Death of Father Comerford. Formerly of Charters Towers, The Catholic Press, Sydney, 27 June 1918, p 45, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article106096906:

Rev. Father James Comerford, a native of the parish of Mullinahone, County Tipperary, died in the Presentation Convent, Dundrum, County Tipperary, on Holy Thursday, March 28, 1918; aged 69 years. He was ordained in St. Patrick's College, Thurles, in 1876, and proceeded in the same year to Australia. There he was located on the mission in the diocese of Rockhampton, Queensland. He was engaged in the duties of the priesthood for a continuous period of 35 years, until, in 1911, he was obliged, through failing health, although previously of a powerful frame, to return to his native diocese of Cashel. For many years he was in charge at Charters Towers, where he retained many friends, through his devoted work for the schools and churches. He was a man of upright, straightforward character, and a hard- working, zealous priest, who devoted himself unsparingly to the discharge of his pastoral duties. After his return to Ireland he was engaged in occasional parochial work in his own diocese, and in 1914 was appointed chaplain of the Presentation Convent, Dundrum. This position he retained until the end of 1917, when ill-health prevented him from further active service. He continued, however, to reside in the convent until his death. His remains were transferred on Good Friday to the parochial church, Mullinahone, and on Easter Saturday he was buried in the graveyard attached to the church.— R.I.P.

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Fr T.J. Linane, From Abel to Zundolovich, Vol. 2: Biographies of Priests on the Australian Scene up to 1900, 1980, p 70:

Comerford, James, Irish
In Conflict with Dr. James Duhig
When an irresistible force meets an irresistible object there has to be a mighty explosion. And that's the way it was when James Comerford collided with James Duhig in a matter of finance. In 1968 Monsignor O'Meara of Charters Towers sent along this account of James Comerford: "He came to Thurles Seminary in 1869 to study for the Diocese of Cashel. He had been born in the parish of Mullinahone, County Tipperary. Becoming attracted to the Foreign Mission he applied and was accepted for the Diocese of Brisbane. Ordination was conferred in 1876. His days as a priest were spent mainly at Emerald on the Northern Railway, at Bagantington [Bogantungan] and Charters Towers. He was a giant in build, six feet six tall, a horseman without equal; and before coming to Charters Towers in 1891 when it began to boom as a gold field - he travelled the many tracks in the middle west in the carrying out of his duties. Between 1891 and 1910 while at the Towers he baptised over 3000 - which is only a small example of his many achievements. He had many assistants in the 19 years and was a very kindly and hospitable Pastor. When I was in Ireland in 1936 I met a very old caretaker at Holy Cross Abbey who had also been at Thurles Seminary and in the same class as Fr. James. He well recalled the day when Father John Cani (later Bishop of Rockhampton) came to speak on the Queensland mission. Both my informant and James volunteered for Brisbane, but the former - whose name I can't recall - gave up in third theology. Owing to differences with Dr. Duhig regarding finance, Fr. James resigned in 1910 and returned to Ireland. He was appointed Chaplain to the Presentation Convent at Dundrum, County Tipperary, dying at Mullinahone in 1918. He was certainly a very colourful man, and the 'old hands' here often recall his work and unusual methods. Being so far from the centre of authority men like Comerford were almost bishops 'sui juris'. I should have mentioned Clermont and Barcaldine as being scenes of his labours. Some day I must record more of his work here".
(Footprints, Vol. 2, No. 8)
Ref.: MDHC File, Torquay, per Mgr. J. O'Meara, retired priest, living in Mallow, Co. Cork.

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Denis M. Long, Pioneer and Early Priests, Archdiocese of Brisbane, Deceased or retired by 1929, 2021, p 153:
Rev Fr James Comerford

Fr James Comerford spent his first six years in Queensland as a priest of the diocese of Brisbane. James Comerford was born at Mullinahone co Tipperary Ireland about 1849. Educated at St Patrick's College Thurles he was ordained for the diocese of Brisbane in 1876. James had answered the appeal of Dr Cani seeking priests for Brisbane.

Fr James arrived in Brisbane towards the end of 1876. Not long after he was appointed to Rockhampton to assist the legendary Dean Murlay. This appointment involved considerable travelling, on horseback, in central Queensland. He was a giant in build, six feet six inches tall, and a horseman without equal.(1) At least once he visited Bowen. In the summer of 1879-1880 he was appointed as chaplain to the workers on the railway construction at Bogantungan.(2) This required frequent visits to minister to Catholic people at Emerald, Aramac, Alpha, Beta, Jericho, Springsure Clermont, Capella, Peak Downs and Barcaldine where he was finally stationed.

In 1890 Fr Comerford moved to the parish of Charters Towers when the town was booming owing to the discovery and mining of gold. He remained there for almost twenty years. He was responsible for establishing St Mary's Convent High School for girls in 1892 and Mt Carmel Christian Brothers' College for boys in 1902.

Considered as an almost bishop, he did his own thing and got away with it until Bishop Higgins replaced Bishop Cani. Bishop Higgin's successor James Duhig bit the bullet demanding that his resignation be in my hands by 31 March 1910. (3)

Yet the local press reported:

The expression of heartfelt sorrow with which the news of your intended departure was received, and the spontaneous desire of your congregation to fittingly make the finale of so brilliant and successful a guidance of the destinies of our beloved church for the past twenty years, are striking proofs of the love and admiration which you have by your strong personality, fearless convictions, and tact in all matters always commanded. (4)

Fr Comerford returned to his native diocese of Cashel to engage in occasional pastoral work until 1914 when he was appointed chaplain to the Presentation Convent at Dundrum.

Owing to ill-health he had to relinquish this ministry in 1917. But he continued to reside in the convent where he died on Holy Thursday 28 March 1918 at the age of 69. His remains were transferred to the parochial church in Mullinahone on Good Friday. On Holy Saturday he was buried in the graveyard attached to the church of his childhood.(5)

His death was widely reported in the Australian press. The Charters Towers press added:

On account of the Easter season supervening, the celebration of his obsequies was deferred to 9 April. Requiem Masses will be offered for the repose of his soul on Tuesday 25 June in St Columba's Church Charters Towers at 7 and 9 am.(6)

Dr Martin Sullivan in Proceedings of the Brisbane Catholic Historical Society, Volume XVI pp. 1-28 gives a fuller account of Fr Comerford's life and ministry.

Footnotes
1. Thomas Linane, Abel to Zundolovich, Footprints Vol 2. No. 3. p. 26.
2. Pugh's Almanac 1877 to 1910.
3. Duhig to Comerford 12 Mar 1910, file 450, Rockhampton Diocesan Archives. [Quoted by Dr Sullivan}.
4. Evening Telegraph, Charters Towers, 2 Jun 1910, p. 5.
5. Catholic Press, Sydney, 27 Jun 1918, p. 45.
6. Evening Telegraph, Charters Towers, 18 Jun 1918, p. 2.

Reproduced by permission of Fr Denis Long.