Grace O'Malley's family was an important 'clan' in Connaught county, and owned many castles on the islands of Clew Bay on the Irish Coast. Her favorite castle was on Clare Island, where she lived with her family. Her Dad was captain of a fleet of ships, and made his living fishing lobsters and fish, and traded spices and other goods. He also became a pirate when the fishing wasn't very good. Grace would hear about her Dad's adventures on the high seas, and longed to join him on his travels. One day she decided to do that very thing, and to make sure she was taken seriously, she cut off all her long hair, and snuck aboard his ship.

She was found out, of course, and was called Grainne Mhaol (Grace the Bald) for a time. But she did indeed become a powerful pirate in her own right. Her ships attacked vessels off the Irish Coast and the Atlantic. She became very well known, and even the Queen of England wanted to get to know her! The Queen's Govenor in Connaught hated Grace and took her lands and cattle away from her. Grace wrote to the Queen and asked that her lands be given back to her. When Grace came before the Queen, she was respectful, and said that she would fight England's enemies on the seas if she (the Queen) would restore her lands. The Queen was surprised with Grace's courage and decided that she liked the woman. The Queen gave Grace O'Malley a royal pardon and gave Grace back her lands.

references-
Grace The Pirate by Kathryn Lasky