Born in 1530 in County Mayo, Irish clan leader Grace OMalley of the powerful OMalley clan took command of her family fleet and lands after her father died, defying male-only expectations. Known in Irish as Grainne Mhaol and later as Granuaile, she led her forces while resisting the Tudor conquest of Ireland by defending her territories and levying tolls from passing ships. In 1593 she sailed to England on a high-stakes diplomatic mission to secure the release of her son and brother held by the E