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Book Review of Grania: She-King of the Irish Seas

Grania: She-King of the Irish Seas
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Grania or Grace OMalley as the English call her is an unusual woman in the 16 century Ireland. She prefers sailing on the open seas over staying on land and doing womans work. Grania grew up idolizing her father, Dubhdara who was a powerful chieftain that controlled much of Ireland. He spent much of his life sailing merchant ships on the ocean and Grania wanted to be just like him. To please her father she marries Donal OFlaherty which was a political match. Being a wife and mother did not keep Grania from spending time on the high seas in international trade and piracy and she commanded a loyal following of sailors who were always ready to sail with her.

During Dubhdaras (Granias father) lifetime, the Irish princes were autonomous and ruled Ireland without any outside interference. Over the course of Granias lifetime, the English Tudors would exert their authority over the Irish and earn Granias antagonism. Grania considers herself an equal or superior to the English She-King and spends most of her life fighting and scheming with the English representatives in Ireland who were sent there to conquer and subjugate the clans of Ireland.