Valentine Browne, OFM (c.1594–1672) was an Irish teacher, theologian and Franciscan guardian.

Biography

A member of one of the

Tribes of Galway The Tribes of Galway ( ga, Treibheanna na Gaillimhe) were 14 merchant families who dominated the political, commercial and social life of the city of Galway in western Ireland between the mid-13th and late 19th centuries. They were the families ...

, Browne was a son or brother of Sir Dominick Browne (c. 1585 – c. 1656), whose first cousin, Andrew Browne fitz Oliver, was the father of

Mary Bonaventure Browne Mother Mary Bonaventure Browne (born after 1610, died after 1670) was a Poor Clare nun, abbess, and Irish historian. Background A daughter of Andrew Browne fitz Oliver, a wealthy merchant and a member of The Tribes of Galway. She was a niece of ...

(before 1610 – after 1670). He appears to have been the nephew of Martin Browne, whose townhouse doorway, the Browne doorway, now stands in

Eyre Square Eyre Square (; ga, An Fhaiche Mhór, also known as John F. Kennedy Memorial Park) is a city public park in Galway, Ireland. The park is within the city centre, adjoining the nearby shopping area of William Street and Shop Street. Galway rai ...

. Browne was a graduate of the Franciscan house at

Louvain Leuven (, ) or Louvain (, , ; german: link=no, Löwen ) is the capital and largest city of the province of Flemish Brabant in the Flemish Region of Belgium. It is located about east of Brussels. The municipality itself comprises the historic c ...

, having studied at home in Galway and Ireland, and at the Irish College at Douai by 1617. In Louvain, he became a lecturer in theology and in this capacity returned to Galway to teach novices. He served as minister provincial for Ireland from 1629 to 1633. Afterwards, he was guardian of Galway till as late as 1639, and in 1642 welcomed the

Poor Clares The Poor Clares, officially the Order of Saint Clare ( la, Ordo sanctae Clarae) – originally referred to as the Order of Poor Ladies, and later the Clarisses, the Minoresses, the Franciscan Clarist Order, and the Second Order of Saint Francis ...

order of the Franciscans to the town. In 1648 he was suspended from public ministry for opposing the papal nuncio, who had excommunicated supporters of the truce between the Irish Confederates and Lord Inchiquin. He died at

Claregalway Baile Chláir or Baile Chláir na Gaillimhe (anglicized Claregalway) is a Gaeltacht village about 10 km north of Galway city in County Galway, Ireland. Claregalway was founded on the banks of the River Clare, hence the derivation of it ...

in 1672.

Ó Cléirigh letter

Browne gave an important letter of support to

Mícheál Ó Cléirigh Mícheál Ó Cléirigh (), sometimes known as Michael O'Clery, was an Irish chronicler, scribe and antiquary and chief author of the ''Annals of the Four Masters,'' assisted by Cú Choigcríche Ó Cléirigh, Fearfeasa Ó Maol Chonaire, and Per ...

, dated 15 May 1632, which acted as an assurance that Ó Cléirigh had his support, and that of the Franciscan order, in his antiquarian efforts, the result of which were the

Annals of the Four Masters The ''Annals of the Kingdom of Ireland'' ( ga, Annála Ríoghachta Éireann) or the ''Annals of the Four Masters'' (''Annála na gCeithre Máistrí'') are chronicles of Middle Ages, medieval Irish history. The entries span from the Flood myt ...

"Whereas ... you have purposed to compile from the ancient and almost obliterated Irish records whatever concerns the annals of our kings, and relates to the state, both ecclesiastical and civil, of this kingdom; lest we might not appear to second your work, which is so virtuous, and fills such a long-felt want, we command you by the merit of holy obedience to persevere until the end, if God shall give you life, in this laborious work of the Annals which you have already begun, and to submit all that you shall compile to the judgement of men skillfull in the Irish tongue, as you have done in the case of the smaller works."

References

* ''Valentine Browne (c.1594-1672)'', pp. 334–335, and pp. 181–82, "The Irish Franciscans 1534-1990", Four Courts Press, 2009. * Martyn, Adrian (2016). ''The Tribes of Galway:1124-1642'' {{DEFAULTSORT:Browne, Valentine 17th-century Irish Roman Catholic priests People from County Galway

Biography

Ó Cléirigh letter

See also

References