Mary Letitia Martin, Princess of Connemara Is Born in Ballynahinch Castle, Co. Galway

Mary Letitia Martin, often referred to as the “Princess of Connemara,” was born in 1815 at Ballynahinch Castle, County Galway, Ireland. She was the daughter of Richard “Humanity Dick” Martin, a well-known MP and animal rights advocate, who helped found the RSPCA.

Mary Martin was known for her literary talent, philanthropic spirit, and deep compassion for the poor, particularly during the Irish Famine. Despite her aristocratic upbringing, she was noted for her progressive views and generosity. She authored several novels, including: • Julia Howard (1856) • Deeds, Not Words (published posthumously, 1857)

Tragically, her later life was marked by hardship. After the death of her father and the loss of the family estate during the Great Famine, she emigrated to Belgium and later to America. She died of consumption (tuberculosis) in 1850, at the young age of 35, shortly after giving birth to a stillborn child in New York.

Mary Letitia Martin is remembered as a gentlewoman of conscience, whose brief but impactful life bridged privilege and empathy, literature and loss.