Irish birth record, https://www.irishgenealogy.ie/files/civil/birth_returns/births_1868/03434/2260456.pdf: "Superintendent Registrar's District Bandon, Registrar's District Murragh. 1868. Births Registered in the District of Murragh in the Union of Bandon in the County of Cork. No. 134. On 25 April 1868 at Ahiohil Desert, birth of John, male, father David Walsh of Ahiohil Desert, farmer, mother Maria Walsh formerly Donegan; informant: David Walsh, father, of Ahiohil Desert; 23 May 1868."

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The Late Archpriest Walsh. A Devoted Dignitary, Northern Star, Lismore, 26 May 1919, p 4, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article92991172:

As briefly stated in Saturday's issue, Archpriest John Gallagher Walsh, of Maclean, who had been lying in a very critical condition for several weeks, passed away here shortly after seven o'clock on Friday evening. The cause of death was heart weakness, from which it was known he suffered for several years past. There was probably no ecclesiastic on the North Coast better known than Father Walsh. When it became known that his condition was occasioning grave anxiety very general regret was felt outside the members of his own Church, and the hope expressed that his years would enable him to rally. But it was decreed otherwise, and this devoted servant and enthusiastic worker for the Church has been called away at a time when he might have enjoyed for years to come the fruits of a strenuous pioneering life. His death, which has occasioned very wide- spread regret, is a very great loss for the Roman Catholic Church. Coming here in 1891—just twelve years after his late Bishop, then Father Doyle—he had as it were grown up with the work of the Church on the North Coast. As the longest resident priest in this part of the State, Archpriest Walsh was a tower of strength to it in many directions. He was its recognised authority in the Church's sixty years work on the North Coast, and his contributions to the press, introducing local history interwoven with that of the Church, were always very readable. They evinced a most sympathetic appreciation of the labors of those grand pioneers both of Church and State, and will be sorely missed. He wielded a facile pen and his contributions showed he was a widely read and observant man. Though cherishing his own national traditions he honored those of others, and many will remember his stirring addresses at Maclean on the Burns' celebrations. These tributes to the valor and the virtues of the sons of Caledonia were printed and circulated by the Lower Clarence Caledonian Society, which elected Father Walsh a life member. Many too will recall his stern denunciation of foolish customs and fashions, in a series of addresses, just as they will his fine rendering of the "Bells of Shandon" and favorite Irish ballads. The Archpriest was also a man of broad sympathies and liberal views, as was shown by the closest friendship that existed between him and the Rev. W. F. Craigie, for some years minister of St. Paul's Presbyterian Church, Lismore, in the early nineties.

Archpriest Walsh was born in Cork on 24th April, 1868, and had therefore only recently celebrated his fifty-first birthday. On entering the priesthood he surrendered considerable property to his younger brother, David. He pursued his studies at All Hallows' College, Dublin one of his colleagues being Dean Quinn, of Murwillumbah. On coming to Australia at the age of twenty-three years Father Walsh was appointed to the diocese of Grafton, and was stationed at Lismore from 1891 till 1899. Whilst here he did much hard work. The condition of the district then was quite different to what it is to-day, but the young priest was fully equal to the calls that were made upon him, and when in 1899 a parish priest was required for Maclean the choice fell upon him. That parish was then, as has been described by Father Fagan, "in the barbed wire entanglements of bankruptcy." With the advent of Father Walsh, P.P., however, the whole complexion was changed. In 1900 £3000 had been raised and the debt extinguished. Within the next nine months a new presbytery costing £1000 had been built, and the balance due on the opening day was only £341. It was then claimed that the best church and presbytery in the diocese outside of the Lismore Cathedral adorned the pretty heights of Maclean.

In June, 1916, Archpriest Walsh attained the silver jubilee of his priesthood. On that occasion Dr. Fallon congratulated the venerable pastor of the parish. Members of his flock wished to show their appreciation of his faithful services during 17 years of work on the Clarence, but the Archpriest desired them to postpone their appreciation until the road was clear for him to revisit his native land. The school children of Maclean and Harwood and the Presentation Nuns and Sisters of Mercy in the diocese insisted on making several valuable presents of silver to mark the 25th mile post of the Archpriest in his ecclesiastical career. The popularity and fame of the pastor may be judged from the fact that no fewer than fifty-nine telegrams of congratulation reached him from priests in all parts of the Commonwealth and New Zealand. A large party of clergy travelled from Queensland and elsewhere, and the Archpriest entertained fifty of his brother priests at a dinner, and the school children to the numbers of 150 at a river excursion. At the dinner, Bishop Carroll, in proposing the health of the chairman (the Archpriest), said that the names of two priests in the history of the North Coast stood out boldly as the pioneers of Roman Catholicism. The names were those of Abbe Schurr and the Archpriest. He had never heard the name of any other in the same category. In centres which to-day were hives of industry, the Archpriest brought the consolations of religion to the few scattered in the impenetrable jungle of the big scrub. Father Walsh was a good priest who never disappointed his flock over bad roads and in the worst weather.

