Mary Gertrude Banahan

{{Short description|Catholic nun, teacher}}

Mary Gertrude Banahan (c. 1856 – 17 March 1932) was a New Zealand Catholic religious sister and teacher. She was born in Ireland,{{DNZB|title=Mary Gertrude Banahan|first= Myra|last= Shearer|id=3b6|accessdate=23 April 2017}} where she joined the Brigidine Sisters as a novice in 1873. She and other sisters immigrated to Australia in 1883, to operate a school. In 1898, she was part of a group of sisters invited to establish the Brigidine order in Masterton, New Zealand. She helped establish St Bride's Convent at Masterton.

{{cite encyclopedia|last=Shearer|first=Myra|title=Banahan, Mary Gertrude, from the Dictionary of New Zealand Biography|url=http://www.teara.govt.nz/en/photograph/2794/st-brides-convent-at-masterton-which-mary-gertrude-banahan-helped-establish|encyclopedia=Te Ara - the Encyclopedia of New Zealand|accessdate=23 January 2014}} Banahan served as superior in several convents until her death in 1932.{{cite web|last=Brigidine Sisters|title=Mother Gertrude Banahan|url=http://www.brigidine.org.nz/index.php?c=origin&p=motherbanahan|accessdate=23 January 2014}}