2 42 Proceedings of the Royal Irish Academy. 



Irnally." She offered him the service of three galleys and 200 men. Her 

 husband was with her, hut was evidently kept in the background.' In 1577 

 she had the ill-fortune to be captured by Gerald, Earl of Desmond, who 

 finally handed her over to Drury, the Lord Justice. " Granie ny Maille, a 

 woman of the province of Connaught, governing a country of the OTlahertys, 

 famous for her stoutness of courage and person, and for sundry exploits done 

 by her by sea." She was imprisoned for a year and a half in the earl's 

 castle and at Limerick, and Drury brought her to Dublin. 2 In 1580 

 " Eichard Inerian " rebelled, and " Grany " helped Malbie to harass him, but 

 three years later the pah were reconciled, and " Grayne ny Vale " was far less 

 anglophile. Her husband died that year, and she lived at Carrigahowley 

 Castle. The English suspected her of aiding the Bourkes in 1586. She was 

 not very regardful of her old allies, and got into further trouble by taking 

 three boats at Aran at the instigation of the OTlahertys. However, it 

 appeared that she did not know that peace had been made. It was in 1593 

 that she went to England to secure the property and rights of her OTlaherty 

 son and grandson, and her two sons by Sir Eichard an Iarain. Owen, her son 

 by Donall Ichoggy OTlaherty, chief of Ballinahinch, had been killed on 

 " a false alarm " of a rescue while in the custody of Captain O'Mullay 3 ; but 

 Murrogh, her son, and his son Donnell were alive. Her petition abounds in 

 details of her long and chequered career. She naturally emphasizes her 

 services to the English on all occasions. The other casual mention of her 

 name is of little interest, nor is the actual date of her death recorded ; but it 

 can be seen that legend preserved much fact, and hardly exaggerated the 

 character and exploits of that masterful woman — like all her race, " terra 

 marique potens." 



Folk-lore. 



There is no subject connected with Irish archaeology on which it is so 

 hard for a stranger to get information as folk-lore. Even when one has lived 

 long among the people, and when they have got to trust one, much is held 

 back for fear of misunderstanding. Accordingly I can add little, if anything, 

 to what has already been done in this field. 4 



In the important group of lucky and unlucky acts may be classed belief in 

 the evil eye and " overlooking," meeting a strange woman with red hair when 

 starting for work or on a journey, or accepting bait when out fishing without 



1 Calendar of Carew mss., 1583, Xo. 501. 2 Ibid., No. 109. 



* Calendar of Carew Papers and State Papers (Ireland). 4 Proc. E.1A., vol. v, ser. iii, p. 63. 



