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 Martyn 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.[citation needed]
Poor Clareedit
Helen was professed into the Poor Clares in 1632, the same year as the sisters Catherine and Mary Bonaventure Browne. 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.[citation needed]
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 Óge Martyn, became Mayor of Galway. Both he and his law partner, Patrick Darcy, were patrons of the order. By then, Galway was at war.[1]
Exile and returnedit
During the Cromwellian occupation of Galway after 1652, the nuns were expelled from Augustine Street, as were Dominicans such as Julia Nolan. While some made a new home across the Corrib on Oileán Altanach,[2] 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.[3][4]
Tombstoneedit
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.
^Roest, Bert (2013). "Index of Places and Convents". Order and Disorder: The Poor Clares between Foundation and Reform. Brill. pp. 425–430. doi:10.1163/9789004244757_011. ISBN9789004244757.
^Roest, Bert (2013). "Damianites, Minoresses, Poor Clares". Order and Disorder: The Poor Clares between Foundation and Reform. Brill. pp. 37–74. doi:10.1163/9789004244757_004. ISBN9789004244757.
mary, gabriel, martyn, maria, gabriel, martyn, 1604, 1672, abbess, poor, clares, galway, contents, background, poor, clare, exile, return, tombstone, also, references, external, linksbackground, editborn, helen, martyn, member, tribes, galway, merchant, famili. Maria Gabriel Martyn 1604 1672 was Abbess of the Poor Clares of Galway Contents 1 Background 2 Poor Clare 3 Exile and return 4 Tombstone 5 See also 6 References 7 External linksBackground editBorn 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 Martyn family is uncertain Richard oge Martyn father of Oliver oge Martyn was of her generation as perhaps was Walter oge Martyn see Dominick Kirwin An older eccleastical relative was Father Peter Martyn who was well known as a superb preacher and died in 1645 citation needed Poor Clare editHelen was professed into the Poor Clares in 1632 the same year as the sisters Catherine and Mary Bonaventure Browne 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 citation needed 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 oge Martyn became Mayor of Galway Both he and his law partner Patrick Darcy were patrons of the order By then Galway was at war 1 Exile and return editDuring the Cromwellian occupation of Galway after 1652 the nuns were expelled from Augustine Street as were Dominicans such as Julia Nolan While some made a new home across the Corrib on Oilean Altanach 2 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 3 4 Tombstone editMother 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 Preceded byNew creation Abbess of the Poor Clares of Galway1642 Succeeded byMary Clare KennedySee also editThe Tribes of GalwayReferences edit Hardiman James 1820 The history of the town and county of the town of Galway W Folds and Sons pp 274 75 Oilean Altanach Logainm ie https www logainm ie en 1403729 s Oile u00e1n Altanach Roest Bert 2013 Index of Places and Convents Order and Disorder The Poor Clares between Foundation and Reform Brill pp 425 430 doi 10 1163 9789004244757 011 ISBN 9789004244757 Roest Bert 2013 Damianites Minoresses Poor Clares Order and Disorder The Poor Clares between Foundation and Reform Brill pp 37 74 doi 10 1163 9789004244757 004 ISBN 9789004244757 External links edithttp www poorclares ie Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Mary Gabriel Martyn amp oldid 1092360149, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
