Author Anne Chambers

Pictures from the Film Premiere of Coming Home at the Sugar Club, Dublin, Ireland

2011-11-15T22:36:00.001Z

Click Here to see the short film Coming Home.

Executive Producer Tony Kirwan, Anne Chambers and John MacCormack, Irish Cancer Society

Actor Dawn Bradfield, producer/writer Anne Chambers, director Lisa Mulcahy

Tony Kirwan, Anne, Michael Garland and Dave Farrell

http://comingho.me/

2011-11-10T23:27:00.001Z

comingho.me

Coming Home is an uplifting and enlightening story of one woman’s journey to recovery from breast cancer. It evolved out of a short story short-listed for the Hennessy Literary Awards by Anne Chambers who wrote the screenplay.

Coming Home is directed by Lisa Mulcahy (The Clinic) and stars the Tony-nominated and IFTA award-winning actress Dawn Bradfield, supported by Simon O’Gorman, Maria McDermottroe, Theo Kirwan, Joey O’Sullivan and Holly Gregg. It is produced byTile Films and funded by Nawrik, a not-for-profit family trust.

Coming Home is a creative film and also an innovative and valuable aid in spreading the message of early detection and positivity in the fight against breast cancer.

The film is free to download to any organisation/group/individual who wishes to avail of it as a support or fundraising tool in spreading the message of ‘making cancer less frightening by enlightening’.

Click Here to watch Coming Home

COMING HOME: A Short Film By Anne Chambers

2011-10-22T14:12:00.003+01:00

Screenplay

Coming Home is an uplifting story of one woman’s journeyto recovery from breast cancer. It evolved out of a short story by author AnneChambers which was previously short-listed for theHennessy Literary Awards.

At the time of writing the story a friend of Anne’s was diagnosed withbreast cancer.

‘I saw her set out on herjourney to recovery, firstly trying to come to terms with thediagnoses and treatment. Along theway her fears, her bravery in theface of themany painful stages, her selfishness as she strove to maintain as normal a life as possible for herselfand her family, her determination to get better, her fear dissolve into hope, wastruly inspirational. Coming Home reflects her story as it does the story of countless otherwomen.’ Anne Chambers.

The Film

Coming Home (14 minutes) was produced by Tile FilmsLtd. “I was very moved by Anne’s storyand immediately agreed to support theproject. We put together a team oftop class film professionals all of whom were committed to producing a filmwith the highest possible productionvalues.” Dave Farrell – Tile Films

The Cast

Coming Home is directed by Lisa Mulcahy and the lead role is played by Tony-nominated and IFTAaward-winning actress Dawn Bradfield supported by Simon O’Gorman, MariaMcDermottroe, Theo Kirwan, Joey O’Sullivan and Holly Gregg.

Distribution

Coming Home will be entered in film festivals/competitionsworldwide. It will also be made available free to any organisation/group/individualwho wishes to avail of it as a support tool in spreading themessage of early detection and positivity in thefight against breast cancer.

Funding

Nawrik (KIRWAN spelt backwards!) is acharity the Kirwan children set upafter the death of their Dad. It is now run by Hilary (Pratt) and TonyKirwan.

“It has been truly inspiring for Hilary and I, not only to be asked by Annewould our little charity fund Coming Home, but to be able to dedicate our contribution to thememory of our dear brother andsister, Jack & Jill, both of whom died of cancer, by supporting the team in making such an outstanding film. Their dedication deserves acclaim, way beyond theshores of Ireland,for so effectively promoting the cause of making cancer less frightening byenlightening”

TonyKirwan

Anne pictured with the cast of Coming Home

On the film set of Coming Home

Producer/writer Anne Chambers, actor Dawn Bradfield and Executive Producer Tony Kirwan on location with Coming Home at T2 Dublin Airport

Indian XI triumph again in the 3rd Annual Ranji Trophy Cricket Match

2011-08-21T22:41:00.002+01:00

Indian XI triumph again in the 3rd Annual Ranji Trophy Cricket Match

The third annual Ranji Trophy Ireland cricket match took place at Trinity College between an Irish (Leprachuans) and Indian XI in in College Park on Sunday, 7^th August last. The Indian XI beat the Irish (Leprachuans) with 227 for 5 wickets in a match that was supported by the Trinity South Asia Initiative, the Indian Embassy to Ireland, BallynahinchCastle and Japiur restaurant.

