'Pirate Queen' sails up the Thames

A MAYO woman has hit the high seas, following Granuaile and sailing her boat up the Thames and into the heart of London.

Grace O'Malley made her journey back in 1593, when Ireland's famous Pirate Queen met with Queen Elizabeth I.

Sailor Joan Mulloy has now recreated her voyage, docking in the English capital over the weekend.

She reported on Friday evening: '#believeingrace has made it all the way from Westport into the heart of London. Tomorrow I’ll sail her up the final part of the Thames to London Bridge, the final step of a recreation of Grace O’Malley's journey in 1593!

'We’ll sail to Tower Bridge, passing Greenwich, where Grace O’Malley disembarked her vessel to meet Queen Elizabeth I in an historic meeting of two powerful women.

'It’s a cool feeling to be recreating history.'

On board, Joan had a special presentation bottle of Grace O’Malley Irish Whiskey. The Pirate Queen presented Queen Elizabeth with a bottle of Irish whiskey when the two met.