Follow in the Footsteps of Pirates

Pirates and pirating became popular due to Hollywood movies and particularly the Pirates of the Caribbean series. If you are a fan of pirates you can now visit some of their pirate ports.

Europe

Ireland

The largest and most scenic of the 365 islands in Clew Bay, Clare Island like off of the west coast of Ireland. It is a mountainous island that guards the entrance to Clew Bay in County Mayo. The island is accessible by daily ferry services from Roonagh Pier near Louisburgh. On the island you can find a hostel, some bed and breakfasts and a yoga and meditation center. To get a look around the island there is a bicycle rental facility. It is featured in the song “Clare Island” by the Irish folk-rock band The Saw Doctors and on their 1996 album Same Oul’ Town. The island has been the setting of the film “Budawanny” by Bob Quinn and he did a documentary on Clare Island – “The Island” in 1966. It has been used as a setting in the book “The Ghost of Grania O’Malley” by Michael Morpurgo. Every year since 2014 you can enjoy The Clare Island Film Festival.

Pirate History

Grace O’Malley and the seagoing O’Malley clan robbed and harassed English ships passing this way. This earned Grace the title of “Pirate Queen of Clew Bay.” When her first husband passed Grace got together a fleet of sea marauders. She and her pirate band continued with piracy, attacking castles, and other wicked mischief even after she married a second time with Richard Bourke (Iron Richard), who was an Irish chieftain and noble. Grace even managed to raise a family. The Pirate Queen of Clew Bay has been sung about in songs from Cathie Ryan, The Dreadnoughts, among others. There has even been a Broadway musical “The Pirate Queen.”

Malta

Malta is officially known as the Republic of Malta. It is an island country in the Mediterranean Sea. Consisting of an archipelago between Italy and Libya, this is an island country that is part of Southern Europe.

Pirate History

This island nation was visited by uninvited marauders along its shores over the centuries. The Maltese Corsairs formed to make a living from the surrounding seas. They took advantage of the prime location and would plunder and raid to increase their personal riches.

Asia

Vietnam

Dao Hai Tac is a pirate island that lies in the Gulf of Thailand, off the southwest coast of Vietnam, between Ha Tien and Phu Quoc. It is a small, rugged archipelago with green hills and calm seas. Recently it has been opened to foreign travellers. Being beautiful and unspoiled soon residents on the island will get access to 24 hour electricity and they’re hoping for a boom in tourism.

Pirate History

For centuries, these known Pirate Islands provided shelter for pirates. They could hide in the rocky coves waiting to attack commercial ships making their way along Southeast Asia trade routes.

Taiwan

Taiwan is an island found in the western Pacific Ocean. It is located about 100 miles off the coast of southeastern China.

Pirate History

In 1661 the pirate Zheng Chenggong threw the Dutch out of Taiwan ensuring his legacy as a pirate hero. He fought against the conquering Manchu Qing Dynasty. Chenggong along with his son Zheng Jing turned Taiwan into a stronghold battling against Qing forces. They also engaged in piracy across the South China Sea.

Africa

Morocco

Sale, Morocco is a city in the northwestern part of the country. It sits on the right bank of the Bou Regreg River, opposite the capital, Rabat. Sale serves as a commuter town. It was founded about 1030 an became a haven for pirates in the 17th century.

Pirate History

In the fictional novel “Robinson Crusoe” by Daniel Defoe the main character Crusoe was captured by the Sale rovers. In reality Barbary pirates (Corsairs) built a self-governed pirate enclave – the Republic of Sale. During the 1620s the Dutch pirate Jan Janszoon became the Grand Admiral of this republic. The Moraccan Alaouite Dynasty put an end to the pirates’ sovereignty.

Tunisia

Tunisia is officially known as the Republic of Tunisia. It is the northernmost country in Africa. Once known as Porto Farina today this town is called Ghar el-Melh. It is located on the southern side of Cape Farina in Bizerte Governorate, Tunisia.

Pirate History

Porto Farina was a stronghold for Corsairs on the Mediterranean and later, for Maltese pirates. At the time Porto Farina attracted many 17th century sea dogs that looked to make a fortune. The first to use the town for pirate operations were Barbary pirates. When these were thrown out by English admiral Robert Blake, British and Maltese brigands appeared. They used this North African location from which to raid ships that were crossing the Mediterranean.