The Ranji Trophy is named after Prince Ranjitsinhji, Maharajah of Nawanager, cricketing superstar and former owner of Ballynahinch Castle in Connemara. Presenting the trophy to the victorious Indian XI, Anne Chambers author of Ranji: Maharajah of Connemara explained why she established the annual Ranji Trophy cricket match. “During my research for the book, I became aware of how instrumental Prince Ranjitsinhji was in fostering Irish-Indian relations during the nine years he lived in Ireland from 1924-1933 and also his endeavours in promoting awareness of Ireland as a tourist destination. In recognition of that I thought an annual cricket match between an Irish and Indian XI might be a fitting modern-day tribute to continue Ranji’s endeavours. I was delighted when Trinity College, with the encouragement of Ambassador Raghavan, offered to incorporate the annual Ranji Trophy Ireland into their programme in the recently established South Asia Initiative.” Anne continued, “ I wish to express my sincere thanks to Ambassador Raghavan, , Dick Forrest and the Leprechauns, Ballynahinch Castle, Connemara and the Jaipur Restaurant Dublin. Thanks also to the match umpires: Michael Marsh , Vice Provost and Chief Academic Officer Trinity College Dublin , Virender Bhandari and John Fanagan.”

The South Asia Initiative's programme is dedicated to the renewal and development of relationships with India and other countries in south Asia across a wide range of disciplines from arts and humanities to science, technology and medicine and will also reach out to the Indian community resident in Ireland. Professor Speaking at the match Prof Juergen Barkhoff, Chairman of the South Asia Initative at Trinity said “ I am delighted with the success of the Ranji Trophy Ireland in its promotion of both Trinity and Ireland in India and with the Community here in Ireland. It is the combination of these types of event and our academic ambitions in the University which will reap rewards for both countries. I look forward to our plans for next year’s match coming to fruition and also of course that the result for 2012 may be in Irelands favour!”

Final score India 227 for 5 wickets Ireland (Leprechauns) 177 all out.

Anne is pictured presenting the Ranji Trophy to the winning captain Dutt Sameer.

BBC World Service: Witness, The Irish pirate Queen - Broad cast on Tue, 17 May 2011

2011-05-17T22:22:00.000+01:00

BBC World Service: Witness, The Irish pirate Queen - Broad cast on Tue, 17 May 2011.

Over 400 years ago the pirate, Grace O'Malley, was feared by sailors around Ireland. When the English crown tried to curb her power she sailed to Greenwich to speak to Queen Elizabeth I.

Click here to listen to the podcast

Anne was invited by Tourism Ireland to become part of their media campaign surrounding the visit of Queen Elizabeth II to Ireland

2011-05-14T21:48:00.001+01:00

Anne was invited by Tourism Ireland to become part of their media campaign surrounding the visit of Queen Elizabeth II to Ireland.

Her article 'When the Sea Queen met the Virgin Queen'and her podcast about the historic meeting of the Irish leader Grace O'Malley with Queen Elizabeth I in 1593 is featured in the official publicity campaign for the visit.

Both her article and Video can be viewed on this website.

http://www.graceomalley.com/you_tube.php

WHEN THE SEA QUEEN MET THE VIRGIN QUEEN

2011-05-14T21:45:00.000+01:00

Author ANNE CHAMBERS recounts the circumstances surrounding the meeting in 1593 between Irish leader Grace O’Malley and Queen Elizabeth I of England

In recent times it has been Mna na hEireann who have walked the walk and talked the talk to put to rest the 900 years of discord, distrust and division that has blighted the relationship between Ireland and England.

First President Mary Robinson, then President Mary McAleese, broke through the barrier of centuries by their official meetings with the Queen of England. Their initiative is now to be reciprocated as Queen Elizabeth II becomes the first British Monarch to make a state visit to the Republic of Ireland.

But these recent meetings between the English Monarch and the Presidents of Ireland, historic and significant as they may be, merely mirror a much earlier meeting, some 418 years ago to be precise, between the leader and ‘pirate queen’ Grace O’Malley (Granuaile) and Queen Elizabeth I.

