

Welp there's always your hand

[@aishaboy]

An Irish song about this Our Lady. Óró, sé do bheatha bhaile óró, sé do bheatha bhaile óró, sé do bheatha bhaile anois ar theacht an tsamhraidh. 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. kzbin.info/www/bejne/joOxoKhjbMx8atE

[@lizzydarcy7257]

Ninja Bite the song isn’t about her, she’s mentioned but the meaning is about defeating the English, it was written after Culloden

[@Cinemallennials]

Pádraig Pearse added her in, in his 1916 version.

[@ciaranstone7430]

0:14 Ireland is looking a little smaller than usual

[@aeronlane1254]

Ciaran Stone looks like Northern Ireland has been taken off and they are just showing the Republic of Ireland

[@JenniferMenendez522]

Thank you for making history fun for my daughters!

[@gaddyify]

She's a badass Muther. When African American slang and Irish history collide.

[@user-gc7ep7ch1n]

Shut up

[@alexv3357]

Tá Gráinne Mhaol ag teacht thar sáile óglaigh armtha léi mar gharda, Gaeil iad féin is ní Gaillná Spáinnigh 'S cuirfidh siad ruaig ar Ghallaibh!

[@Katia-kc4zj]

"... a rarety to have a female leader in that era" This era: *nervous silence*

[@ryanmeenk2144]

Hi

[@sunnyDay18]

Sup

[@iamcyber]

Yo

[@kissarococo2459]

We have more female leaders than ever before?

[@dianajewel123]

Kissa Rococo true, but it IS still a “man’s world” and most female opinions and positions are still not as respected as men’s (I won’t even go into the wage gap discussion). Also, we as a western society as a whole have yet to have a female president :(

[@lesmiserabby4892]

"Lady pirate you've never heard of" Me, an obsessive theatre geek: ah yes this is the one from The Pirate Queen musical

[@ryanmeenk2144]

Hi

[@RealTimeTVLive]

The Pirate Queen musical STANK!

[@cjclark2002]

@@ryanmeenk2144 creep

[@memeityy]

Last time I was this early, I was born 4 months early.

[@PureFPSPwnage]

Well that explains alot... ...just kidding, sorry I had to.

[@vmo2851]

jokes on you, i have heard of it!

[@danielwardwell914]

Let’s hear about the Unsinkable Molly Brown!

[@donskeezy8762]

Good one

[@cherryhill9055]

Yes!

[@heriberthuber54]

Think that one badasss. Never heard of Ching Shih then. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ching_Shih

[@sweetlovem22]

I’d like to see more POC (People of Color) History please! Great channel

[@alisha-7839]

everyone loves a badass pirate lady

[@rekieirene]

There's also a musical written about her! It's called "the pirate queen", definetly worth watching/listening to!

[@tatemitchell1479]

That musical does NOT get the recognition it deserves 👏👏👏

[@VD913]

Gráinne Ní Mháille the Pirate Queen Flashing eyes so wild and green I was only seventeen, boys I'd no right to be In Grace O'Malley's company Man, I knew I'd heard this name before. Gotta love The Dreadnoughts

[@BlackGirlLovesAnime6]

Writers have so much content to write about from history alone and theres still so much that is untouched. So many amazing missed opportunities

[@sammumoo8186]

Gráinne Mhaol :D

[@thejazzy6012]

I thought it was mhaille I could be wrong though

[@patrickperring4203]

I must have a 3 season tv show of this.

[@kayleewilliams1232]

Pleasse. These are great and would make epic movies that i would pay to watch

[@legitbeans9078]

Yeah but as a species we have lost the ability to write a decent script any more. They’d probably make her black and gay despite the fact that makes zero sense.

[@tristandavis3294]

Your videos just always make my day so much better much love you guys!!!!

[@deaconsmom2000]

Oh, I've heard of Gráinne Mhaol.

[@gammaraider]

Great timing, I was just watching Black Sails on netflix. Avast ye scoundrels! Time to play me some Alestorm.