The silver jubilee of the Archpriest was the first on the North Coast. The Abbe was the first P.P. in the Grafton diocese, and Archpriest Walsh the first P.P. in the Lismore diocese, also the first Archdeacon, and the first Archpriest, reaching the latter position at the age of 39, and in 1916 at the age of 48 he was still the youngest Archpriest in the Church. A sad thought in his passing away is the fact which he recently announced, viz., that in March next he proposed taking a trip to his home in Ireland, and would remain there for two years. But in the words of one writer:—
"He made all his plans to go to his home—
But the Father All-glorious
Has directed his going
To His Home in the skies
Where no sorrow can come."

Archpriest Walsh has left behind him the record of a zealous and devoted minister of the Gospel, and his name, like that of Bishop Doyle, will forever be associated with the work of the Roman Catholic Church on the North Coast.

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Archpriest Walsh. A Strong Personality Passes, Daily Examiner, Grafton, 26 May 1919, p 1, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article195324822:

The Lower Clarence, and Maclean in particular, loses one of its foremost and best known citizens in the death, on Friday evening, of Archpriest Walsh, who for so many years had control of the Maclean parish. A big man, with a big voice and a big personality, ''Father John" as he was familiarly called, was known to all, and was respected by all who knew him, big souled as big bodied, generous and most charitable, he was a friend in need to many. A man of strong convictions and with the courage to stand for them, but withal tolerant and kindly: a man who all his life worked strenuously, who saw Catholic North Coast in the making, and played a big part in the work; a man who for 20 years administered his big parish—Shark Creek to Iluka—single-handed, and who conducted Mass on the very morning of that fateful Wednesday five weeks back when the recurring heart trouble that had slowed his sturdy tread and toned that bluff heartiness, developing quickly, laid him on the bed he was fated not to rise from. A real man, a good friend, and a sturdy churchman, was John Donegan Walsh, Archpriest of Maclean.

Born in Enniskean, Ahio Hill, County Cork, on April 24, 1868, educated first from 1874 to 1883, at Mt. Mellary school, Waterford, commencing his ecclesiastical studies at All Hallows' College, Dublin, at the age of 18, lasting from 1883 to 1891, and ordained on June 21, 1891, Father Walsh arrived in Australia at the end of that year, being first appointed to Lismore, curate under Dr. Doyle. At Lismore—those were days when priests were few and parishes were big, Lismore included the Tweed Heads—Father Walsh labored for seven strenuous years. He was Dr. Doyle's right-hand man in connection with the commencing of that fine cathedral; the Convent was also built in his time; he was, at the age of 27, for a time administrator of the Diocese, and he saw the division of the vast church area and the making of the Tweed, Ballina, Bangalow and Mullumbimby parishes.

From Lismore Father Walsh came to Maclean, following Dean Kiely—his cousin. This was on March 1, 1901. His work here is too well known to need recapitulation; he worked that big area single-handed, wiped off the debt of £4000 that he found, built the Presbytery (commenced in July, 1901, and the new Convent and school, and leaves his parish financially in most enviable state. He was a good priest careful of his flock, and holding their love and the respect of everyone. He never spared himself. During the whole of that 20 years' ministration he was absent from his parish only once for any extended time, that was when he visited New Zealand, 14 years ago, on the death of a life-long friend. He arranged to go home—to that old Ireland he loved—but he never went, his work forbade. He was to have gone 15 years ago, with Mr. Richard Stack, a relative and life-long friend who came out with him to Australia, but Mr. Stack's death stopped that. Then it was next year—and next year—last time it was fixed for February next, but duty always held him, and that long holiday was never enjoyed. "Father John" worked up to the last. He celebrated Mass at Maclean on Palm Sunday, April 13, and even on the 16th, the day his fatal illness struck him down, he said Mass in his loved St. Mary's. Two years back the Archpriest had a similar attack of heart trouble when he was very ill, indeed, and a spell then would probably have lengthened his days.

Among other matters the Archpriest took a lively interest in national matters, and was mainly instrumental in securing the resumption of St. Patrick 's Day sports locally. On June 21, 1916, he celebrated his silver jubilee—the 25th anniversary of his entering the priesthood— and the rejoicing then will long be remembered by down-river church folk.