Through the intervening centuries this original meeting was preserved in poetry and folklore. But the factual evidence, so long hidden among the Elizabethan State Papers and in private archives, reveals the real circumstances that brought together the two most remarkable women of their age.

Political developments such as the Good Friday Agreement, the official vindication of the innocence of the victims of Bloody Sunday, not to mention the UK’s donation (albeit with interest!) towards our current economic difficulties, have contributed to a more positive relationship between Ireland and Britain and helped facilitate this visit of Queen Elizabeth II to the Republic. And political developments, albeit of a somewhat different hue, also brought about the historic meeting between Grace O’Malley and Queen Elizabeth I.

By 1593 the Gaelic world of Grace O’Malley was collapsing under the political, social and military upheavals of the previous four decades. Fragmented and politically outmoded, inter-clan feuding left every Gaelic leader to fend for himself. Queen Elizabeth I viewed Ireland as a weak chink in her armour against her continental enemies, particularly Spain; Ireland’s rich pasturelands a potential goldmine, and its religious allegiance (in theory at least) to the old faith, as a potential rallying point for rebellion against her.

By 1593 breaking the chauvinistic mould Grace O’Malley had established herself as a political and military leader both by land and by sea. Skilfully she negotiated her way through the Machiavellian web of Elizabethan politics, outmanoeuvring many of the Queen’s administrators in the Irish service. When English diplomacy was replaced by military might she personally lead her army of ‘two hundred fighting men and three galleys’ against individual English generals who sought to deprive herself and her family of their lands and power, earning herself a reputation as a rebel and a pirate in the process.

But by Spring 1593 Grace found herself backed into a corner by Sir Richard Bingham, the uncompromising English governor of Connaught. Her eldest son was killed by Bingham’s brother, while Bingham attacked her land, confiscated her substantial cattle and horse herds and established an English garrison in her castle of Rockfleet on the shores of Clew Bay. To circumvent Bingham Grace wrote directly to Queen Elizabeth to complain of the circumstances that, as she diplomatically told her, ‘constrayned your Highness fond subject to take arms and by force to maintaine her selfe and her people by sea and land the space of forty years past.’ Her letter caught the interest of the Queen’s Secretary of State, Lord Burghley.

While she waited a reply to her letter Bingham struck again. To bring this ‘nurse to all rebellions in the province for forty years’ to heel, he imprisoned Grace’s youngest son, Tibbott (Tiboid) Bourke, for treason, a charge punishable by death. The time for polite negotiation from a distance was over. Despite the catalogue of ‘treasonable’ offences laid against her by Bingham and other military men at the English court, the ties of motherhood proved stronger and compelled Grace to take her life in her hands to present her case in person to Queen Elizabeth.

Ever astute and politically savvy, Grace well understood the obstacles in her way. Influence in the shape of a business acquaintance Black Tom Butler, 10^th Earl of Ormond, the Queen’s in-favour Irish lord and related to her through her mother Anne Bolyen, helped smooth the way, with a letter of introduction to Lord Burghley. Nonetheless Grace’s mission was daunting. Few petitioners were granted access to the Queen, and particularly not one whose rebellious and piratical actions were well-documented at Court. The iron cages hanging over the Thames at Wapping Stairs, each with their rotting human carcass, was the gruesome fate accorded to captured pirates.

Sailing her ship from Clew Bay Grace reached London in July 1593 and presented her credentials. Curious about this woman who had ‘overstepped the role of womanhood’ Lord Burghley firstly elicited from her 18 written answers to 18 questions, regarding her life, her family, her ‘career’, aspects of Gaelic law and the status of women in Gaelic society. Grace’s answers, while shrewdly guarded, were sufficiently intriguing to arouse the Queen’s curiosity and, despite Bingham’s indignant protestations, she agreed to see the Irish ‘Queen’.

At the Palace of Greenwich, in late summer 1593, the two queens came face to face. They had much in common. Both had usurped what was perceived to be a male role and by sheer determination, courage and example had prevailed. Each had a lifetime of experience, were used to power, to having their orders obeyed. Both had kept their male followers in thrall and loyal throughout the duration of their lives.

