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Pirate Princess
Thu Mar 27, 2003
Listen in RealAudio 
Hi, I'm Bryan Yeaton, and today on the Weather Notebook, Commentator Chuck Kruger details the
story of a pirate with a weather eye.
Irish pirate princess Grainne, head of the O'Malley stronghold, anticicpated emergencies. She
habitually had her navy not only moored together, but so tied together that the main rope
passed through her castle's walls and straight up to her bedroom. When she lay down to sleep,
she wound the rope round her arm so that she'd be first to wake should there be an alarm
prompted by enemies or weather.
Grainne was known for her daring seamanship, which started when as a 19-year-old she took
immediate command of her suddenly dead father's fleet and unruly buccaneers.
During her reign a peace was established with the English queen, which resulted in a visit.
While at Hampton Court Grainne was offered a lap dog by her Majesty.
"What's this for?" Grainne asked.
"Oh, it's a sagacious, playful, faithful little creature; it will lie in your lap."
"My lap! It's the likes of me would be doing such a thing? Keep it yourself, Queen of the
English! It is only fit for such idlers as you ..."
Regardless of the contretemps, the connection between the two helped kick-start a relationship
between Ireland and England that led to fees being charged mariners for use of coastal waters
rather than their being attacked and plundered. Thus, at least along the west coast of
Ireland, piracy became almost a thing of the past. And Grainne remained weather-sensitive to
the last.
Chuck Kruger writes from his farm on Cape Clear Island, Ireland. The Weather Notebook is
supported by Subaru and The National Science Foundation.
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