Mary Clare Kennedy facts for kids

Mary Clare Kennedy was an important leader, known as an Abbess, for the Poor Clares in Galway, Ireland, during the 1600s. She was the second Abbess of this group of nuns.

Becoming an Abbess

Mary Clare Kennedy became the Abbess of the Poor Clares in Galway around the mid-1640s. An Abbess is like the head or leader of a convent, which is a community of nuns. She was in charge of guiding the sisters and managing their daily life.

Her Background

Mary Clare Kennedy's early life isn't very well known. The group of nuns who started the Galway convent mostly had names that showed they were from Anglo-Irish families. However, Mary Clare Kennedy and one other nun had Gaelic (Irish) surnames. This shows that the convent was a place where people from different backgrounds came together. The Irish language was also very important and used a lot within their community.

Life at the Convent

The Poor Clares are a group of Catholic nuns who follow the teachings of Saint Clare of Assisi. They live a simple life dedicated to prayer and service. Mary Clare Kennedy's time as Abbess was during a period of change in Ireland.

Her successor, Mary Bonaventure Browne, later asked a scholar named Dubhaltach Mac Fhirbhisigh to translate important documents, like the Rule of St. Clare, into Irish. This shows how much the Irish language was valued by the nuns.

Later Years

Mary Clare Kennedy's time as Abbess ended in 1647 when Mary Bonaventure Browne took over. She remained part of the community of nuns. In April 1652, the city of Galway was taken over by soldiers during a difficult time in history. Mary Clare Kennedy was still with the sisters then. What happened to her after this event is not known.