The Archpriest was attended in his last illness by Dr. Corlis, of Maclean, Dr. Diethelm, of Grafton, being twice called in for consultation; his devoted nurses came from Lismore. He had, as has been said, been ailing for some time, but the last break up was sudden and unexpected. For days he lay in a most critical condition, death being momentarily expected, but he rallied slightly, improved a little, then went back and back until the end game, suddenly but, most peacefully, at seven o'clock on Friday evening. On Saturday, at 7.30, a solemn Requiem Mass for the repose of his soul was said by Father Carey—who has been temporarily administering the parish— and during the day his body lay in state in his church, watched constantly by two Guild members in two hour terms.

Sunday's Service.
On Sunday Mass was celebrated at St. Mary's by Father Carey, after which Monsignor Maguire, Vicar-General, representing the Bishop of the Diocese, delivered an address having special reference to Archpriest Walsh's career as a priest and his ministry at Maclean. During the service Father Carey intimated that he had received a letter from Rev. L. Gray, Anglican Vicar of Maclean, conveying his deep sympathy, and asking that the same be conveyed to the members of the congregation. This, Father Carey said, was a kindly Christian act, and he, and the Catholic community at Maclean were grateful, and deeply appreciative. It was also stated that the Bishop of Lismore deeply regretted that owing to a church engagement he was unable to be present, and conveyed his sincere personal sympathy to the congregation. Owing to the fact that the funeral was on Sunday many priests, desirous of showing their feeling of loss in the death of a valued friend and worker, were unable to be present, but a Solemn Requiem Mass, at which the Bishop and the priests of the Diocese would participate, would be held on July 1. A Requiem Mass will also be celebrated at Maclean to-day (Monday) at 9 a.m.

The congregation was an expectionally large one, even the steps of the church being crowded.

Monsignor Maguire said he was present that day representing the Bishop who, unable to attend owing to confirmation services at a country centre, had charged him with the duty of expressing his deep personal sorrow at the loss the church had sustained in the death of the pastor of Maclean, and his keen and heartfelt sympathy with the members of the congregation in the loss of their loved parish priest. He also wished to convey the sympathy of the priests of the Diocese, in fact, of the priesthood throughout Australia, and his own deep sorrow at the loss of a friend. It would not be becoming, and he would not endeavor by any artificiality or parade to express their sorrow, or to flatter him whom they mourned, he wished only to pay an earnest tribute to the memory of their priest, whose body lay before them; to tell of his great gifts, and his virtues, proclaimed in his life as a priest. Their late pastor left his country, home and friends to serve his people in a distant land; he gave himself generously to the service of Australia in the highest work of all, to preach the Gospel to all men. Archpriest Walsh was for several years at Lismore, the remainder of his time in Maclean. His work at Lismore had never been forgotten, and never would be; it was hard work, when conditions were not as now, in poverty, stress and constant endeovor. Only a man such as he, of strong bodily health and generous heart, could have done such work. He was found whenever a priest was needed to carry comfort; at the sick bed or when sorrow befel he was unremitting in his attention, ministering as should a follower and preacher of Christ, ever faithful. In days when hardship added to the troubles of his people he increased his zeal; his solicitude and knowledge of his flock enabled him, even before friends, to know when trouble came, and he never failed. His work remains in the heart of Lismore, a monument of gratitude, of thanks for children taught and guided, of souls comforted. He gave a strong lead in the days when a strong lead was wanted, he was faithful and confident, and he had lived to see his optimism justified in the great growth of the church and of the district.

At Maclean Archpriest Walsh faced the task, apparently hopeless, with shining courage, not in any way dismayed, guided by a stern endeavor to stand nobly up to his obligations and struggle on. Notwithstanding the hopelessness of the outlook he was able to wipe out all the debt that was crushing the people in building up the edifices necessary for their work. He was a faithful pastor, working night and day, having seen his children grow up to honorable manhood, sound in their Christian faith, sound in their teaching, that being due to the constant labor of the late pastor of Maclean. The Bishop knew his worth, and more than once remarked, after a visit to the parish, on the sound knowledge of the children here, due to their parents, inspired by their pastor, and when parents failed, as parents did sometimes, to do all they should to teach their children, the task of the parish priest and the sisterhood teaching their schools was doubled. All must have seen such cases of the zeal of the late Archpriest.

The Archpriest, continued the speaker, had been here a long time, many had been baptised by him, many married by him, many had seen him at a sick bedside, all knew of his sympathy, and all were sure of his help. He knew his people's difficulties. They knew that in him they had a helper, strong and kindly, sympathetic and wise. One thing had inspired him—the simple, honest faith of the Christian people. This was seen in all his life and in his death. They knew of his health, knew he had longed to go home, knew that he had left behind all that he loved in the world to go into patriotic exile. But he had bowed willingly, gladly almost, to the will of God. There was no sorrow in his face and in his voice, but he knew that he was to go, not to the home he had loved, but to his eternal home. Strong in his simple faith, he gave up his soul.

