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Clare Island

Clew Bay, County Mayo

Grace O'Malley's family stronghold, and her probable resting place.

Clare Island guards the mouth of Clew Bay and was the base of the O'Malley clan. Grace O'Malley, the pirate queen, kept a castle by the harbour, and she is believed to be buried in the island's Cistercian abbey, where a stone bears the O'Malley motto: 'Invincible on land and sea'.

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When
1500s
Where
53.8000, -9.9500
Group
Pirates

Visiting

Ferries run from Roonagh Pier near Louisburgh.

Cover of Blood and Gold by Cale Mills
Read the full story in the book

Blood and Gold

Sixteen true stories of mutiny, mercy, treasure and the gallows from the Golden Age of Piracy: Henry Every, Bartholomew “Black Bart” Roberts, Edward England, Howell Davis, Christopher Moody, Anne Bonny, Mary Read, Charles Vane, Benjamin Hornigold, Blackbeard, Stede Bonnet, Israel Hands, Calico Jack, Edward Low, Captain William Kidd and Samuel “Black Sam” Bellamy. Where the record is uncertain, the book says so.

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