| Maryanne Duffy
Playing
Grace O'Malley
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About Maryanne
Maryanne has participated in Civil War re-enacting for the past nine years and is ready to try something new. Maryanne acted as a southern Zouave soldier for the “Louisana Tigers” unit at Fort Tejon, California. Much like Grace O’Malley, Maryanne has experience in the art of illusion and disguising herself as a man. As a former Civil War soldier, Maryanne has experience with black powder muskets and rifles. She brings with her an enthusiam for life and fun.
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| Grace Meeting Queen Elizabeth |
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About Grace O'Malley
Grace O'Malley (also called Granuaile) was a famous pirate, seafarer, trader, and chieftain in Ireland in the 1500's. She was born in 1530 in County Mayo, Ireland and was the daughter of sea captain Owen O'Malley. In her later years, Grace developed her reputation as a fearless leader through her efforts in battle along side her followers.
She spent her young life learning the ways of the sea and grew to be quite the sailor--eventually having her own fleet of ships. Although it was unusual for a woman to lead men, Grace earned the respect of all who followed her through her shrewdness as well as her knowledge of sailing and bravery at sea.
Granuaile was known as a fierce fighter. In her 70 years of life, she and her family saw the English rule spreading through-out Ireland, but through her strength and leadership, her clan and those around her were mostly unaffected by it. It is said that from the year of her death in 1603 and onward, that no Irish chieftain had been able to preserve the old Gaelic way of life as Granuaile and her family had done in her lifetime.
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In 1593, Grace O'Malley began sending petitions and pleas by correspondence to Queen Elizabeth I. In her letters, Grace shrewdly assessed and presented her dire straits by saying that the situation "constrained your highness fond subject to take arms and by force to maintain herself and her people by sea and by land the space of forty years."
Grace also promised that if she could maintain her power and army, they would "during her life to invade with sword and fire all your Highness's enemies whosesoever they are or shall be without any interruption of any person or persons whatsoever."
Elizabeth, who knew of Grace's reputation, was surprised at the fiery female pirate's command of the English language and responded with a list of eighteen questions. Grace further amazed and intrigued Elizabeth by sending back a set of astute and intelligent and answers. But corresponding did not satisfy Grace. She set sail for England to personally present her pleas to Elizabeth.
Grace arrived at Greenwich Castle and announced herself at court — to everyone's surprise. Everyone expected the Queen to have her arrested and executed for her brashness. But, instead, Elizabeth granted Grace an audience in her private chambers. To this day, nobody knows what exactly transpired between Grace and Elizabeth behind those closed doors. Out of whatever favors were granted, one was quite obvious. Bingham was ordered to release Grace's son, Tibbot.
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