Category: 1970’s

Castle of the Pirate Queen, Granuaile

by irishvisions

Story
Granuaile or Grace O’Malley (1530-1603) was the daughter of Eoghan Dubhara Ó Máille, the Chieftain of the O’Malley Clan in Clew Bay, Co. Mayo. She married but returned home from Connemara after her first husband was killed. He had been a chieftain of the O’Flaherty Clan. Grace established her own fleet of ships and took over at least three castle encircling Clew Bay: one on Achill Island’s Kildavnet, one on Clare Island and this one at Carraigahowley. In 1593, Granuaile met in London with another formidable woman, Queen Elizabeth I. The Irish Pirate Queen met with the English monarch to petition for the release of her imprisoned son Tibbott Burke, the restoration of his right to his ancestral lands, and for him eventually to be given the title, “Viscount of Mayo.” Granuaile succeeded. Although Helen originally photographed this site in 1939, she took this picture in 1976 after the castle had been restored.
Location
Carraigahowley, Co. Mayo
Date
1975
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Man of Kilteel

by irishvisions

Story
Kilteel Abbey in Co. Kildare was on Helen and Ernie O’Malley’s list of over 200 Irish archaeological and monastic sites that they eventually documented. After Ernie’s death in 1957, Helen revisited Kilteel and recorded many of the sculptural images she photographed decades beforehand. Parts of the original church arch were found in a local stream and reinstated around 1935. Over the years, Helen took many shots of this elaborately carved head of a kingly bearded man. In subsequent years, the elements have nearly obliterated this beautiful historic carving. Helen and Ernie O’Malley recorded many sites that no longer exist or have suffered over time.
Location
Co. Kildare
Date
1975
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