One of the Many to an Early Grave
Fr T.J. Linane, From Abel to Zundolovich, Vol. 1, 1979, p 16:

b. Co. Cork; ed. St. Vincent’s Cork, All Hallows; ord. 1876; served Bris. Diocese at Fortitude Valley; d. 11.2.1881; age 29; buried Nudgee.
Ref.: Brisbane Cathedral Archives (per Rev. F. Douglas, Chancellor)

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Rev Fr John Joseph Ahern
Denis M. Long, Pioneer and Early Priests, Archdiocese of Brisbane, Deceased or retired by 1929, Brisbane, 2021, pp 24-25:

John Joseph Ahern was born at Ballygarvan in County Cork[1] in April 1852. He was the son of William and Mary (nee Buckley) Ahern. He was baptised in the parish of Ballinhassig about ten miles south of Cork city. He entered All Hallows in 1871 from St Vincent’s seminary at Sunday’s Well in Co Cork. He was ordained with James Breen on 28 June 1876.

Fathers Ahern and Breen arrived in Brisbane on 2 December 1876 after leaving Plymouth aboard the British Nations on 26 August.[2]

Fr Ahern spent some time at the cathedral and caring for South Brisbane until he was given charge of the Valley mission two years before his death.[3] He was responsible for the laying of the foundation stone and the commencement of building of the new St Patrick’s church in Morgan Street, Fortitude Valley.

Fr Ahern died at 6.10am on February 1, 1881, at St Killian’s College, South Brisbane. The newspaper gave this report of his death and funeral.

We regret to learn that the Rev J J Ahern, Roman Catholic Clergyman of Fortitude Valley parish, died on Tuesday morning at ten minutes past 6 o’clock, at St Killian’s College, South Brisbane. The rev gentleman was attended in his last moments by several of his clerical brethren, and by some Sisters of Mercy. The body was conveyed on Tuesday evening to St Stephen’s Cathedral, from St Killian’s College, South Brisbane, about half-past seven o’clock, the coffin being deposited at the altar. Prayers were then read, and afterwards the lid of the coffin was removed. The building was crowded during the evening, and until a late hour, religious ceremonies taking place during the greater part of the time. Shortly before midnight the coffin was screwed down. On Wednesday morning, a special service ‘presente cadavere’ took place, the Rev Father Fouhy and the Rev Father O’Connell, of Toowoomba, officiating, assisted by several others of the clergy. The coffin being at the centre of the altar, the officiating priests on each side of it, between them and the coffin being the candles. The building was hung in black, with centres of white crosses. The church was crowded, it being impossible to find way in for those who came at all late, and a very large number of school children were present among whom the deceased was well known. All the children wore black scarves in the usual plaid fashion. Matins having been said the Requiem Mass was celebrated, the Rev Father Cummins singing the Salutaris. The choir was very strongly represented, and sang with much effect, and the ceremony was altogether an imposing one. When the Mass had been concluded, the Dead March in Saul was played by the Sister of Mercy presiding at the organ, and the assemblage left the church. Three o’clock was the hour fixed for the burial. The church at this time was again thronged to excess, many present testifying their sorrow for the deceased in convulsive sobs and tears. The coffin, bearing biretta and stole on lid, had been deposited at the foot of the main altar. Punctual to arrangements, the Rev Father Fouhy, accompanied by acolytes, appeared for the final absolution, and was joined by the Rev Fathers Horan, Breen, Cummins, O’Connell, and other clergy who, amid the doleful pealing of the organ, moved slowly up the centre of the aisle, the coffin being borne by several of our prominent Catholic citizens to the hearse in waiting. On being placed in the latter, a procession of all the children from the Convent and various Catholic schools in the city and suburbs was formed – the emblems of mourning being dark sash, and white rosette. The convent children were in charge of the nuns and their assistants, and the boys under that of the Christian Brothers and the master of the Boundary-street school. In point of attendance the funeral was the largest witnessed in the city for a long time – the cortege of vehicles, horsemen, and pedestrians extending fully a mile. At Bulimba road the children who marched in procession were disbanded, and up to the arrival of the hearse at Nudgee nothing beyond the profound stillness and silence prevailing was observable. On the cortege reaching Nudgee gate, a halt was made to enable the children of the Orphanage to form in processional order en route to the cemetery. The spectacle here presented was strikingly impressive, all the children as they marched, to the number of about 300, praying with clasped hands, fervently and audibly, for the repose of the soul of the good priest. He was personally known to them all, and for him they evidently cherished a sentiment of filial attachment. On arriving at the grave the last solemn offices for the dead were performed by the Rev Father Fouhy, nine of his brother clergy joining in the rites, after which the rosary and Litany were recited, all present kneeling and responding to the prayers. Several of the children and many of his flock from the Valley wept bitterly on seeing the remains of their good pastor consigned to mother earth. The unusually large attendance at the obsequies of the rev gentleman clearly demonstrated the affection with which he was regarded by all who had the happiness of him, and in his decease the Catholic Church in Queensland loses one of its most zealous and worthiest of ministers.[4]

The Telegraph announced Father Ahern’s death the day before the funeral.[5] The Brisbane Courier reported on the funeral the day after the funeral.[6] A much lengthy report of the death, funeral Mass, obsequies and burial was published by the Week.

Father Ahern died just six and a half months before Bishop O’Quinn, who would have been too frail to officiate at the funeral. That is why Rev Fr Denis Fouhy as administrator of the Cathedral and Vicar-General of the Diocese officiated.

Fr John Joseph Ahern was the first priest to be buried in Nudgee Catholic cemetery. The photograph [see Findagrave] is of the fine monument over Fr Ahern’s grave.

1. Freeman’s Journal, Sydney, 12 Feb 1881, p 14. Col. 4.
2. Queensland State Archives, Ship’s records
3. Freeman’s Journal, op. cit.
4. Week, Brisbane, 5 Feb 1881, page 9
5. Telegraph, Brisbane, 1 Feb 1881, page 2
6. Brisbane Courier, 3 Feb 1881, p. 3.

(Reproduced by permission of Fr Denis Long)