[@PureFPSPwnage]

Honestly one of the best shows jve ever watched. The writing, sets, costumes, acting, *everything.* i tell everyone to watch that show.

[@bettyred29]

gammaraider Black Sails is an awesome series. Will watch it again.

[@holocene2164]

@@PureFPSPwnage Good to know! Was looking for a great show to watch next. Thanks!

[@PureFPSPwnage]

@@holocene2164 did you watch it yet? Anybody who sees this, take note. You're welcome btw everyone.

[@miinacho9196]

WH: "she wasnt a regular mom" Me: "she's a cool mom"

[@Eyeseathem]

She’s the only lady pirate I’ve heard of, and by far the most badass pirate of all.

[@erinmiller9713]

Chih Shi, Anne Bonny, Mary Reid. Three more lady pirates you have heard of now.

[@Nyrufa]

Look up Ching Shih!

[@Eyeseathem]

My goodness! Thank you!!

[@jav9123]

It'd be nice to see a "A day in the life of a pirate" video or something like that 👌🏼

[@itskinaraaa]

"Perhaps the most Irish name ever spoken...." ✌🏾😂

[@megancolors7094]

This was great! I would love to see you cover the Oatman massacre that happened out in Arizona. Miss Oatman lived with Indians after being kidnapped, and was even the first American women to have a tattoo!

[@brumbybailey6599]

Great and heart-rending story!

[@claysoggyfries]

The most badass pirate was a mother of 4 🙏 😢

[@nategarnhart2995]

If i watched this during school i’d pass out, but at 3am i’m totally interested

[@greatfilmmaker]

He had a woman I like to see you investigate Sojourner Truth

[@pobg]

Do cucullen next.

[@mandym3270]

do a video on conspiracy theories throughout history!

[@dedecmds]

mandy m why? conspiracy theories are patently absurd

[@mandym3270]

Diego Cervantes true or not, everyone enjoys hearing about conspiracy theories, diego 😑

[@dedecmds]

@False Flag You seem to be confused about what the word conspiracy means. If a conspiracy theory was actually correct, then the conspiracy did happen. And while your statement might be true, conspiracy theories these days are completely outlandish and absurd, therefore a waste of time.

[@jjomalley6307]

A possible relative. Although I couldn't trace my family tree that far back, my ancestors were from around the same area

[@rollinoffmollyimbussin480]

Ireland is beautiful love it there

[@Vrangelrip]

What about Cheng I Sao? She had a giant fleet.

[@redlipsblacklace3373]

I think she was cool and very fair lady but I would of liked to no how her later life was ? Did she live long enough to have grandchildren ? Well wait back then if you lived to 30 you could be a grandmother lol but how long did she live and what did she die of ? Now I have to go look it up.

[@thesultanah.m]

The name was familiar so I asked my cousin who does genealogy if we were related to her Turns out she is a relative. Damnnnn I got some baddie genes

[@-FishLove]

..I.....DECLARE.....DIVORCE!!!!

[@vickiignaszak5041]

I don't understand how you can connect this with "she's the man" and not bring up 12th night. Ya know, seeing as 12th night was a contemporary to Grace O'Malley, with the first performance taking place the year before her death. I'm not saying she had anything to do with the play, just, weird to mention a movie based off the play and not the play contemporaneous to the historical figure. But then again, more people are probably familiar with "she's the man" than with 12th night...

[@markfrank5937]

"Full Mama bear" 😂

[@pasteljoelle126]

Just thought that a Nat Turner vid would be cool. Or a vid about the Tignon laws.

[@Jaredhenderson765]

You would do some Celtic history like william Wallace not from the crappy movie or is it a show

[@futuremels]

I saw her last name and instantly thought of Thomas from the Aristocats 😭🖐🏽

[@chrissnyder8415]

You should do videos of people who we have never heard of.

[@SalamiCheeks]

She “may” have is a common saying in this video. Most of this “may” be bullshit.