Elizabeth was at the apex of her power, the beloved ‘Glorianna’ of her people, the ‘Goddess Heavenly Bright’ of Spenser’s Faerie Queene. Vain and autocratic, she could be coarse and bawdy, she spat and picked her teeth, had a cruel wit and a razor-sharp tongue with which she bullied and cajoled her quarrelsome courtiers. Her eyes peered short-sightedly, her red hair had given way to a wig, her face a mask of rice powder and rouge, her nose, ‘grew hooked as a harridan’s’ her teeth decayed and blackened. What age had ravaged Elizabeth tried to conceal by the sheer magnificence of her wardrobe.

The harsh maritime environment in which she operated had left its imprint on Grace O’Malley. Unlike Elizabeth, the furrows, wrinkles and scars of age, salt spray, wind and military action lay exposed for all to see. To have survived the Atlantic Ocean, as much as the battlefield, her courage, leadership and stamina were unquestionable. In her sixties, her physique tended towards, what one acquaintance observed, a ‘stoutness of person’. Her dress, while undoubtedly the best in her wardrobe, could hardly compete with the opulence of the Queen.

Tradition holds that Elizabeth and Grace conducted their conversation in Latin. However, both from her own correspondence and from the observations of the many English administrators and military men in Ireland who came in contact with her, it is evident that Grace both understood and spoke English.

Intrigued and subsequently amazed by this woman who, unlike herself, personally led her army into battle and commanded her ships at sea, was twice married, once divorced, had taken a lover and was the mother of four children, with a mixture of compassion and admiration, the Queen listened as Grace outlined her list of grievances against Elizabeth’s own governor. The correspondence emanating from the meeting confirms, as Grace attested ‘the clemencie and favour’ she received from the Queen who ordered the release of Grace’s son and restored him to his lands. She also gave her royal assent that Grace could continue her career, which she euphemistically described as ‘maintenance by land and sea’ without due let or hindrance.

Such is the impact the Irish ‘Queen’ made at the court of Queen Elizabeth I that in a new map of Ireland compiled by the queen’s cartographer shortly after her visit there her name, written as ‘Grany O’Maly’ figures prominently, the only woman listed among the otherwise all-male chieftains.

While folklore claims that Grace refused the title Countess from the Queen, on the basis that one queen could not ennoble another, her meeting with Queen Elizabeth I paved the way for the Anglicisation of her descendants over the following centuries.

In 1627 her son Tibbott Bourke, for whose life she had risked her own, was created Viscount Mayo. Her great-great-great grand-daughters were Maria and Elizabeth Gunning, immortalised as the ‘Gorgeous Gunnings’ from Castlecoote, county Roscommon. In the eighteenth century Maria married the 6th Earl of Coventry and her sister Elizabeth the 6^th Duke of Hamilton and secondly the 5^th Duke of Argyle. Another of her descendents, Howe Peter Browne, 2^nd Marquess of Sligo from Westport House, a grandson of the famous British Admiral Richard Howe, became known as the ‘emancipator of the slaves’ during his tenure as Governor General of Jamaica in the nineteenth century.

In August 1979, with tragic historic perversity, the Honourable Nicholas Brabourne, a 14^th great-grandson in descent from Grace O’Malley and also a grandson of Queen Elizabeth II’s uncle–in-law, Lord Mountbatten, with his grandfather, grandmother and young friend, was killed by an Irish terrorist bomb off Mulloughmore, County Sligo, in the same waters once traversed by his famous Irish ancestor.

And so when Queen Elizabeth and President McAleese come face-to-face perhaps somewhere in the ether of history their meeting will be observed by their famous predecessors, Grace O’Malley and Queen Elizabeth I, who might well exchange a knowing glance intimating – done that, worn the tee shirt!

© Anne Chambers 2011

Author: GRANUAILE: GRACE O’MALLEY – IRELAND’S PIRATE QUEEN

www.graceomalley-annechambers.com

Prince Albert meets Anne Chambers

2011-04-10T12:11:00.002+01:00

At the reception at Farmleigh on the occasion of HSH Prince Albert's State Visit to Ireland, Anne and Martina Chambers Farah, a family friend of the late Princess Grace, with Prince Albert.

In 1980 late Princess Grace received a first edition of Anne's 'GRANUAILE' and she presented the Prince with the latest edition for the Princess Grace Library in Monte Carlo.

