Irish birth record, https://www.irishgenealogy.ie/files/civil/birth_returns/births_1895/02211/1834897.pdf: "Superintendent Registrar's District Newcastle, Registrar's District Abbeyfeale. Births Registered in the District of Abbeyfeale in the Union of Newcastle in the County of Limerick. No. 258. On 12 June 1895 at Abbeyfeale, birth of John, male, father Aeneas O'Callaghan of Abbeyfeale, cattle dealer, mother Mary O'Callaghan formerly O'Keeffe; informant: Aeneas O'Callaghan, father, of Abbeyfeale; 25 June 1895; Thomas O'Connell, Assistant Registrar."

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Irish death record, https://www.irishgenealogy.ie/files/civil/deaths_returns/deaths_1963/04282/4101943.pdf: "Superintendent Registrar's District Tralee, Registrar's District Brosna No. 1. 1963. Deaths Registered in the District of Brosna No. 1 in the Superintendent Registrar's District of Tralee in the County of Kerry. No. 409. On 26 May 1963 at Meinleitrim, Knocknagoshel, Tralee R.D., death of Father John O'Callaghan, male, single, 68 years, Catholic Priest; of congestive cardiac failure, 2 days, coronary thrombosis, certified; informant: Mrs John Curtin, niece, present at death, of Meinleitrim, Knocknagoshel; 13 June 1963; T. Murphy, Interim Registrar."

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Fr Denis W. Martin, Priests of 1928, Brisbane, 2003, pp 139-140:
John O'Callaghan

Constable Aeneas O'Callaghan was one of the three young policemen on duty in the Botanical Gardens when Fr Philip Corrigan strolled past. He returned to Ireland, married, and two of his sons came back to Brisbane to work as priests in the Archdiocese. They were Frs John and Tom O'Callaghan.

John was born in Co. Limerick and studied for the priesthood at Mt Melleray and St Kieran's College in Kilkenny, being ordained in 1922. He was always proud of the fact that he was the eleventh priest to come from his street in Abbeyfeale, the village of his childhood.

His early appointments were Charleville, Gayndah, Toowoomba and Wynnum. At the latter parish, he was dubbed a firebrand as he would sound off about having to count 'the bloody threepences on the collection plate then having to walk to Brisbane to see an optometrist'.

In 1928, he was sent to form the areas of Zillmere, Geebung and Aspley into a parish. It in fact extended out to Dayboro so there was much travelling to be done, especially on a Sunday morning on an empty stomach, such were the fasting rules.

At first he lived with some of the parishioners to whom he soon endeared himself. He was 'a big, raw, red-headed Irishman with a heart of gold', and with 'a colourful, rugged and manly personality'. And to put it mildly, he could get hot under the collar, but it boiled over quickly and left no sting.

He built the little brick church at Aspley in 1933. For the next 16 years he lived in the sacristy - a small room 17 feet x 10 feet with a bed, a light bulb that dangled from the ceiling, and a small set of shelves which held the books he treasured. There were no other comforts for he took all his meals as a welcome guest in many of the homes. His car was an old Willys Knight.

A few stories illustrate his character well. He went to the clergy retreat at Nudgee College - some say it was actually in 1928 when this photo was taken - and was in a small group of priests talking, when Archbishop Duhig came over and joined them. The discussion was on the theme that Christ seemed to have chosen rather stupid men to be leaders of the Church. John O'Callaghan put his foot in it, for he added that the Church had kept up that tradition! The others roared with laughter but Archbishop Duhig walked away stony-faced.

A former altar boy tells the other story in his own words: 'Fr John was a great bloke who would do anything for you. I remember being a bit late to serve Mass one morning and, as usual, he was a bit cross with me and asked, 'Why are you late?'

'My father couldn't get his car started and won't be able to deliver the papers.'

'OK, we'll fix that,' said Fr John. He said a very fast Mass that morning - he fairly flew through the Latin. Afterwards he got his car out and said, "Hop in".'

'I can't, I've got my bike.'

'OK, see you at your place,' he said. He drove over, and he and Dad piled all the papers into his car. That morning the papers were delivered with a priest at the wheel, collar and all, with Dad and me in the back, tossing them out to left and right.'

As he grew older, Fr John's eyesight began to fail. He had to wear spectacles with very thick lenses. When he drove the nuns out to Dayboro, they would be fingering the beads and closing their eyes in terror as the car headed for trees along the side of the road. It was a half day outing, as he knew people all along the route and calls and stops were made for visits and yarns.

At last, Fr John decided to retire and return to Ireland to spend his last years with his only surviving sister. He was given great farewells by his parishioners and the clergy before he and brother Tom set off to fly 'home'.

But 'Man proposes and God disposes': Fr John died on 26th May 1963 - only three weeks after his return. He was laid to rest outside his little home village of Abbeyfeale.

For many years after, the parishioners of Aspley spoke fondly of Fr John O'Callaghan.

(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 John O'Callaghan, died 26 [sic] May 1963

John O'Callaghan was born in Abbeyfeale, Co. Limerick, Ireland, on 12th June, 1895, the son of Aeneas and Mary O'Callaghan. His father had been a member of the Queensland Police Force in the early 1890s, but then returned to Ireland. (He was one of four children, his brother Thomas was also a Priest of the Brisbane Archdiocese and a sister became a nun. He was also the 11th priest to come from his Street in Abbeyfeale). He was educated at Rockwell College, Cashel and at Mt Melleray. He was ordained at St Mary's Cathedral, Kilkenny, on 12th June, 1922, by Bishop Brody of Christchurch, New Zealand, who was visiting Ireland at the time. His came to Queensland later that year and was followed by his brother, Thomas, a year later. He served in the following places: Assistant Priest, Charleville; Gayndah; St Patrick's, Toowoomba (there in 1926); Wynnum; Parish Priest of Zillmere (the first, 1938-1963). In 1950 he went on a holiday to Ireland, his only trip overseas during his time in the Diocese. In 1962 he spent 14 weeks as a patient in the Mater Hospital, with an illness which left him with impaired eyesight. In early May, 1963, he retired and returned to live with his sister in Abbeyfeale, Ireland. He died there a few weeks later.
(Ref. Brisbane Archives)

Reproduced by permission of Bishop Ken Howell.