Quickly she became famous as the head of a powerful clan, and as a leader of rare courage and intrepidity. The Lord Deputy Sidney, writing of her in 1576, says, “O’Maley is powerful in galleys and seamen.” It is not curious that the matrimonial affairs of this remarkable woman were somewhat peculiar. She was twice married. First, to one of the O’Flahertys of Connemara. They were a powerful clan in the county of Galway, and had a stronghold called Krishlane-na-Kirca, or the Hens’ Castle, on the shores of Lough Corrib, the remains of which are still to be seen. The O’Flahertys were a wild and turbulent race in those days, the terror of the merchants of the then prosperous city of Galway, who commonly inserted in the prayers in their churches a petition to be delivered “from the ferocious O’Flahertys.” On his death she married Sir William Burke, a man of English race, who, however, had cast off allegiance to the English Crown, and was better known as the MacWilliam Eighter. It was a curious union, as Grana Uaile would only agree to it “for a year certain.” At the end of that period she disowned him, but did not attempt to contract any further alliance. She sided, however, with Sir Richard Bingham against these Bourkes, and they were defeated in a battle, a result largely achieved by the followers of Grana Uaile. As a return for this timely aid, Queen Elizabeth invited this western princess to pay her a visit in London. The invitation was accepted by her, and she set sail from her castle in Clare Island for Chester, the usual port of arrival from Ireland in those days. Before reaching Chester she gave birth to a son, the only child of her curious second marriage, and named him Tobaduah-na-Lung, or Toby of the Ship. From Chester she proceeded to London, to her interview with Elizabeth. The Queen was at that time residing at Hampton Court, and thither Grace made her way. It must have been a curious scene, the meeting of these two women. The haughty Tudor Queen, and the wild, half-savage Chieftainess of the far West. The contrast in their dress, too, must have been very striking. We are all familiar with the pictures of the great Queen of England, adorned with her enormous ruff and elaborate dresses; it certainly must have looked curious beside Grace O’Maley, who, we are told, was attired in “thirty yards of yellow linen, and a mantle of red frieze”! Grana was little ready to fall into the subservient ways of courtiers. She shook hands with Elizabeth, and treated her in every way as an equal, regarding herself (and rightly enough, too) as an independent princess. The offer of a lap-dog the head of the sept of O’Maley rejected with scorn. Afterwards Elizabeth offered to create her a countess, but this honour she declined, on the ground that she was the head of her own people; but was willing that a dignity should be bestowed on her infant son.