One day, Grace O’Malley and her crew were sailing around the coast of Dublin. They had been sailing for quite a while now and they had run out of food and water. They were all very hungry and needed to eat before heading home to Mayo.

Suddenly, Grace spotted Howth Castle in the distance. “We will sail to Howth and go see the Earl. He will welcome us into his castle and we can eat and drink and then we will travel home”.

We do not allow pirates into the castle, be gone

with you!

Grace and her men went to the castle looking for help. When they arrived, they were told that they were not welcome there. The Earl of Howth said:

Grace O’Malley was furious! She was expecting to be welcomed into the Earl’s home and not turned away like this! She wanted to teach the Earl a lesson.

Grace spotted the Earl’s son playing in the gardens. She went to the boy and asked him if he would like to come aboard her ship. The little boy agreed and was very excited as he loved sailing. Grace, the young boy and her crew went back on to the ship. She ordered her men to set sail home to Mayo with the boy still on board!

Search for the boy!!

Later that evening, the Earl realised his son was missing. He sent his guards to search the castle grounds, the cliffs and the beach for the boy. He was nowhere to be found. The Earl and his family were devastated.

The next day, a local man came forward and told the Earl that he saw his son go aboard Grace O’Malley’s ship. The Earl’s son had been kidnapped.

The boy has been kidnapped!!

Soon after this a messenger arrived with a letter written by Grace.

Your boy is here with me. We have looked after him and all is well. He has not gone thirsty or hungry. He is learning the life of a sailor. We are teaching him to be generous to travellers who come looking for food. He is a kind boy. We are ready to return him to you, but with this one condition: For the rest of your days in Howth Castle, there will be an extra place set at the dinner table in case a weary and hungry traveller may need to be fed. This will help you to remember to be kind to those in need.

The Earl immediately agreed to the condition. He felt very ashamed of himself and his behaviour towards the hungry sailors. He vowed to never treat people in need of his help in that way again.

I shall never treat people in need of my help in this

way again.

His son arrived soon after and huge celebrations were had in Howth Castle. At the celebrations, an extra place was set at the dinner place just as the Earl had promised. In fact, an extra place was set every evening and the castle gates were never locked. Many hungry sailors and travellers were helped by the Earl of Howth from that evening on.