T.W. Campbell, The Priests of the Diocese of Armidale: A Necrology, Braddon ACT, 2005:
Mahony, Laurence Michael

Born Armidale 10 August 1884. Educated in Armidale by the Ursuline nuns and then at the Armidale public school. He qualified as a teacher and taught at Guyra public school. He was then accepted by Bishop P J O'Connor as the first Australian born student for the priesthood from the diocese, and commenced studies at St Patrick's College, Manly. He was ordained in St Mary's Cathedral Sydney by Cardinal Moran on 30 November 1909. His first assignment was as assistant priest Quirindi. After one year he was moved to Wee Waa, as the first assistant in that parish (1911-1913). Other postings followed to Moree (1914-1915), and then as assistant priest Narrabri (1916-1918), In 1919 he was priest in charge at Bingara, in 1920 in a similar position at Walcha, and in 1921 was sent to Mungindi as the first parish priest of the newly established parish. He was at Mungindi until the end of 1932 when he became parish priest Wee Waa (1933-1935). From there he moved to Barraba (1936-1946) when he returned to Narrabri as parish priest, the position he held until his death. He was Diocesan Inspector of Schools 1910 to 1916, succeeded in the position by Patrick Dunne. He was made a Domestic Prelate (Monsignor) in 1950. He spent the last three years of his life in St John of God Hospital, Burwood, an administrator having been in the parish for some years prior to that hospitalisation. He died on 25 October 1966 in Sydney, and was buried at Narrabri. A sister was a member of the Sisters of Mercy Singleton, and a brother was killed at Gallipoli on 30 May 1915. Another brother also was a member of the armed forces during World War I.
(Sources: FJ 16 Feb 1911 p 21, 17 Jun 1915 p 12, 1 May 1919 p 18, 29 May 1919 p 18, Courier 27 Oct 1966 p 1, 31 Oct 1966 p 2, Foley, headstone).

(Reproduced by permission of Tom Campbell.)