Death of Father Mulhall. A Former Queensland Priest, The Age, Brisbane, 18 April 1908, p 7, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article292258858:

News was received in Brisbane last week of the death in America of the Rev. Father Martin Mulhall. The late Father Mulhall was a native of County Kilkenny, and received part of his ecclesiastical education at Thurles. He arrived in Brisbane as a deacon, having as fellow-passengers Father T. O'Connell and Father Comerford (now of Charters Towers), and was with the Rev. J. A. Canali ordained priest by the late Bishop O'Quinn in St. Stephen's Cathedral. Immediately after ordination, Father Mulhall was sent North to collect for St. Stephen's Cathedral building fund. He served in Ipswich for about six years, after which he was transferred to the North, where he laboured till about 1886, when he left for America.—R.I.P.

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Denis M. Long, Pioneer and Early Priests, Archdiocese of Brisbane, Deceased or retired by 1929, 2021, pp 84-85:
Fr Martin P Mulhall

Martin Mulhall arrived in Brisbane on 7 February 1876, aged 21, aboard the vessel Gauntlet. This vessel sailed from London on 18 September 1875. He was accompanied by Keyron Mulhall, possibly his brother. Martin had commenced his studies for the priesthood at Maynooth seminary in Ireland. He completed his studies at St Kilian's in Brisbane.

Fr Martin Mulhall was the first priest ordained in the new St Stephen's Cathedral in 1877.(1) By Christmas 1877 he was assistant priest to Fr Andrew Horan in Ipswich.(2) In November 1878 it was published that Rev Martin Mulhall, Goodna, was removed from the government list of ministers registered to assist at marriages in the colony.(3)

This action could be explained by the following newspaper report in February 1879.

Father Mulhall had a twofold mission in the North. He was to visit portions of this vast diocese deprived of the regular visitations of the local clergy and he was, during his tour, to collect for the great diocesan work, namely, the completion of St Stephen's Cathedral, Brisbane. From Rockhampton he started by the Northern railway, stopping at various places on the line. … Leaving the railway line, he proceeded to visit Clermont, Copperfield, Aramac, Springsure and Tambo, visiting the stations as he travelled. … Both in townships and at the stations he met with a very friendly reception, the best proof of which is the very respectable sum contributed to the Cathedral. … The reverend gentleman returned to Ipswich on Monday [Feb 10], where we are sure he was received with cead mille failthe. (4)

He was again registered to authorise at marriages in November 1879.(5) As he was in Ipswich from March, was he not allowed to officiate at marriages in those months?

In May 1880, Fr Mulhall was transferred from Ipswich to Mackay.(6) This was two years prior to the bishop of the new diocese, Dr Cani, arriving to take up his position. Fr Mulhall was one of the 20 priests who signed a letter to Archbishop Vaughan, on 3 September 1881, respectfully protesting the appointment of Dr Giovanni Cani as administrator of the diocese of Brisbane, following the death of Bishop O'Quinn. While this protest came from the Irish clergy, their charge was that Dr Cani had badly handled the administration of the diocese when Bishop Quinn was absent for eighteen months, attending the Vatican Council and seeking priests for his diocese.(7)

When controversy over the appointment of Dr Cani as bishop of Rockhampton came into the public arena, Fr Mulhall wrote to the Rockhampton press in response to the issue: I received a letter signed by the leading people of the R C Church, Rockhampton, not only asking me to demand what the correspondent demands of the Dr, but more. My reply, is that I shall do nothing of the sort, for many reasons, too many to mention. First, when the Bishopric was at stake, then was the time for the Irish to give their opinion and they did so. 2nd, when the Holy Ghost has given its message, my opinion is that neither lay nor clerical ought to question or ask a superior to give an account of his previous acts, at the risk of his not being happy among the gallant people of Rockhampton. (8)

During his time in Mackay Fr Mulhall received frequent mention in the press.

The Roman Catholic Church at Walkerston was opened Sunday last [11 March 1883] when a large number of the Mackay people attended. The service was performed by Rev M P Mulhall. (9)

When gold was discovered at Mt Britton, a report appeared in the Brisbane Courier:(10)

The Rev Father Mulhall, from Mackay, has just paid his first visit to the field, and on Sunday held three services, which were well attended. There is now some talk of a movement being set afoot to erect a church here, and with some little outside assistance it is considered practicable.

When a public meeting was called in August 1884, to address concerns arising from a depressed state of trade in Mackay and the resultant unemployment, Fr Mulhall was in attendance. When the meeting became disorderly the press reported:

This caused a rush, and, but for the exertions of the Rev M Mulhall, a general fight would have taken place. (11)

In November 1885 Fr Mulhall had left Rockhampton for Melbourne.(12) The Brisbane Journal, Queensland Figaro and Punch, reported:

The Rev Martin Mulhall, RC, stationed at Mackay, has decided to leave the diocese of Rockhampton and go down to Melbourne. Father Mulhall is a man of unwavering principles and, consequently, found it to be impossible to please everybody. He leaves to the regret of many and carries with him everybody's good wishes. (13)

Fr Mulhall's name, over the next few years, appears on reports of ships and passengers making visits to Queensland, even as late as 1889.

Fr Mulhall eventually went to America. A report of his death there in early 1908 was sent to Australia.

Tidings were received in Ipswich, on Friday last, of the death, in America, of Father Mulhall, who for six years, in the eighties, was one of the resident priests at St Mary's Presbytery, in this city. (14)

Footnotes
1. Denis W Martin, Priests of 1928, 2003, p. 127.
2. Darling Downs Gazette, 1 Jan 1878, p. 3.
3. Brisbane Courier, 1 Nov 1878, p. 3.
4. Freeman's Journal, 15 Feb 1879, p. 8.
5. Queenslander, 5 Dec 1879, p. 565.
6. Brisbane Courier, 29 May 1880, p. 6.
7. Morning Bulletin, letter was published in full in this edition, Rockhampton, 28 Mar 1882, p. 3.
8. Capricornia, Rockhampton, 15 Apr 1882, p. 15.
9. Brisbane Courier, 17 Mar 1883, p. 6.
10. Ibid. 2 Jul 1883, p. 5.
11. Ibid. 25 Aug 1884, p. 6.
12. Ibid. 5 Dec 1885, p. 3.
13. Queensland Figaro and Punch, Brisbane, 14 Nov 1885, p. 31.
14. Queensland Times, Ipswich Herald & General Advertiser, Ipswich, 11 Apr 1908, p. 16, col. 5.

Reproduced by permission of Fr Denis Long.