ELEANOR COUNTESS OF DESMOND

2011-03-27T15:23:00.000+01:00

Anne's recently published ELEANOR COUNTESS OF DESMOND (Gill&Macmillan) is now at number 11 in the Top Twenty Irish Booksellers List (March 23rd)

Click here to read more

SUNDAY MISCELLENY RTE Radio I - Eleanor Countess Of Desmond.

2011-03-13T13:07:00.000Z

Anne Chambers contributed to the RTE Radio One show SUNDAY MISCELLENY.

New essays by and relating to women and marking International Womens Day 2011: Women Eleanor Countess of Desmond by Anne Chambers, Antonina Milyukova by Karl O?Neill, Has Spring Sprung and Other Verses by Nicola Lindsay, Overcoming the Obstacle Race by Fionnuala Brennan and How to Catch a Wolf by Katrina Goldstone.

This show was broadcast on Sunday 6th of March 2011 at 9:00 am GMT

Click here to listen

Today with Pat Kenny RTE Radio I - Eleanor Countess Of Desmond.

2011-03-04T21:46:00.001Z

Anne Chambers contributed to the RTE Radio One show Today with Pat Kenny by presenting a section on Eleanor Countess Of Desmond. This show was broadcast on Friday 4th of March 2011 at 9:00 am GMT.

Click here to listen to the podcast

Eleanor Countess of Desmond

Author: Anne Chambers
Published by: Gill and MacMillan

Out of every corner of the woods and glens they came, creeping forth upon their hands, for their legs could not bear them. They looked like anatomies of death, they spoke like ghosts, crying out of their graves.

That description of a famine-stricken people could well be applied to many countries today but, in fact, these were the words of the Elizabethan poet Edmund Spenser, describing the state of the province of Munster in 1583.

An area of Ireland, the size of modern-day Holland, lay devastated, its pasturelands scorched, devoid of crops or animals, bodies lay scattered and unburied, the castles of the Gaelic aristocracy in ruins and the cabins of the peasantry levelled.

This is the traumatic background to a new moving biography by author Anne Chambers about Eleanor Countess of Desmond, a woman who not merely lived through this devastation but was personally involved in the political and military turmoil that lead up to Munster’s ruination and its eventual plantation.

As part of International Womens' Day on the 8th March, Anne will give a talk on Eleanor Countess of Desmond and Grace O'Malley at Raheny Public Library, Dublin at 6.30. All welcome.

Eleanor Countess of Desmond on Sunday Miscelleny

2011-02-21T21:17:00.002Z

Listen to Anne's talk on Eleanor Countess of Desmond on Sunday Miscelleny RTE Radio 1 on Sunday 6 March between 9-10 am.

We will have the podcast here for you to listen to on Monday 7th of March.

New Podcast.

2011-02-12T15:22:00.000Z

New Podcast.

Tune into www.podcasts.ie/featured-writers/featured-prose-writers/anne-chambers/ to hear a recently recorded in-depth conversation with Anne.

International Women’s Day March 8 2011

2011-02-12T15:21:00.000Z

International Women’s Day March 8 2011

Anne’s talk IRISH MATRIARCHS – Grace O’Malley and Eleanor Countess of Desmond – hosted by Dublin City Library, will take place on Tuesday 8 March at 6.30 pm in Raheny Library.
For booking contact rahenylibrary@dublincity.ie tel: + 353 (0)1 831 5521

new edition of the biography ELEANOR COUNTESS OF DESMOND

2011-02-12T15:17:00.002Z

A new edition of the biography ELEANOR COUNTESS OF DESMOND will be published by Gill&MacMillan at the end of February. Click here to see dedicated page on www.graceomalley.com

Anne will give readings from the book at various locations in Dublin on Women’s International Day on 8^th March –watch this space for details.

Anne Chambers, featured author on www.podcasts.ie

2011-01-29T15:30:00.002Z

Anne Chambers is a featured author on www.podcasts.ie

Click here to read more and listen to the podcast

ARRIVAL OF THE QUEEN OF ENGLAND IN DUBLIN by Anne Chambers

2011-01-23T22:16:00.001Z

A humurous commentary on the Current Financial Situation

Well isn’t it grand, sez she

To be here at last, sez she

To see yez all, sez she

I thought ye’d never ask, sez she.

Its been a long time, sez she

When old Victoria, sez she

Came over, sez she

Even though, sez she

She did feic all, sez she

To save yez from hungar, sez she

In the Great Famine, sez she.

