Westport Ireland

Westport House

In September of 2008 I went to the West Cost of Ireland on Business.  During the trip I was able to visit the Westport House (County Mayo, Ireland).  The Westport House is the former home of Grace O'Malley (Granuaile the Pirate Queen of Connaught).  It was built and is still privately owned by the Browne family who are direct descendants of the 16th century Pirate Queen. During the 16th century Grace O’Malley or Granuaile was a famous Pirate and “Queen of Connaught”. After her death a report stated that for forty years she was the stay of all rebellions in the West. She was chief of the O’Malley Clan and ruled the seas around Mayo. Grace O’Malley had several castles in the West of Ireland and it was on the foundations of one of these that Westport House was actually built. There is still an area of her original Castle in the basement of the House (now known as the Dungeons).