She was one of few female pirates in history.

But a group of Cork artists have ensured Irish pirate Anne Bonny is remembered in her hometown, transforming a Kinsale landmark into a tribute to the local icon.

Splattervan have now completed a large-scale artwork, the idea for which was conceived by Kinsale illustrator Audrey Cantillon, on the Stony Steps, turning the thoroughfare into a celebration of Bonny, who was born at the Old Head of Kinsale in the 1700s.

 

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According to Charles Johnson’s A General History of the Pyrates, Bonny largely operated in the Caribbean with her partner, the English pirate Calico Jack Rackham.

According to the Wikipedia entry, her career came to an end at the young age of 24, but little is known about what happened to her afterward: “She was captured alongside Rackham and Mary Read in October 1720. All three were sentenced to death, but Bonny and Read had their executions stayed because both of them were pregnant. Read died of a fever in jail in April 1721 (likely due to complications from the pregnancy), but Bonny’s fate is unknown.”

A ledger lists the burial of an “Ann Bonny” on December 29th, 1733, in the same town in Jamaica where she was tried.

The stoney steps at kinsale got a face lift yesterday looks great . pic.twitter.com/biAZcihlof

— Kevin (@kevinmartin1954) June 13, 2021

Stoney steps Kinsale, looks amazing. Well done to all involved in project including Audrey Cantillon and ⁦⁦⁦@Corkcoco⁩.Really brightens up what was a drab area, with a great message. pic.twitter.com/o567JuFpI3

— Leon Mac (@leonmac44) June 20, 2021