Bonus: Irish Pirate Queen Chieftain Rebel - Grainne O’Malley and Her Fight for Freedom [Re-Recorded]

Women of War

What do you do with a female sailor, what do you do with a female sailor, what do you do with a female sailor, in the sixteenth century? Give her some castles, a fleet of ships, the blessing of the Queen and let her take to the seas as a fearless pirate. Join Hannah and Nicola this week as we fall in love with Gráinne O’Malley, the Irish Pirate Queen who spent decades pissing off the British in the Elizabethan Wars. There’s piracy, murder, treason, sex, court politics, English colonial wankers, and an Irish chieftain who did whatever it took to get what she wanted.

This episode was re-recorded after audio issues with the first version. If you listened to the first, congratulations and don't worry, there's plenty more new discussion here!

This episode contains references to vomiting, murder, piracy and religious persecution. It also contains some rude language. It may not be suitable for all listeners.

Women of War is written and recorded on the lands of the Wurundjeri People of the Kulin Nations. We pay our respect to Elders past and present, and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander listeners. Sovereignty was never ceded.

All efforts have been made to ensure the accuracy of the information presented in this podcast however with the nature of historical research, there may be mistakes or inconsistencies.

For more information on Gráinne (yes, there’s more, we were shocked too), read Anne Chambers’ biography, Granuaile: Grace O’Malley-Ireland’s Pirate Queen, C. 1530-1603.

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