Finola O'Donnell

{{Short description|Irish noblewoman}}

{{distinguish|text=the queen consort of Tyrconnell Iníon Dubh, or the 16th-century noblewoman Nuala O'Donnell}}Finola O'Donnell ({{nee|O'Connor}}), also known as Nuala O'Donnell, was a 15th-century Irish noblewoman remembered for cofounding the Franciscan Monastery in Donegal.{{cite book|last=The Four Masters|title=Annals of the kingdom of Ireland|year=1856|publisher=Hodges, Smith, and co.|location=Dublin|page=1087|edition=2nd|ol=7051482M}}

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.{{cite book|last=Amory|first=Thomas C.|title=Transfer of Erin: or The acquisition of Ireland by England|series=Acquisition of Ireland by England |url=https://archive.org/details/transferoferinor00amor|year=1877|publisher=J.B. Lippincott & co.|location=Philadelphia|page=[https://archive.org/details/transferoferinor00amor/page/313 313]|hdl=2027/njp.32101042578623}}

In 1474, Finola O’Donnell helped establish the Franciscan Monastery 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.{{cite book|last=Amory|first=Thomas C.|title=Transfer of Erin: or The acquisition of Ireland by England|series=Acquisition of Ireland by England |url=https://archive.org/details/transferoferinor00amor|year=1877|publisher=J.B. Lippincott & co.|location=Philadelphia|page=[https://archive.org/details/transferoferinor00amor/page/183 183]|hdl=2027/njp.32101042578623}}

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.{{cite book|last=Mac-Goeghegan|first=James|title=The history of Ireland, ancient and modern, taken from the most authentic records, and dedicated to the Irish brigade|year=1869|publisher=D. & J. Sadlier|location=New York|page=51|hdl=2027/uc1.b4439110}}