But here I am, sez she

With 5 billion pounds, sez she

At 5.8 per cent, sez she

Which my Chancellor, sez she

Gave me to bring, sez she

To give yez a dig out, sez she

From the troubles ye’ve had, sez she

With these shyster bankers, sez she

A disgrace, sez she

And ye thought Cromwell was bad, sez she.

Ye haven’t a euro, sez she

So I’m told, sez she,

Sure maybe ye’ll come back, sez she,

To good ole sterling, sez she

Or even the Commonwealth, sez she

Where we’ll take care of yez, sez she

Like we did in the past, sez she.

You’ll be better off, sez she,

Than with yer sleazy politicians, sez she

A crowd of chancers, sez she

Snouts in the gravy, sez she.

Took all yer euros, sez she.

But stop the lights, sez she,

Are me eyes deceiving me or what, sez she

They told me Dublin was bandjaxed, sez she

A derelict building site, sez she.

But look at this, sez she.

The Point, sez she

And a new Conference Centre, sez she

Like a glass half full, said she

A bit tipsy too, sez she

And a brand new theatre, sez she

Bigger than ours, sez she

And these snazzy apartments, sez she

Canary Wharf, how are ye, sez she.

Hang on, sez she

Are yez having us on, sez she

Yez are better off, sez she

Than meself, sez she

Stop the ship, sez she

I’m going home, sez she

I need the money, sez she

More than yez, sez she.

I’ve a wedding, sez she

In April, sez she

Costing a fortune, sez she

The five billion, sez she

Will just cover, sez she

All the expenses, sez she.

But I promise, sez she

To come back again, sez she

When I retire, sez she

By then, sez she

I know, sez she

Ye’ll be booming again, sez she.

Building like blazes, sez she

Living it up, sez she

Like there’s no tomorrow, sez she

Having the craic, sez she

On borrowed cash, sez she.

In Search of the Pirate Queen

2010-09-30T21:43:00.003+01:00

The annual WanderWoman Grace O'Malley tour, organised by the Eurynome company from the USA, took place recently. Pictured at the Grace O'Malley statue at Westport House are some of this year's participants with author Anne Chambers who each year leads the tour of Grace O'Malley locations and places of interest around Clew Bay. There is increasing interest in the Grace O'Malley story worldwide and Eurynome hope to expand their excursions to Ireland next year.

ICA CENTENERY - Irish Prima Donna - Margaret Burke Sheridan

2010-07-17T17:05:00.000+01:00

As part of the centenery celebrations of the ICA Anne will give an illustrated talk on the Irish Prima Donna - Margaret Burke Sheridan - at ICA headquarters An Griannan, Co Louth on Friday 17 September.

GRANUAILE IN BALLYCONNEELY

2010-07-17T17:04:00.000+01:00

As part of the Ballyconneeley Festival Anne will give a talk on GRANUAILE- THE WOMAN BEHIND THE LEGEND on Friday 6 August at 6pm.

HISTORY IRELAND Magazine

2010-07-17T17:03:00.002+01:00

See Anne's article on Prince Ranjitsinjhi in July edition.

http://www.historyireland.com

RANJI CRICKET MATCH

2010-07-17T16:52:00.004+01:00

The annual Ranji Cricket Tournament for the Anne Chambers Ranji Trophy and sponsored by Ballynahinch Castle Hotel, will take place on 8th August at the Cricket Grounds at Trinity College Dublin, Ireland.

Details from the Indian Embassy, Dublin.

For more details of Anne's Book, RANJI Maharajah of Connemara, click here

SUNDAY MISCELLENY RTE Radio I - RANJI: MAHARAJAH OF CONNEMARA

2010-07-17T16:50:00.003+01:00

'Following her January broadcast on Grace O'Malley Anne's talk - RANJI: MAHARAJAH OF CONNEMARA (based on her book of the same name) about the famous cricketer Prince Ranjisinhji was broadcast on 11 July. see RTE PLAYER

Download the podcast here

http://www.rte.ie/podcasts/2010/pc/pod-v-110710sunmisc30m29s.mp3

Anne gives a talk entitled - Finding Grace O’Malley

2010-03-21T19:37:00.000Z

Anne gives a talk entitled - Finding Grace O’Malley - to the Blanchardstown Guild of the Irish Countrywomen’s Association (ICA) and friends on Wednesday 24 March at St Brigid’s School at 8.pm.

