Kiama, Surry Hills, Bingara, Emmaville, NSW

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Death of the Very Rev. Dean Flanagan, Glen Innes Examiner and General Advertiser, 9 August 1898, p 2, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article217884766:

The Very Rev. Dean Flanagan, whose critical condition was reported in these columns last Friday, died very peacefully at the Catholic Presbytery on Saturday morning, the cause of death being attributed to influenza, subsequent upon senile decay. Dean Flanagan, who had reached the patriarchal age of 81 years, came to Glen Innes about eight weeks ago on a visit to Father Gibbons in the hope that the change would restore a shattered system, caused by an accident at Armidale when he had the misfortune to fall down stairs. The shock resultant upon that accident was very severe on the frail constitution of the reverend old gentleman, but under the tender influence of kind nursing and the warm glow of cheerful attention and comfort, he improved nicely, so much so that he was enabled to take gentle exercise and experienced pleasure in conversing with many of his friends, who on the other hand were delighted to see the warm-hearted Dean on the high road to convalescence. However, last Thursday week he contracted influenza so severely that the complaint robbed him of the use of his limbs and he was quite prostrate. The enfeebled system on which the waves of life had tossed for four score years could not repel the ravages of the distressing malady, and, notwithstanding the ceaseless and affectionate nursing, day and night, of Father Gibbons, who thoroughout the Dean's illness though himself invalided for a time was the essence of kindness, of the good Sisters of St. Joseph, and other kind friends, particularly Mrs. Crosbie, the condition of the sufferer grew lower— he receded nearer and nearer the Bar — and on Wednesday his medical adviser, Dr. Wrigley, pronounced his case hopeless. Bishop Torregiani arrived from Armidale on Thursday on a visit to the dying priest and spent most of the day in the sick room. Father Gibbons administered the last rites of the Church prior to the arrival of the Bishop, who returned home the same evening. Throughout Friday Dean Flanagan calmly and resignedly reposed, and, although, periodically, he did not know some who were moving about the room, he was remarkably sensitive to sound to the last, and remarks of hushed voices were audible to him. Early on Saturday morning he called "Father, Father, Father Gibbons," and these were the last words he uttered. One of the Sisters who was at the bedside hastily summoned Father Gibbons, who was resting, and he found on arrival at the sick chamber that the end was fast approaching.

Time, like an ever-rolling stream,
Bears all its sons away,

And so, as the town clock bells chimed half-past 8, and as Father Gibbons recited the beautiful though mournful "Litany for the Dying," and the Sisters of St. Joseph gathered round, the soul of the Very Rev. Dean Flanagan was ushered across the dark divide separating life and death into the blessed sunlight of the World Beyond. He passed away without a murmur most peacefully. The body was subsequently laid out in a beautiful manner, sombre drapings of the bed being relieved with spotless white ribbons, while on the lifeless body was placed the purple vestments of the Dean's order; and numbers of persons viewed the peaceful and happy features of him who had been so dear to them in life during the day and evening, while messages of condolence were received from different parts of the diocese, and even from Sydney and other portions of the colony.

Father Gibbons was occupied throughout Saturday making provision for conveying the body by rail to Armidale, whither it was taken by mail train on Sunday night, and will be deposited in that portion of the cemetery allotted to the clergy to day. On Sunday afternoon at half-past 4 the local church bell tolled solemnly as the funeral procession started from the Roman Catholic Church, through the driving rain, for the railway station. Nothwithstanding the boisterous nature of the elements a large number embraced a sad opportunity of paying the last token of devotion by following the remains in buggies and on horseback, while scores walked with measured stride. The coffin, which was of polished cedar with silver mountings, was on arrival at the station, placed in the luggage room to await the arrival at night of the train, to which was attached a special van for the conveyance of the corpse. Father Gibbons, Father Corcoran (Tenterfield), Father Couee (Emmaville) and several laymen were passengers by the mail train to attend the Sacred Celebrations and funeral, and it was anticipated that Dr. Sheehy, of Sydney, a very old friend of the deceased, and several other priests from the metropolis and intervening towns would also have been present at the Requim Mass, which was to have been celebrated in the Cathedral yesterday morning at 10 o'clock.

Although it was not unexpected the news of Dean Flanagan's death has been received everywhere with expressions of sorrow, and at Emmaville, where he was so beloved by his own people and esteemed and respected by the community generally, sentiment is undivided. He was located at Emmaville for nine years until a comparatively recent period, and his many Christian acts performed whilst there have left an indelible impression on the minds and hearts of the people that time will not erase. He was a holy, conscientious, warm-hearted, genial grand old man, with a sympathetic and attractive disposition, beloved by many, liked by all.

