Mary Gabriel Martyn
Encyclopedia
Maria Gabriel Martyn, Abbess
of the Poor Clares of Galway
, born 1604, died 1672.
family is uncertain; Richard Óge Martyn - father of Oliver Óge Martyn - was of her generation, as perhaps was Walter Óge Martyn (see Dominick Kirwin
). An older eccleastical relative was Father Peter Martyn, who was well known as a superb preacher and died in 1645.
. The nuns had been banished from Dublin in November 1630 and resettled at Bethleham, parish of Kilkenny West, County Westmeath
. Within a few years there were sixty members, several of whom bore tribal surnames such as Font and Skerrett.
Following a request from some citizens of Galway, twelve sisters and two novices moved there during or immediately after January 1642. The convent was located in or near what is now St. Augustine Street. Maria Gabriel became the first abbess of the convent; in September, her relative Richard Martyn
, became Mayor of Galway
. Both he and his law partner, Patrick Darcy
, were patrons of the order. By then, Galway was at war.
. While some made a new home across the Corrib
on Oilean Altanach, many were forcibly dispersed abroad, mainly to Spain. Maria Gabriel remained in Galway, hiding with friends and relatives, along with a small number of other sisters. Only in the mid-1660s, following The Restoration, were the sisters able to take in more members, including sisters who returned from Spain.
The Galway convent continues to this day, and at least three other members of the Martyn family were sisters or abbess's.
Abbess
An abbess is the female superior, or mother superior, of a community of nuns, often an abbey....
of the Poor Clares of Galway
Galway
Galway or City of Galway is a city in County Galway, Republic of Ireland. It is the sixth largest and the fastest-growing city in Ireland. It is also the third largest city within the Republic and the only city in the Province of Connacht. Located on the west coast of Ireland, it sits on the...
, born 1604, died 1672.
Background
Born Helen Martyn, she was a member of one of The Tribes of Galway, the merchant families who ruled Galway from the late medieval to the early modern era. Her exact relationship to contemporary members of the MartynMartyn
Martyn, or Martin is the surname of one of The Tribes of Galway, Ireland.-Family history:The Martyn family were one of a group of fourteen families of mixed Irish, English, Welsh, French and Norman descent who became the premier merchant and political families in the town of Galway during the late...
family is uncertain; Richard Óge Martyn - father of Oliver Óge Martyn - was of her generation, as perhaps was Walter Óge Martyn (see Dominick Kirwin
Dominick Kirwin
Dominick Kirwin was an Irish Confederate, fl. 1642–1653?Kirwin was a member of one of The Tribes of Galway, and led the raiding party that seized a ship anchored near Galway early in the morning of 19 March 1642. It was a British naval vessel under the command of a Captain Clarke, and had been sent...
). An older eccleastical relative was Father Peter Martyn, who was well known as a superb preacher and died in 1645.
Poor Clare
Helen was professed into the Poor Clares in 1632, the same year as the sisters Catherine and Mary Bonaventure BrowneMary Bonaventure Browne
Mother Mary Bonaventure Browne, Poor Clare and Irish historian, born after 1610, died after 1670.-Background:A daughter of Andrew Browne fitz Oliver, a wealthy merchant and a member of The Tribes of Galway. She was a niece of Martin Browne, whose townhouse doorway, the Browne doorway, now stands in...
. The nuns had been banished from Dublin in November 1630 and resettled at Bethleham, parish of Kilkenny West, County Westmeath
County Westmeath
-Economy:Westmeath has a strong agricultural economy. Initially, development occurred around the major market centres of Mullingar, Moate, and Kinnegad. Athlone developed due to its military significance, and its strategic location on the main Dublin–Galway route across the River Shannon. Mullingar...
. Within a few years there were sixty members, several of whom bore tribal surnames such as Font and Skerrett.
Following a request from some citizens of Galway, twelve sisters and two novices moved there during or immediately after January 1642. The convent was located in or near what is now St. Augustine Street. Maria Gabriel became the first abbess of the convent; in September, her relative Richard Martyn
Richard Martyn
Richard Martyn was a leading figure in early New Hampshire, in business, church and government.Martyn was a merchant, and in 1671, he was one of the founders of the first church in Portsmouth. He served as Selectman, as Commissioner for the Trial of Small Causes, and as Deputy to the General...
, became Mayor of Galway
Mayor of Galway
The office of Mayor of Galway is an honorific title used by the of Galway City Council. The Council has jurisdiction throughout its administrative area which is the city of Galway – the largest city in the province of Connacht, in the Republic of Ireland. The office was originally established by a...
. Both he and his law partner, Patrick Darcy
Patrick Darcy
Patrick Darcy is the name of:* Patrick D'Arcy , Irish nationalist* Pat Darcy , American baseball player...
, were patrons of the order. By then, Galway was at war.
Exile and return
During the Cromwellian occupation of Galway after 1652, the nuns were expelled from Augustine Street, as were Dominicans such as Julia NolanJulia Nolan
Julia Nolan, Prioress of the Dominican Nuns, Galway, 1611-1701.-Family background:Nolan was born in the town of Galway, a member of a Gaelic merchant family of who settled in the town during the reign of Henry VI and Edward IV...