Anne was recently invited by the children of Howth Primary School and Sutton Primary School co. Dublin, to talk about her work as a writer and to see their projects which were based on the Grace O’Malley theme and which included artwork, poetry, drawing, collages, models and music.

In September Anne will lead visitors with Eurynome Journeys, an international American-based travel group specializing in women’s travel adventure vacations, on a tour of locations and sites in the west of Ireland associated with Grace O’Malley.
This is the 5th year that Eurynome has chosen the Grace O’Malley theme as one of their holiday destinations with Anne as their guide.
For further details see: www.wanderwoman.com

WORK IN HAND

2010-03-21T19:36:00.000Z

MATRIARCHS
Anne’s stage play MATRIARCHS has undergone a final draft and is presently eliciting considerable interest from producers/directors.

The theme of the play is the new phenomenon - global ageing - and the impact of the ageing process on two iconic historical figures – Grace O’Malley and her nemeses Queen Elizabeth I of England.
For enquiries contact annechambers@graceomalley.com

BIOGRAPHY

2010-03-21T19:31:00.000Z

A new biography on the life and times of the extraordinary, larger-than-life champion of the Jamaican Slaves, Mayo-born Howe Peter Browne, Marquess of Sligo (1788-1845) is in the pipeline for Anne. With access to a huge collection of original manuscript material relating to this much-travelled man, this her latest biography promises to throw much interesting light on an historical character for whom the phrase –stranger-than-fiction - must surely have been invented.

Watch this space!

Grace O'Malley - Sunday Miscelleny

2010-01-23T19:42:00.002Z

Anne Chambers will contribute to the RTE Radio One show Sunday Miscelleny by presenting a section on Grace O'Malley ~ Granuaile.

This show will broadcast on Sunday 24th of January 2010 at 9:00 am GMT.

The pod cast is available from the following link;

http://www.rte.ie/podcasts/2010/pc/pod-v-240110sunmiscellany29m42s.mp3

To read more about Grace O'Malley, please visit www.graceomalley.com

Hope you enjoy the show.

GRANUAILE Grace O’Malley- Ireland’s Pirate Queen By Anne Chambers

2010-01-03T13:09:00.001Z

GRANUAILE Grace O’Malley- Ireland’s Pirate Queen By Anne Chambers

The new edition is now available in all UK Bookshops.

Click here for more information, http://www.graceomalley.com

Ireland Adventure: In Search of the Pirate Queen Grace O'Malley with special guest author Anne Chambers

2009-11-14T11:16:00.013Z

ABOUT THE TOUR and meet Anne Chambers
The itinerary of our women's travel adventure to Ireland is based on the life of Grace O'Malley (Granuaile), a 16th century Irish pirate queen. This extraordinary Celtic woman commanded a fleet of 200 fighting men, and won castles by war and love. The trip is not a history tour per se, but history and local lore are woven into the tour itinerary providing a focus for our journey. As we traverse through the beautiful western regions of the emerald island our travel adventure will take us to magical places associated with Granuaile's life and with the many legends about her. Bestselling author Anne Chambers, biographer of Grace O'Malley, will join us for a special tour of "Grace O'Malley country." Also local archaeologist Michael Gibbons will accompany us on an exploration of the archaeology and natural wonders of beautiful Connemara. We will stay at freindly B-n-Bs with lots of Irish charm and warmth. The pace of the tour is leisurely with time to explore on one's own. The tour is limited to 8 to 12 women. This is a great trip for the first time visitor to Ireland as well as for returning visitors. We hope you are about to join us!

Click this link for more information about this tour.

Click this link for more information about Grace O' Malley and Anne Chambers.

The trip to Ireland in search of Granuaile was perfect and author Anne Chambers was wonderful!" Kitty, Oklahoma, August 2006

Anne with some of the WANDER WOMAN TOUR 2009 participants from America at the Grace O'Malley Statue in Westport House Estate in September.

The first Ranji Trophy Cricket match played Trinity College Dublin, Ireland.