Algiers

Algiers is the capital and largest city of Algeria. It is located on the Mediterranean Sea in the north central part of the country.

Pirate History

Barbary pirates were known across the Mediterranean and beyond. The author of the classic novel “Don Quixote”, Miguel de Cervantes was apprehended by Barbary pirates. He was held captive in Algiers for five years in the late 1500s. The First Barbary War started when both Thomas Jefferson and George Washington were looking into the problem of Barbary pirates attacking American ships.

Madagascar

The island of Nosy Boraha was previously called Sainte-Marie. Its main town is Ambodifotatra. The island lies off the east coast of Madagascar. It is known for beautiful beaches, whale watching, and history.

Pirate History

Sainte-Marie was a paradise for pirates. It became the sanctuary of pirates like William Kidd. During the 17th and 18th centuries pirates found some R&R here between pillaging and looting ships in the Indian Ocean. Some pirates raise pirate families here.

North America

The US

Rhode Island

Rhode Island is a state in the New England region of the Northeastern US. By area it is the smallest US state. The seaside city of Newport is located on Aquidneck Island in Newport County.

Pirate History

At one time the city of Newport was a thriving center for pirate fleets. They were looking to attack merchant vessels in the Atlantic Ocean. Pirate Thomas Tew helped make the city into a pirates’ den. This was where the pirates would offload their pilfered wares. It all came to an end when when Newport official hung 26 pirates in 1723.

North Carolina

Oracoke Island has no bridges connecting it to the mainland; however the main road across the island is part of the North Carolina Highway 12. Ferried connect the island to Hatteras Island, Cedar Island, and to the mainland at Swan Quarter.

Pirate History

At one time this island was the hideaway for such notorious pirates as Blackbeard, Jack Rackham, and Anne Bonny. It offered the pirates plenty of places to hide as they hunted their prey out in the Atlantic Ocean. You can see artifacts from Blackbeard’s ship Queen Anne’s Revenge and learn about the region’s maritime history at the North Carolina Maritime Museum in Beaufort, on the mainland.

Louisiana

Barataria Bay is a bay of the Gulf of Mexico in southeastern Louisiana. It is separated from the gulf by two barrier islands.

Pirate History

Barateria Bay lies south of New Orleans. At one time it was a haven for the French smuggler Jean Laffite and his brother Pierre Lafitte. All the pirates working out of the bay were known as the Baratarians. During the War of 1812 and the Battle of New Orleans Lafitte volunteered to fight for the US against British attack. The seventh US President Andrew Jackson gave Lafitte a full pardon for his past criminal indiscretions. San Francisco de Campeche or just Campech located in the Mexican state of Campech was a favorite target of pirates. They were interesting in the Spanish wealth in this port town. Some of the pirates in the area were Francis Drake, Jean Lafitte, and Henry Morgan. Later the town erected sturdy walls and military fortifications to keep the pirates at bay.

The Caribbean

Tortuga Island lies off the shore of the northern coast of Haiti. It is mountainous and rocky particularly on the northern part of the island.

Pirate History

Pirates sailing out of Tortuga were English and French pirates called the Brethren of the Coast. They included Henry Morgan. This island was a safe haven for pirates during the 1600s. They pillaged and plundered in Caribbean waters at times dividing loot among themselves.

New Providence is the most populous island in the Bahamas. It includes the capital city of Nassau.

Pirate History

New Providence was active with piracy during the Golden Age of Piracy. It had pirates like Edward Teach, Benjamin Hornigold, Jack Rackham, and Charles Vane. English and Spanish pirates fought each other for control. The TV series “Black Sails” is based on its piracy history.

Port Royal is a village that is located at the end of the Palisadoes. It sits at the mouth of Kingston Harbor in southeastern Jamaica.

Pirate History

The harbor of Port Royal was the place for both British and French pirates looking to plunder ships in the Caribbean. Among the pirates here were Henry Morgan and Charles Vane. Pirates had their own days of debauchery here.