. While some made a new home across the Corrib
Corrib
Corrib has multiple meanings. Among the possible ones are:*Lough Corrib, a lake in the west of Ireland, north of Galway.*River Corrib, a river connecting Lough Corrib to Galway Bay through the city of Galway....
on Oilean Altanach, many were forcibly dispersed abroad, mainly to Spain. Maria Gabriel remained in Galway, hiding with friends and relatives, along with a small number of other sisters. Only in the mid-1660s, following The Restoration, were the sisters able to take in more members, including sisters who returned from Spain.
The Galway convent continues to this day, and at least three other members of the Martyn family were sisters or abbess's.
Tombstone
Mother Gabriel was buried in the Franciscan graveyard, just outside the town walls. Her tombstone reads:
1672. Here lieth the Body of the R. Mother Maria Gabriel alias Helen Martin, first Abbess and religious of the poore Clares of Galway, who died the 14 of Jan. adged 68, in religion 40. Pray for her Soule.
See also
- Peter Martin (STP)Peter Martin (STP)Peter Martin , Master of Sacred Theology , died 1645.Martin was born in the town of Galway, Ireland, and by 1615 had already been a student at St. Patrick's College, Lisbon. He joined the Dominican Order and was in that year studying at Salamanca By 1622 he had returned to Ireland where he enjoyed...
- Francis MartinFrancis Martin-Biography:He was born in Galway during the occupation of the town by the Cromwellian army, his family been one of the Tribes of Galway. He was educated in one of the secret schools in the city. In 1673 he began his studies for the priesthood in Louvain with the Augustinian order. Ordained there in...
- Harriet Letitia MartinHarriet Letitia MartinHarriet Letitia Martin was an Irish novelist. She was born in London in 1801, and died in Dublin in 1891.Martin was the daughter of the novelist and stage-critic Harriet Evans Martin, and Richard Martin MP, a prominent member of the Martyn family of Galway. She spent the first years of her life in...
- Mary Letitia MartinMary Letitia Martin-Biography:Born into the chief landowning family of Connemara, the Martins of Ballynahinch Castle, a branch of the Martyn Tribe of Galway. Her parents were Thomas Barnwall Martin and Julia Kirwin; her grandfather was Richard Martin ....
- Richard Martin (M.P.)
- Rychard MartinRychard Martin-Biography:Martin was related to Wylliam Martin, under whom he served as bailiff for the term 1519-20. He served the first of three terms as Mayor for 1526-27. In 1535 he was again Mayor, been re-elected the following years....
- Thomas Barnwall MartinThomas Barnwall MartinThomas Barnwall Martin was an Irish landowner and politician.Martin was the eldest surviving son of Richard Martin, humanitarian and Member of Parliament for Galway County, by his first wife...
- Violet Florence MartinViolet Florence MartinViolet Florence Martin was an Irish author who co-wrote a series of novels with cousin Edith Somerville under the pen name of Martin Ross in the late 19th and early 20th centuries.- Early life :...
- Wylliam MartinWylliam MartinWylliam Martin, fl. 1504-1547, 34th Mayor of Galway.Martin was a member of one of The Tribes of Galway, and had first served as a town bailiff for the term 1504-1505. He enjoyed two terms as Mayor, 1519–1520, and 1525-1526...
- Adrian James Martyn
- Andrew H. MartynAndrew H. MartynAndrew H. Martyn, Irish priest and member of the Repeal Association, 1785-1847.-Biography:Martyn was the son of Henry Martyn , and was born in Eyre Square in 1785. He claimed descent from the Martyn family, one of The Tribes of Galway. He began studying at Maynooth in October 1804, been ordained in...
- Edward MartynEdward MartynEdward Martyn was an Irish political and cultural activist and playwright.-Early life:Martyn was the eldest son of John Martyn of Tullira and Annie Mary Josephine Smyth of Masonbrook, Loughrea, both in County Galway. He succeeded his father upon John's death in 1860...
- Oliver Óge Martyn
- Richard MartynRichard MartynRichard Martyn was a leading figure in early New Hampshire, in business, church and government.Martyn was a merchant, and in 1671, he was one of the founders of the first church in Portsmouth. He served as Selectman, as Commissioner for the Trial of Small Causes, and as Deputy to the General...
- Thomas Óge MartynThomas Óge Martyn-Early life:Martyn was a merchant of Galway and a member of the Martyn family, one of the Tribes of Galway. He was the son of former Mayor of Galway, Wylliam Martin.-West Bridge and Mills:...
- William Óge MartynWilliam Oge Martyn-Early life:Also known as William Óge Martyn fitz Thomas, was a son of Thomas Óge Martyn and Evelina Lynch of Galway. Bailiff of Galway in 1566 to 1567, he was kidnapped by the Earl of Thomond in January 1570 but was free in time to participate at the battle of Shrule in April of the same year...
External links
- http://www.poorclares.ie/