2009-10-07T11:22:00.003+01:00

The first Cricket match played for the Ranji Trophy at TCD took place between an Irish and Indian XI in College Park, TCD, Dublin, Ireland on Sunday 26 July.

Details of the 2010 Ranji Trophy match will be posted in early 2010.

Watch this space.

Anne Chambers meets her fellow-countyman Enda Kenny TD in Henry Street, Dublin, Ireland.

2009-10-01T19:42:00.004+01:00

Anne Chambers meets her fellow-countyman Enda Kenny TD in Henry Street, Dublin, Ireland. Here is a short clip taken from RTE Six-one news on 26 September 09.

1st ANNUAL Ranji Trophy

2009-07-21T23:57:00.004+01:00

College Park, Trinity College Dublin Sunday 26th July at 1 pm
Ranji: Maharajah of Connemara
On the 17 July 1924 Prince Ranjitsinhji, Maharajah of Nawanager, cricketing superstar, the first non-Englishman to play test cricket for England, became the first head of state to make an official visit to the newly-founded Irish Free State. The subsequent purchase of Ballynahinch castle and estate in Connemara by this high-profile international statesman came as a boost to the fledging Irish state as did his promotion of Ireland as a tourist haven.

Irish author Anne Chambers’ book Ranji: Maharajah of Connemara has recently brought the intriguing story of Ranji’s many associations with Ireland to light. And to commemorate the Prince’s promotion of Irish-Indian relations, the author donated a trophy (The Ranji Trophy) for a cricket match to be played annually between an Irish and Indian XI in his memory.

This event, which has elicited the support of the Embassy of India in Ireland, will now become a focal point in the recently-established South Asia Initiative at Trinity College Dublin. This programme is dedicated to the renewal and development of relationships with India and other
countries in South Asia across a wide range of disciplines from arts and humanities to science, technology and medicine and will also reach out to the South Asian community resident in Ireland.

The first cricket match to be played for the Ranji Trophy at TCD will take place between an Irish and Indian XI in College Park, Trinity College Dublin from 1pm on Sunday 26th July. It is hoped that cricket lovers and those interested in the Ireland-India connections will turn out in force for what promises to be an enjoyable social occasion.

For more information, click here Ranji: Maharajah of Connemara

Anne Chambers gives a radio interview about Margaret Burke Sheridan

2009-05-16T11:28:00.002+01:00

Anne Chambers gives a radio interview about Margaret Burke Sheridan on the Irish Radio station RTE Radio 1 after 9am GMT news on Sunday, 17 May 2009. The programme called SUNDAY MISCELLENY.

To listen to the pod cast, please click on this link
http://www.rte.ie/radio1/sundaymiscellany/

For more information about Anne’s book “LA SHERIDAN: ADORABLE DIVA Margaret Burke Sheridan - Prima Donna 1889-1958” please click on this link
http://www.graceomalley.com/margaret_Burke_Sheridan.php

Signed copies of Anne's books

2009-03-07T17:30:00.003Z

Signed copies of Anne's books will be available soon from her web site www.graceomalley.com.

More details to follow soon.

Anne's screenplay LORNA

2009-03-07T17:21:00.005Z

Anne's screenplay LORNA http://www.graceomalley.com/screen_plays.php was shortlisted for this years (2009) annual screenplay award at the Jameson Dublin International Film Festival.

Descibed by the judges, who included director Lenny Abrahamson and actor John Hurt, as ' a fantastic ripping yarn...with real edge-of-seat suspense' with 'great characters, each with their own distinctive voice ....who jump off the page...exposition beautifully handled' they predicted that the screenplay has 'real potential as an American indie Western.'

Sleeve notes for a new CD - UN BEL DI

2008-11-24T23:29:00.000Z

Anne has written the sleeve notes for a new CD - UN BEL DI -- which features operatic arias and ballads (some published for the first time) of the Irish Diva – Margaret Burke Sheridan. The CD, which was launched on 13 October at Dublin Castle, is produced by LYRIC FM and is available through all music stores.

50th anniversary of Margaret Burke Sheridan

2008-11-24T23:27:00.003Z

To celebrate the 50th anniversary of Margaret Burke Sheridan Anne gives a series of lectures, media interviews and exhibitions of the Diva’s operatic and personal memorabilia.

Enquiries to annechambers@graceomalley.com or post a comment!