Time line for archaeological sites

Important dates for Granuaile

1530: Born daughter of the chieftain Owen (Dubhdara) O’Malley.

1546: Marries to Donal an Chogaidh O’Flaherty, moves to Connemara

1547-1552: Gives birth to two sons, Owen and Murrough and a daughter, Margaret.

1560: Donal killed in an inter-clan dispute.

1566: Marries Richard an Iarainn Bourke, moves to Rockfleet, N shore Clew Bay

1567: Her son Theobald is born aboard her ship.

1577: Meets Queen Elizabeth’s minister, Sir Henry Sidney in Galway.

1577: Captured by the Earl of Desmond, imprisoned in Limerick then Dublin

1579: Grace is released from prison by the English.

1580: Richard becomes the MacWilliam of Mayo.

1583: Richard-in-Iron dies. Grace secures Rockfleet Castle as her base.

1584: Grace rebels against English Govenor Bingham with allies O’Neill in Ulster and Spanish.

1589:Bingham calls Grace ’the nurse to all rebellions in Ireland’

1592: Grace writes to Elizabeth complaining about Bingham and seeking redress.

1593: Grace decides to put her case to Elizabeth face to face. Elizabeth grants Grace an audience and secures the Queen’s assent to continue her career by land and sea.

1594: Bingham is recalled to England and Grace returns to her old career.

1597: At the ’great age’ of 67, Grace is recorded still actively leading her men by sea in a retaliatory attack on MacNeil of Barra off the Scottish coast.

1603: Grace dies at Rockfleet.

Phasing of the Abbey

Plan of Court Tomb