Mary Bonaventure Browne

rdf:langString Mary Bonaventure Browne

rdf:langString Bean rialta agus staraí de chuid na nGall-Ghael ba ea Mary Bonaventure Browne (c.1611 – c.1670). Ceannaí saibhir i gcathair na Gaillimhe ba ea a hathair agus bheadh sirriamacht an chontae aige ach Mionn an Ardcheannais a ghlacadh. Chuaigh Mary isteach i Siúracha Bochta Naomh Clára i gclochar Bheithil in aice le Baile Átha Luain. I 1647 ceapadh í ina ban-ab i nGaillimh. Mar dhuine de na Gall-Ghaeil bhí idir Ghaeilge agus Bhéarla aici, agus faoin am sin bhí beirt Phroinsiasach ag aistriú cáipéisi a bhain leis an Ord go Gaeilge. Thug Mary léi go dtí Gaillimh an chóip de na cáipéisí úd a rinne Mícheál Ó Cléirigh i 1636. Bhí an chuid is mó gan aistriú go fóill agus ba í Mary a chuir an Dubhaltach Mac Fhirbhisigh i mbun na hoibre. As seo a tháinig “Riaghail ar Máthar Naomtha S. Clára ar na tionntúdh i ngaoidhilic as bérla ... 1636”. Nuair a ghéill Gaillimh d’arm na Parlaiminte i 1652 thug na siúracha an Spáinn orthu féin. Cailleadh Mary ann roimh 1694 (cé go bhfuil 1703 luaite freisin mar bhliain a báis). Ag seo an cur síos a rinneadh uirthi in annálacha an Oird i 1694: She was prudent, wise and well-spoken in English, Irish and Spanish. She was the mirrour and looking glasse of the religious observance that belonged to her rule and statuts all her life time. She left a true chronicle written under her owne hand, which shee sent to this convent of Sainct Clare, Galway, and a Remonstance, a chalice, a holy curious relick, many pictures, books, ornaments, and other fine things fitting for the Altar and Divine Service. All the aforesaid things were lost and burnt in the late wars, 1691. She and her holy sister Mother Catherine Bernard made their profession in the year 1633. Rinneadh tagairt i 1732 do shaothar mór stairiúil ceathairfhillte a scríobh sí i nGaeilge agus a bhí caomhnaithe in El Cavallero de Graciam, mainistir i Maidrid. Tá an saothar sin caillte anois.