Granuaile is an example of the fact that gender wasn’t really a barrier to political power in 16th century Ireland. She managed to be a far more effective political operator in the west of Ireland than any of the men who were her rivals within what would have been the McWilliam overlordship in County Mayo in the west of Ireland. She was far more effective than any of them: she used men to achieve her political ends and is a good example of the fact that gender didn’t have to be an issue - that women could certainly make a political impact in Gaelic Ireland.