Mary Clare Kennedy

Who is Mary Clare Kennedy?

Mary Clare Kennedy, second Abbess of the Poor Clares of Galway, fl. 1647.

Kennedy became abbess sometime in the mid-1640s. Ó Muraíle has drawn attention to the fact that of the twelve sisters and two novices that founded the Galway convent, twelve had Anglo-Irish surnames yet two, including Kennedy, bore Gaelic surnames.

Her background is obscure. Ó Cinnéide is the surname of a branch of the Dál gCais, apparently descended from King Cennétig mac Lorcáin of Thomond. However, a similar surname, Ó Ceinnéididh, was borne by an unrelated family, a minor branch of the Uí Maine. Their pedigree is given as Connagan, son of Cernach, son of Ailell, son of Cernach, son of Coscrach, son of Fidhchellach, son of Dicholla, son of Eoghan Finn mac Cormac mac Cairpri Crom mac Lughaidh, the resolute, Feradhach mac Dallan mac Bresal mac Máine Mór and were one of eleven surnames listed as of the Clann Cernaigh.

Her presence amid a group of mainly Anglo-Irish women may not have been out of place. There is strong evidence for the use and status of the Irish language within the community.