Step back in time and enter The Pirate Queen's Stronghold.

Grace O'Malley, Gráinne Ní Mháille, Granuaile, lived in this Castle on Clare Island, in Mayo, off the West coast of Ireland. It was built by the Ó Máille (O'Malley), Kings of Umaill, and was her stronghold. Grace (c. 1530 – c. 1603) was the famous "Pirate Queen" of the West of Ireland.

After the death of her first husband Dónal (an Chogaidh) O’Flaherty Grace, taking with her the O’Flaherty men who wished to continue to serve under her, she returned to her father’s territory of Umhall and settled in the castle on Clare Island. From there, with a flotilla of at least three galleys and a number of smaller boats, she launched herself on a career that was to establish her as the legendary Pirate Queen of Ireland. 

Listen to Ellen O’Malley-Dunlop, Guardian Chieftain O'Malley Clan

Grace O’Malley is buried in a tomb in the Abbey on Clare Island which is very ornate and has the O’Malley Crest on the wall beside the tomb. It is said that the Pirate Queen’s head is buried near this castle. This location was strategically vital, as it helped her control the waters of Clew Bay and the seas off the west coast of Mayo.

In the 16^th century during the lifetime of Grace O’Malley, Ireland’s Pirate Queen, her castle on Clare Island played an important part in the life of the island. It acted as a strategic outpost for those protecting the island from invasion and it also was an employer for islanders. Since that time it has had many uses but sadly fell into disrepair at the end of the 1800s. The roof collapsed and apart from some small maintenance interventions by the State, it has remained in a sorry state for the past 100 years, while still commanding a proud presence at the entrance of the Bay.

There have been a number of attempts to bring the castle back to life over the intervening years but sadly up to now nothing has worked. However a couple of months ago the Granuaile Castle Group in collaboration with the Clare Island Development Company, began the process of applying for Government funding for an updated  feasibility study on the Castle, to include recommendations for an interpretative centre and how best to use the Castle for the benefit of the island and the islanders. Sadly there was a mistake made in the process of the application and it has to be completed again. While this has delayed the plans it has not scuppered them.

In the meantime many of you will have experienced the virtual O’Malley/ Mayo Gathering in July sponsored by the Business Post, Fáilte Ireland, Mayo CO. CO., TG4, Tribe 101 Ireland, the Grace O’Malley Whiskey and supported by the O’Malley Clan. During the event we highlighted the castle project. We are very excited by the very positive responses we received from the Virtual Gathering and by the many people who have expressed an interest  in helping us make the plans for the castle a reality. I had  hoped to get back to you sooner with the plans from the feasibility study but because of the delay in the application process this is taking a bit more time. I would ask for your patience and assure you that I will get back to you as soon as possible.

Clare Island offers a unique opportunity, in a world that moves so fast, to visitors who visit, to relax in a beautiful landscape with a community who are welcoming and interested in sharing the amazing history of the island and its people. It is also open to welcoming more families to live on the island now that we have the new experience of being able to work from home with good broadband services. An unforeseen positive consequence of the Covid-19 pandemic. 

It is more important than ever now to ensure that we can leverage the use of the Castle for the benefit of the sustainability of life on Clare Island.

The Granuaile Castle Group is mandated by the local Cliara Development Company to lead and develop the project to restore the Castle and build an interpretive centre that will highlight the importance and uniqueness of Grace O’Malley in the History of Ireland. This project when finished will be a big contributary factor to the sustainability of life on the island for the 150 inhabitants. It will also be a centre piece destination for the extension of the Green Way and the larger development of the Clew Bay area.

The Development Company has set up a designated account to receive donations for the restoration of the Castle. This account will adhere to all corporate governance requirements and will be used solely for the purpose of the castle restoration and development.

ACTION: IF YOU WANT TO PLEDGE A DONATION (DO NOT FORWARD MONEY YET) OR HELP FUNDRAISE, GIVE US YOUR EMAIL FOR UPDATES. 

Updated: June 25th, 2020

We need your help to:

Restore and revitalise Grace O'Malley's Castle, making it a historic gateway to Clare Island - 'A National Showcase of Island life, history & heritage and an iconic destination on the Wild Atlantic Way'.
Build a community initiative to develop Clare Island as a 'living' Museum of Island Life, History and Heritage.
Make Grace's Castle a new iconic destination on the Wild Atlantic Way.

Where are we at with the project?

We have community commitment and support for the project, and a project team has been formed.
Project 'friends and supporters' are now being recruited.
The feasibility study has been completed and is being updated, including a project budget of just under €1.5m.
Minister Hayes & OPW Officials visited the site, plus Minister Kyne (2019) and former Taoiseach Enda Kenny (2019)
We have Ministerial Support from Minister Michael Ring (2016-19)
We have support from Padraig Philbin from Co. Mayo County Council who visited the island
We met with Frank Shalvey OPW and Michael Mc Donagh Chief Archeologist in 2019
We are exploring the possibility of applying for development funding for the overall project

What do we need from you?

There are various ways in which you can help us make this historic site a new iconic destination:

Donate: anything from €1 will always be welcome and will go towards the cost of development of the site
Support: if you can help us in any way other than financial or know someone who can, please reach out to us
Volunteer: if you are a local or a Diaspora and wish to help, please contact us to register for volunteering opportunities

The Project Team Leads: Pauric O'Grady chairperson of The Clare Island Heritage Group, and John Treacy from Ireland101

Project Timeline and Key Phases:

Phase one funds, plans, planning permission, works begin, phase two funds raised, official opening.

Tax Information For Donors Outside of Europe: email john@tribe101.com for more information

FAQs: Click here for Frequently Asked Questions about our Ireland101 Philanthropy projects

ACTION: IF YOU WANT TO PLEDGE A DONATION (DO NOT FORWARD MONEY YET) OR HELP FUNDRAISE, GIVE US YOUR EMAIL FOR UPDATES. 

Updated: June 25th, 2020