Bullet Sir Richard "The MacWilliam Euter" BROUKE
     Born: 1543             at: Mayo, Ireland  
  Married: 1556             at:   
     Died:                  at:   
   Father: David BROUKE
   Mother: Fiona O'FLAHERTY

Owner of Rockfleet Castle.

Richard Brouke was proclaimed the MacWilliam Euter (an Irish clan title) in 1581 in Mayo Ireland, and was knighted in September 1581 by the British in an attempt to appease his anger over the treatment of Mayo residents.
It didn't work.

While not yet a generation by generation listing, Richard Brouke's line can be traced back to Charlemagne.

        

Bullet Grace O'MALLEY Born: 1530 at: Mayo, Ireland Occupation: Pirate, Trader, Ship Captain, Clan Leader Died: 18 JUN 1629 at: Rockfleet Castle, Mayo, Ireland Father: Owen Dubhdara O'MALLEY Mother: Margaret O'MALLEY
Owner of Clare Island Castle, Hen's Castle, Kildawnet Castle, and Rockfleet Castle

Grace O'Malley, as the english version of her name goes, was a 16th century pirate and quite the Irish rebel. Grace sailed to England and had a meeting with Queen Elizabeth to lodge complaints about the treatment of the Irish under the English Lords sent there by the Queen herself.

While not yet a generation by generation listing, this line can be taken back to 388 AD.

Links to pages about her can be found at the bottom of this page


Powerful by Land and Sea



GRANUAILE

There stands a tower by the Atlantic side
A grey old tower, by storm and sea-waves beat
Perch'd on a cliff, beneath it yawneth wide
A lofty cavern of yore a fit retreat
For pirates galleys; altho', now, you'll meet
Nought but the seal and wild gull; from that cave
A hundred steps do upwards lead your feet
Unto a lonely chamber! -- Bold and brave
Is he who climbs that stair, all slippery from the wave.

I sat there on an evening. In the west,
Amid the waters, sank the setting sun:
While clouds, like parting friends, about him prest,
Clad in their fleecy garbs, of gold and dun;
And silence was around me -- save the hum,
Of the lone and wild bee, or the curlew's cry.
An lo! upon me did a vision come,
Of her who built that tower, in days gone by;
And in that dream, behold! I saw a building high.

A stately hull -- lofty and carved the roof --
Was deck'd with silken banners fair to see.
The hanging velvet, from Genou's woof,
And wrought with Tudor roses curiously;
At its far end did stand a canopy,
Shading a chair of state, on which was seen
A ladye fair, with look of majesty,
Amid a throng, 'yclad in costly sheen --
Nobles and gallant Knights proclaim her England's Queen.

The sage Elizabeth; and by her side
Were group'd her counsellors, with calm, grave air,
Burleigh and Walsingham, with others, tried
In wisdom and in war, and sparkling there,
Like Summer butterflies, were damsels fair,
Beautiful and young: behind a trusty band
Of stalwart yeomanry, with watchful care,
The portal guard, while nigher to it stand
Usher and page, ready to ape with willing hand.
A Tucket sounds, and lo! there enters now
A strange group, in saffron tunics drest:
A female at their head, whose step and brow
Herald her rank, and calm and self possest,
Onward she came, alone through England's best,
With careless look, and bearing free yet high,
Tho' gentle dames their titterings scarce represt,
Noting her garments as she passed them by;
None laughed again who met that stern and flashing eye.

Restless and dark, its sharp and rapid look
Showed a fierce spirit, prone a wrong to feel,
And quicker to revenge it. As a book,
That sun-burnt brow did fearless thoughts reveal;
And in her girdle was a skeyne of steel;
Her crimson mantle, a gold brooch did bind;
Her flowing garments reached unto her heel;
Her hair-part fell in tresses unconfined,
And part, a silver bodkin did fasten up behind.

'Twas not her garb that caught the gazer's eye --
Tho' strange, 'twas rich, and, after its fashion, good --
But the wild grandeur of her mien-erect and high.
Before the English Queen she dauntless stood,
And none her bearing there could scorn as rude;
She seemed as one well used to power -- one that hath
Dominion over men of savage mood,
And dared the tempest in its midnight wrath,
And thro' opposing billows cleft her fearless path.

And courteous greeting Elizabeth them pays,
And bids her welcome to her English land
And humble hall. Each looked with curious gaze
Upon the other's face, and felt they stand
Before a spirit like their own. Her hand
The stranger raised -- and pointing where all pale,
Thro' the high casement, cam the sunlight bland,
Gliding the scene and group with rich avail;
Thus, to the English Sov'reigh, spoke proud "Grana Wale".

Queen of the Saxons! from the distant west
I come; from Achill steep and Island Clare,
Where the wild eagle builds 'mid clouds, his nest,
And Ocean flings its billows in the air.
I come to greet you in your dwelling fair.
Led by your fame -- lone sitting in my cave.
In sea -- beat Doona -- it hath reached me there,
Theme of the minstrel's song; and then I gave
My galley to the wind, and crossed the dark green wave.

"Health to thee, ladye! -- let your answer be
Health to our Irish land; for evil men
Do vex her sorely, and have buklar'd thee
Abettor of their deeds; lyeing train,
That cheat their mistress for the love of gain,
And wrong their trust-aught else I little reck,
Alike to me, the mountain and the glen --
The castle's rampart of the galley's deck;
But thou my country spare -- your foot is on her neck.

Thus brief and bold, outspake that ladye stern,
And all stood silent thro' that crowded hall;
While proudly glared each proud and manly kern
Attendant on their mistress. Then courtly all
Elizabeth replies, and soothing fall
Her words, and pleasing to the Irish ear --
Fair promises -- that she would soon recall
Her evil servants. Were these words sincere?
That promise kept? Let Erin answer with a tear!
,
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.

.....,,,,,16th century woodcutting of Grace O'Malley
CHILDREN

Bullet Theobald BROUKE Born: 1559 at: Aboard his Mother's ship Married: at: Died: 18 JUN 1629 at: Spouses: Maud O'CONOR


Links to Grace O'Malley sites:

Rockfleet Castle
Granuaile O'Malley Page
Notable Women Ancestors: Grace O'Malley
The Unoffical O'Malley Web Site
Granuail
Rockfleet Castle
Time Running out for historical Westpoint Documents
Gráinne Ni Mháille
Restoration on the Castle at Clare Island
Clare Island



Home
Return to Table of Contents