The Very Rev. Dean Flanagan was born in the county of Meade, Ireland, and was educated and ordained at All Hallows' College, Dublin, where a nephew of his is now pursuing his studies with the object of entering the Australian priesthood. Although 81 years of age the deceased had not been in Holy Orders as long as his age might lead one to suppose, as he did not enter college until well advanced in years, his younger life having been of a roving nature, and he was about 35 when ordained. Coming to Sydney 45 years ago immediately after his ordination, under, we believe, the late Archbishop Polding, the yonng priest was sent to Woollongong, where he remained for something like 22 years, at the close of which he was in charge of several city and suburban parishes, and was in 1887 transferred to Bingara, where he was located for 18 months, when he entered on his last mission at Emmaville. He possessed an interesting career, and could recount many remarkable reminiscences of the early days. He was comfortably off, and has willed small amounts and valuables to different objects and persons.

The mortuary arrangements were carried out by Mr. A. Lane.

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Burial of Dean Flanagan, Glen Innes Examiner and General Advertiser, 12 August 1898, p 2, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article217882223:

The body of the Very Rev. Dean Flanagan was interred in the Armidale Cemetery on Monday morning. The body remained lying in state before the high altar during the requiem mass, sung by the Ursuline Nuns. His Lordship Bishop Torregiani pontificated at the mass, assisted by the Very Rev. Dean O'Connor and Father Sullivan, acting as deacon and sub deacon. Father Corcoran, of Tenterfield, was M.C., and Father John Paul (Quirindi) and Father Gibbons also took part in the ceremony. As the coffin was borne from the sanctuary an exquisite wreath of choice white flowers, the gift of the convent, was placed on it, the streamers of white ribbon being artistically painted with various sacred devices. The service at the grave was performed by Dean O'Connor, and the Bishop showed signs of emotion when the remains of his old friend were lowered to their last repose.

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The Late Rev. Dean Flanagan. A Sketch of His Career, Illawarra Mercury, Wollongong, 13 August 1898, p 2, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article132234076:

As mentioned in Tuesday's issue, the Rev. Dean Flanagan passed away at Glen Innes on Saturday last at the ripe age of 84 years. Of this long period of lifetime his best days were spent in Illawarra, to which district, until the day of his death, his heart ever turned with the fondest remembrance.

Early in the "fifties" he came to Kiama, in the prime of life, being then only a recent arrival in the colony from Ireland, the land of his birth. He was the second resident priest in that part of Illawarra.

The pioneer priest of Illawarra, in the comprehensive sense—from Coal-Cliff to Jervis Bay, or even Ulladulla—was the Rev. Father Rigney, who, if we mistake not, still survives at St. Mary's, Sydney, honored with old age and long and faithful services in his sacred calling. As settlement increased along the coast southward, a priest was stationed at Kiama, his parish including Shoalhaven. This was the Rev. Father Young, who, though very acceptable to his flock as their pastor, had a national drawback of being a foreigner—a native of Belgium. And well does the writer of these lines remember hearing a Hibernian lady remark, with enthusiastic delight, on her return from mass at Kiama on a Sunday afternoon, "I heard an Irish priest to-day for the first time since I have been in the country. It made me almost think I was at home again." The priest referred to was the Rev. Father Flanagan, and the ecstasy in the lady's heart was caused by his rich Irish accent as compared with the "foreign tongue" of his predecessor, which had jarred on her ears ever since her arrival in the district.

In the course of his ministry at Kiama, which extended over about ten years, he was very active, and, while he never failed to remain faithful to the church ecclesiastic, he occasionally represented the church militant. The burning political questions of those bygone days were not Freetrade and Protection, Federation, or any other of the present up-to-date war cries of electioneering campaigns. They were "State Aid to Religion" and "Denominational Education." The contending hosts opposed each other on those great questions, and fought to a finish, which in each case eventually resulted in the abolition of the continuance of State support to denominationalism under the name of either churches or schools. The Rev. Father Flanagan, as then was his description, fought hard and hotly on the Conservative side. In the course of an election contest between the late Sir Henry Parkes and the late Dr. Hamilton, which took place at Kiama about 1862, the rev. gentleman figured very prominently in favor of the last-mentioned candidate, who was the champion of State aid to religion, and against Sir Henry Parkes, who opposed that principle. Indeed, rightly or wrongly it was generally supposed that a somewhat heated part which he played in connection with that election was the real cause of his removal to the adjoining parish of Wollongong soon afterwards. Archbishop Polding, who was the head of the Roman Catholic Church in this colony at the time, was essentially a man of peace, and in view of that fact it was supposed that, in the interest of religious concord in the Kiama community, he deemed it prudent to remove the Rev. Dean Flanagan from that parish to another. Whatever the reason, however, the reverend gentleman was exchanged from Kiama to Wollongong within a year or two afterwards; but, while being removed from the one parish to the other, he was elevated to [...] As if the recollection of the animated and somewhat demonstrative part he had played in connection with the Kiama contest referred to was not satisfactory to his calmer and more mature reflections, he left politics almost severely alone ever afterwards, doing little more than recording his vote for his favorite candidate, whoever he might be, at each election that came round.