"Now," said Monsignor McGuire, "there are upon you two obligations. The first is to bury your late pastor with all honor and respect; the second, to remember him afterwards in your prayers. A priest takes on burdens too heavy almost for human shoulders; he might well feel his responsibilities in giving an account of his pastorhood to his Heavenly Master. The powers of the Catholic priest and his responsibilities are great, and for those powers and responsibilities a strict account must be rendered. We should pray for the priests that they fail not. As the years go by all must face what the Archpriest is now facing— the mystery of death and the world to come—and I ask you to go to the throne of Christ with the spirit and in the example of the pastor gone before you. Keep in your hearts the knowledge that all have to live and to die, and constantly remember to live the life of the Christian as he taught it to you. Give him your prayers. His prayers will live too, and Christ will know him for a true pastor of his people. Remember him with love, knowing that in Heaven, as on earth, his chief concern will be for his flock. Your pastor knew his flock, and was proud of his people and his district. To him it was the centre of his world, and the centre of all his thoughts. He had an intimate knowledge of every boy who had volunteered for the war, and all knew of his thoughts of them and his sympathy for the parents when the grim messages came from Europe. They knew the value of the man; he knew their hearts. They had learned to trust him, knowing that he would not fail, knowing that soft and generous impulses ruled his life."

Concluding, the Monsignor said: "I exhort you never to mention the name of your late pastor without a prayer that God will give him grace. It is a little thing for a Christian community to do, and will be a good thing for yourselves, fulfilling a debt of love, doing that which he cannot now do for himself, and must rely upon you, his people, and his priestly friends, to do for him. And may your death be like his, going to God with these words on his lips, "The mercy of Christ is wonderful beyond name.'"

The Funeral.
The funeral of the late Archpriest will long live in the history of Maclean. It was an eloquent testimony to the general regard for the deceased priest and the widespread regret at his loss. Never in the history of the Lower Clarence, save at the time of the funeral of the champion, Harry Searle, has there been such a concourse assembled for such an occasion. Long before the time appointed, 3.30, the streets in the vicinity of the church were crowded. People came from every corner of the parish, from every village and settlement, from up river as well as down, from Grafton and beyond, and from Lismore, where the Archpriest had many old friends. His flock were there to show love and reverence for their late pastor. Members of other churches were there to do honor to a worthy man; public men were there as a tribute to a good citizen.

The arrangements were well carried out.

The people were marshalled in order two abreast. The members of the A.H.C. Guild came first, in regalia. Then came the altar boys, the Children of Mary in their robes, the children of the Convent school, the women of the congregation and the men. The clergy came next in two motor cars, then the hearse, with the casket, flanked on either side by three members of the Guild, then such a following of cars and vehicles as is seldom seen anywhere. Leaving the church the cortege went via Stanley street to River street, then by way of Taloumbi, Woodford, Church and Grafton streets to the cemetery. Its length may be gauged by the fact that when the last vehicle left the church the head of the long line was at the corner of Church and Grafton streets, a distance by the route followed of considerably over a mile. All along the route more people fell into line, and at the cemetery there was another big gathering.

Entering the gates the Guild members and others lined the path to the graveside. Then a procession was formed, a Cross bearer coming first, followed by the altar boys, then the clergy, headed by the Right Rev. Monsignor Maguire, V.G., and with him the Rev. Dean Kiely (Coraki), Father Lawton and Dr. Farrelly (Grafton), Father Cohalan (Kyogle), Father Fagan (Cowper), and Father Carey (temporarily administering Maclean). In addition, Archdeacon Quinn (Murwillumbah), Father Duffy (Grafton), Father McEvoy (Coraki), Father Cullen (Ballina), Father Scott (Bangalow), Fathers Morris, Healy, and Giesen (Lismore), and Fathers Farrelly and O'Regan (Murwillumbah) were represented. As the line and the coffin advanced the priests recited the De Profundis and at the graveside chanted the Benedictus. The prayers were read by Monsignor Maguire, the assistant priests, facing the vast concourse of people, joining in the responses.

Then slowly the people went home— "Father John" was gone.

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Kevin Condon, CM, The Missionary College of All Hallows 1842-1891, Dublin, 1986. Appendix: Matricula 1842-91:

No. 1816: John Walsh, 1886, St Finbarr's, Cork. Of David and Mary Donegan, Enniskeane, Cork; b. 26.4.'68. Ord. for Grafton, NSW, 21.6.91. Lismore - Maclean (1901-). Died, 23.5.1919; buried, Maclean.