Grania

Grace O'Malley, dubbed the Irish Pirate Queen, lived during the time of Queen Elizabeth I; Grace was only three years older than Bess. Although these strong women were rivals, they respected each other. Brian Leo begins this vibrant ballad with Grace's men about to execute a British Lord when she steps in…rather than killing him she sends him back to Elizabeth with a missive…"I'm free, are you?"

My touring of Connemara took me to two of Grace's castles…the ruins of Hen's House in the middle of Loch Corrib and Rockfleet Castle in Newport, Co. Mayo.

Nancy: hammered dulcimer, vocals
Les Gallier: guitar

No, release him now, I say. Send him off without delay. Let him scurry to Elizabeth for tea.
But to prove this day occurred, with his blood write Bess these words: "I am free...are ye?"

For I am Grainne ni Mhaille*. Beware me, Tudor clan. West of Galway this Atlantic is mine.
Warn your sailors of the fiend called the Irish Pirate Queen, or they'll dine tonight on cannonballs and brine.
You may call me Grace O'Malley in your graceless English tongue, but no sassanacht** am I, the gods be praised.
And I'll sail my caravel to the very gates of hell with a load of British lords for Satan's blaze.

When a fat and sassy prey hoves in sight across Clew Bay, like a fisherman I harvest from the sea.
Be it spices, gold or wine, all I take is all I find, and the sharks can feed on those who disagree.
Yet you dare to claim our land with your laws and your demands and you smite us like a galley smites the foam.
Know your place, my lady Bess. Who are you to dispossess Irish chieftains of their fathers' fathers' home?

Chorus

There's no merchant passes Clare that I haven't taught to "share" and there's much to teach invaders you may send.
You may claim this island green, but in Connaught I am queen, with five hundred years of freedom to defend.
You did naught to earn your crown but be born to one renowned, but The Black Oak's daughter's sword commands the sea.
With O'Lees and with MacMahons and with Flahertys I stand, and I'm waiting for ya, Bess. Challenge me!

Chorus

*pronounced GRAHN-ya nee WALL-uh **pronounced SASS-un-nackt, it means Saxon in Gaelic, but is applied to all Englishmen by the Irish as an insult