Throughout his long pastorate at Wollongong he was beloved by the people of his own church and deservedly respected by the whole community. As at Kiama he had been mainly instrumental in building the church edifice there, so he initiated and carried out the project of establishing and erecting the present Convent School at Wollongong. He also had very considerable improvements made from time to time to the Presbytery residential structure and surroundings, and likewise to the beautiful church building, which ever since its erection has been an architectural ornament to the part of the town in which it stands. But, while he was energetic and faithful in the interests of his church, he was always a good citizen ; a liberal supporter of charities, irrespective of creed, country or color ; and a warm and true friend. He took a deep interest in the Wollongong Hospital, and was one of its most liberal supporters as far as his means would permit. In regard to private charity, too, his hand was ever ready to assist any real case of distress appealing to him ; and if his purse had been equal to the largeness of his heart in that respect his bounties to the needy would have been as munificent as they were spontaneous.

On ceasing his connection with the Wollongong parish, about forteen or fifteen years ago, he made a special tour of the colony, collecting subscriptions toward the building of St. Mary's Cathedral, and was fairly successful in those efforts. Before leaving Illawarra, however, he was entertained at a banquet at Wollongong, which was one of the largest and most representative gatherings of its kind ever held in the district. The attendance and proceedings altogether were of a general character, Protestants as well as Roman Catholics doing honor to the departing guest on the occasion. And, in addition to the banquet itself, a purse of sovereigns was presented to him as a substantial token of esteem from the district he was leaving but still loved.

Subsequently he carried out what had been one of the chief desires of his heart since his arrival in Australia—a visit to his native land, the green isle of his birth. On his return to this colony, after an absence of about a year, he expressed himself as having been woefully disappointed regarding his expectations of experiencing inexpressible pleasure on revisiting his old and early home. He said that, on the contrary, the effect was most painful and depressing to him, not one person that he had known in the place before leaving it being there to greet him, with the exception of one solitary, old man of the type termed "beggar" in that part of the world and "loafer" in this. That was the only living nominal acquaintance of his youth that he could find in the scene of his nativity, and that "friend" appeared to be determined to make hay while the sun shone, however briefly, by always dogging him about asking for assistance.

His native place was Tara, renowned in history and still more so in song by Moore's evergreen lyric, "Tara's Hall," playing among the classic ancient ruins of the very "Hall" itself having been one of the pleasant pastimes of the rev. gentleman's childhood.

On his return to the colony he remained for a time unconnected with any direct church duties, but eventually was appointed to the Mount Carmel parish, in the Surry Hills suburb of Sydney. He did not remain long there, however, and at his departure he went to Emmaville, or Vegetable Creek, in the Northern district, near the Queensland border. And there, or thereabouts, he remained until his life came to an end last week, as before stated. He died at the residence of the parish priest at Glen Innes.

After leaving Illawarra he always had a longing desire to revisit the district, and this he did from time to time as circumstances permitted, his genial face never ceasing to be heartily welcome to his old friends, nor his departure taking place without their blessings and best wishes. And doubtless, if the desire of his heart could have been realised, his mortal remains would have had their last resting-place in Illawarra, the very name of which appeared to be music to his ear throughout the last years of his life.

Such is a brief outline of the career of a gentleman now no more, but whose name may be said to have been a household word in this district throughout half its history.

A requiem mass for the repose of the soul of the late Dean Flanagan was conducted at St. Francis Xavier's Church, Wollongong, on Monday morning last, and was very numerously attended.

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

Born Cavan, Ireland 1813. Educated at Tralee. Studied at All Hallows. Ordained at All Hallows on 24 February 1859 for the Sydney Archdiocese, and left for Sydney the following month. Records indicate he was based in Wollongong in 1878. He travelled on a holiday to Ireland in 1881 from the Illawarra, and resumed duty in Sydney, at Surry Hills, in July 1882. In January 1886 he resigned from Surry Hills, took a brief holiday in New Zealand, then resumed duty in the Armidale diocese. He appears to have served for varying periods of time at Inverell and Bundarra, then was appointed to Emmaville from October 1889, where he stayed until he retired in October 1897. He then moved to Armidale and lived at the Bishop's House. He died on 6 August 1898 while on a brief visit to Glen Innes. He was buried in Armidale cemetery.
(Sources: FJ 14 May 1881 p 14, 17 Jun 1882 pp 15, 16, 30 Jan 1886 p 15, 18 May 1889 p 15, 12 Oct 1889 p 18, 13 Aug 1898 p 14, NSW Probate records, AAHC, MDHC A-Z F50).

(Reproduced by permission of Tom Campbell.)