Background
He was born in Castlebar, County Mayo, Ireland on 18 May 1861, the son of Michael Gilmartin, Rinshiona, Castlebar.
He was born in Castlebar, County Mayo, Ireland on 18 May 1861, the son of Michael Gilmartin, Rinshiona, Castlebar.
He served as Bishop of Clonfert from 1909 to 1918 and Archbishop of Tuam from 1918 to 1939. Following his ordination to the priesthood in 1883, he served as Dean of Formation and Vice-President of Saint Patrick"s College, Maynooth. He was awarded a Doctor of Divinity by Rome in 1905.
He was appointed the Bishop of the Diocese of Clonfert by the Holy See on 3 July 1909 and was consecrated on 13 February 1910 by the Most Reverend John Healy, Archbishop of Tuam.
On the death of Archbishop Healy, he was translated to the Metropolitan see of Tuam as archbishop on 10 July 1918. He died in office on 14 October 1939, aged 78 years.