[@alistairbain6149]

“Full Mama-bear ... “ Luvvit!

[@alexmilne4577]

damn i'm early...

[@skyefox]

I feel like every video that comes out I have heard of, but it's just because I binged Drunk History.

[@madisonkelly4557]

Imagine all the Uncharted 4 players laughing at the name of this video

[@xvang9346]

Ching Sao, who took on the entire Chinese navy and was able to force them to agree to her terms of her surrender.

[@Merylstreep1949]

That's like when Michael Scott declares bankruptcy by shouting out I DECLARE BANKRUPTCY

[@katlynwebb8474]

The bad broadway show “The Pirate Queen” is about her life & legend but I bet with a fantasy twist.

[@naomimueller9912]

How about what life was really like for an average crusader?

[@iiisparklepastel8816]

She is my great great great lots of greats grandmother and it’s true

[@ravenstrongwinds6777]

I wonder, have you done, or could you do a video on Gráinne Mhaol? I heard about her through a song, and I think a lot of people would be really curious to learn about her.

[@roseannnekeogh2283]

This is her. That was what the called her. Grace the bald. She shaved her head as a kid to pass as a boy so she could sail.

[@yef122]

As soon as I saw the title of this video, I thought "I'll bet it's about Grace O'Malley" lol😂 I've been inside one of her castles, Rockfleet Castle, in Clew Bay, Co. Mayo. 🇮🇪

[@Xylospring]

Holy fuck this woman is awesome.

[@Jfreek5050]

Marvel: For muh diversity and inclusion we made Snowflake and Safe Space into heroes. DC: We have the Harley Quinn series Fans and History: *Am I a joke to you?*

[@carlstanford7607]

Great vid. Some pronunciation issues with the Irish names (‘doughnell’ not donnel’) but great story

[@adam2122]

Make a video on Mary Read or Anne Bonny or a video on pirates

[@tuckergillespie9687]

Pirates are Vikings with guns CHANGE MY MIND

[@lisakes7042]

Queen Wilhelmina from the Netherlands

[@madisonpappas2268]

Hey weird history, i love your stuff! Recently I found out my great grandmother is a decendent from a member of the Butch Cassidy bunch, soo, will you please do a video on the Bitch Cassidy bunch? Again, love your channel! Thank you!

[@XslyproductionsX]

Anyone else got their notification halfway through the video??

[@ninatheenigma4819]

I bet if we brought back some of the old Viking and pirate Traditions there would be a lot less disrespect and tyranny in the world and that's sad to say in 2020

[@pandahsykes602]

So bring back tyrants accosting sailors for taxes , or else kill them to dull down the disrespect and tyranny in the world ? Gotcha , that makes total sense ! /s

[@ninatheenigma4819]

@@pandahsykes602 simmer down there pancake. You're taking this shit way too seriously🙄

[@MahHairChronicles]

Thank you, Bertrice Small, for introducing me to Grace through her fictional kinswoman.

[@wgarcia2550]

Love those books

[@happy3755]

The "jokes" you make in between the facts add nothing to the vid

[@hollyann9610]

Do Sacagawea next!

[@unrelated1034]

I’m actually one of her ancestors

[@alexv3357]

Tá Gráinne Mhaol ag teacht thar sáile Óglaigh armtha léi mar gharda, Gaeil iad féin is ní Gaillná Spáinnigh 'S cuirfidh siad ruaig ar Ghallaibh!

[@honorladone8682]

AMEN MOMMY !!! Philadelphia USA

[@marynoll8562]

She sounds amazing

[@EmmaAppleBerry]

"England and ireland have a complicated history" understatement of the fucking century. 😂😂😂

[@edwardneilloftheclanmacnei7057]

I wonder if she joined forces with a Scottish pirate named Ruari the Turbulent also known as the last of the Vikings and the MacNeills of Barra clan on some pirate raids, as there's a letter by a European Ambasaador d'Eecke to the Queen of Hungary warning her of Irish and Scottish pirate's and said that they would join forces