Finola O'Donnell (), also known as Nuala O'Donnell, was a 15th-century Irish noblewoman remembered for cofounding the

Franciscan The Franciscans are a group of related organizations in the Catholic Church, founded or inspired by the Italian saint Francis of Assisi. They include three independent Religious institute, religious orders for men (the Order of Friars Minor bei ...

Monastery in Donegal. Finola was born to O’Brien (Conor-na-Srona) and later married to Hugh Roe O’Donnell, son of Niall Garve O’Donnell. Sources record her as having been a very charitable woman. In 1474, Finola O’Donnell helped establish the Franciscan

Monastery A monastery is a building or complex of buildings comprising the domestic quarters and workplaces of Monasticism, monastics, monks or nuns, whether living in Cenobitic monasticism, communities or alone (hermits). A monastery generally includes a ...

in Donegal with her husband. The monastery was given to God and the friars of St. Francis. It was meant as a place “for the prosperity of their own souls” as well as a “burial place for themselves and their descendants.” Finola died in 1528. Between the years of 1632 and 1636, the monastery served as the location for the writing of '' The Annals of the Four Masters''. The authors were said to scour the country for information during the warm seasons and stay within the monastery to write during the cold.

References

1528 deaths 15th-century Irish people Year of birth unknown 15th-century Irish nobility Women founders Founders of Catholic religious communities 15th-century Irish women {{RC-bio-stub