Fr Denis W. Martin, Priests of 1928, Brisbane, 2003, pp 74-75:
James O'Reilly

St Patrick's College, Carlow, has been the alma mater of several Brisbane priests from the 1860s and is still represented among our ranks. It celebrated the bicentenary of its establishment in 1993 and thus pre-dates Maynooth and All Hallows, all of the post 'Penal-times' era.

Out from Carlow after ordination in 1886 came Fr James O'Reilly who was destined to labour in this vineyard for nearly 60 years, excluding a few years when he was on loan to Lismore. Early on, he spent 16 years at Gympie with Matthew Horan who had also been ordained at Carlow College, 21 years before James. Other places at which he worked included Roma, Esk, Caboolture, Goodna, Boonah, Helidon, Nambour and finally Norman Park 'where he was in charge'.

Apparently he was a very genial and well-liked personality, noted for his kindheartedness and perennial cheerfulness. He was ever ready to serve in the poorest areas and parishes, yet out of his poverty was able to help many in distress. As he grew older, his fellow priests loved to meet him and hear his stories of the old days on the missions. His closest friends were Mons. Baldwin and Fitzgerald.

When he retired at the end of 1944, the first time he had ever known ill health, it was to Mons. Fitzgerald's holiday home at Scarborough that he went. There he died on 23rd August 1945, several months short of his Diamond Jubilee. At the time of his death he was the oldest priest in the Archdiocese. Only one other 'man from the 1880s' was still living: Fr Mark Cosgrove who had retired and returned to Ireland.

Fr James O'Reilly rests among the chosen at Nudgee. The other O'Reilly there is Fr John, one time Parish Priest of Maryborough who died in 1904.

(Reproduced by permission of Fr Denis Martin.)

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Prayer Calendar: Deceased Priests who have ministered the Catholic Faith throughout Toowoomba and districts, 1864–2025, Compiled by Annie Carrett, Diocesan Archivist, 2001, Updated by Gabrielle Saide, Diocesan Archivist, 2023:
Rev James O'Reilly, died 23 Aug 1945

James O'Reilly was born in Longford, Ireland on 25th January 1860. Primary education was at the local Parish school at Arvagh. From there he went to the Seminary at Ballyduffyand then to Carlow College. He was ordained on 15th June 1886 and immediately set forth for Brisbane where he arrived in 1886. He served in the following places: Assistant Priest, Stanthorpe; Beaudesert (5 years); Gympie (16 years and there in 1891); Caboolture; Roma (1906); Goodna; Boonah; Parish Priest Helidon (there in 1933); Nambour; Esk; and Norman Park (?-1944). James O'Reilly was truly one of the last of Queensland's pioneer priests. James Duhig remarked at his funeral that few men could talk of the old days on the Maranoa and the country around St George and the Bollon more interestingly than he could. In November 1944, he retired to a house in Scarborough and he died there on 23rd August 1945 several months short of his Diamond Jubilee. At the time of his death he was 84 years and 8 months, the oldest priest in the Brisbane Archdiocese. He was buried in Nudgee Cemetery.
(Ref. Brisbane Archives, Linane O196, Southwood, Priests of 1928 by Fr Denis Martin and St Joseph's Catholic Church, Helidon 2014 by Carmel Wright)

Reproduced by permission of Bishop Ken Howell.