Ballarat, Inglewood, Portland, etc, Vic. Gravestone spells his surname as O'Donaghue.

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Victoria, Inward Overseas Passenger Lists, VPRS 947/P0000, Sep-Dec 1871, image 148: ship Duke of Edinburgh: Revd John O'Donoghoe, Clergyman.

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Shipping. Arrived—Hobson's Bay. January 1, Weekly Times, Melbourne, 6 January 1872, p 13, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article219360946:

[...] Duke of Edinburgh, ship, 1,117 tons, J. Balmanno, from Liverpool, 20th September, Tuskar, 24th September. Passengers—cabin:—[...] Rev J. O'Donohue; [...]

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News and Notes, The Ballarat Star, 27 January 1875, p 2, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article208251247:

We hear that since the arrival of the Roman Catholic Bishop in Ballarat, the Rev. Michael Meade has been appointed resident clergyman at Smythesdale for the Smythesdale district. It seems that the rev. gentleman's residence, at least in the meantime, will be the cottage formerly occupied by the late Mr A. Drury, P.M. Another clergyman, the Rev. John O'Donohue, has gone to Warrnambool; and the Rev. John Naylan has been appointed for Belfast. Some more appointments, it seems, are shortly to be made.

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Diocese of Ballarat. Address and Testimonial to the Rev. Father O'Donoghue, Advocate, Melbourne, 25 September 1875, p 7, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article170307298:

On Wednesday, the 15th inst., in the Catholic Library, Dawson-street, a number of the members of the Ballarat Christian Doctrine Society and friends assembled on the occasion of the presentation of an address and gold cross to the Rev. J. Donoghue, formerly chaplain to the society, but recently removed to Inglewood. The address was designed and handsomely illuminated by Mr. W.B. Tappin, a member of the society, and was very tastefully framed in maple. The cross, which also displayed artistic workmanship, was made by Mr. Gasser, Bridge-street, and was valued at about £16. It was suitably inscribed, and had the shamrock, rose, and thistle traced on it. Mr. C. Carey presided at the meeting, and the presentation was made by Mr. R. Wrigley in very kind and complimentary terms. Father O'Donoghue, after returning thanks for the address and present, said, as reported by the Star, that he had always taken great interest in the society. He remarked that he had instituted branches at Napoleon, Clarendon, Smythesdale, and other places, and that he would try to form branches wherever he would go. He further remarked that he never celebrated Mass without invoking the blessing of God upon the members of the Christian Doctrine Society. With regard to their valuable testimonial, he would treasure it through life. The chairman made a few remarks, intimating that the rev. gentleman deserved a testimonial ten times the value of the one that had been presented to him ; indeed, he would be glad that it was a hundred times more valuable.

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Diocese of Ballarat, Advocate, Melbourne, 24 June 1876, p 7, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article170432375:

[...] The Rev. Father O'Donoghue, who had about a twelve month ago been stationed at Inglewood, was a few weeks since recalled to the Ballarat mission. Father O'Donoghue having had to return somewhat hurriedly to Ballarat, had not an opportunity of taking a formal farewell of the people of Inglewood, but his many endearing qualities were held in deep veneration by the people of Inglewood and surrounding district, and as a mark of their esteem, he this week received from them a very complimentary address, accompanied by a bank draft for twenty guineas. The address and testimonial were forwarded by an influential resident, from whose letter on the subject I make the following extract: — "It affords me great pleasure to have the honour of being depicted by a few of your friends to request your acceptance of the accompanying testimonial and bank draft as a slight recognition of their feelings towards you and your many good and priestly acts to us all, during your short sojourn at Inglewood. Please to accept our offering as a mark of our united feeling towards you as a priest and a gentleman." [...]

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Local and General News, The Ararat and Pleasant Creek Advertiser and Chronicle for the District of the Wimmera, 12 September 1876, p 2, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article283890281:

St. Mary's Branch No. 42, of the Hibernian Australasian Catholic Benefit Society, was opened in the Catholic School, Ararat, last Thursday evening by Deputy Mr K P. Lonargan, E.D., Stawell. After the initiation of the members, the election of officers was proceeded with, as follows, viz:—President, Rev. John O'Donoghue; [...]

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Advertising, Advocate, Melbourne, 9 December 1876, p 11, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article170434198:

Wanted. — A Male Teacher for the Catholic School, Ararat. Apply to the Rev. John O'Donoghue.

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All Saints' School, Portland, Advocate, Melbourne, 28 December 1878, p 7, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article170441857:

A picnic was given to the children, numbering about seventy, attending the Portland Roman Catholic School, on Tuesday, the 17th inst. The day was windy but fine. A large number of visitors, who were on the ground in the afternoon, evinced a very lively interest in the proceedings, and the affair was pronounced by all a most decided success. Under the direction of, and assisted by, the Rev. J. O'Donoghue, Mr. Owens, and the teachers, a varied programme was got through. The children had a drive in the forenoon; in the afternoon, a merry-go-round was well patronised, and this, with games and plenty of good things to eat, made it a very enjoyable day for the children.—A Visitor.

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Victorian Notes, The Border Watch, Mount Gambier, 18 January 1879, p 3, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article78696529:

(From our own Correspondent.)
The Rev. Father O'Donoghue of Portland held service in Hotspur to-day, (January 15), and proceeded to Digby. It may not be generally known that this clergyman is one of the greatest travellers of the age, and, although wholly unassuming is one of the best informed men of the period. He was Roman Catholic Missionary at Cabul in the troubled times, and had many interviews with the Ameer, whose protection he enjoyed, and he afterwards visited India from end to end, and made an equally extensive survey of China and other parts of the world, which he visited in the same capacity. I heard an old lady, one of his hearers declare the other night that he had been "far awa, he'd been terrible far awa" And so he has been, and his constitutions is nevertheless—after 20 years in Cawnpore—as sound as a bell. [...]

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Diocese of Ballarat, Advocate, Melbourne, 22 February 1879, p 6, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article170496811:

[...] The Rev. Father O'Donohue, of Portland, was here on Sunday assisting the local clergy; and his old friends, among whom I hope I may take the liberty of including myself, were much gratified to see him happy and well. I learn that Catholic school matters at Portland are progressing very satisfactorily. The new Catholic school was opened in the latter end of last October, and I hear that there are eighty-three children on the roll, with the prospect of that number being increased to ninety, once the hurry of the harvesting season is over, and the children disengaged. Father O'Donohue, I hear, takes a very great interest in the progress of the pupils, and looks well after school affairs. Nearly all the Catholic children in that place, with the exception of the offspring resulting from a few mixed marriages, attend the Catholic school, and the withdrawal of the Catholics from the State school caused, as may be imagined, the attendance at the State school to look very reduced. [...]

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Country News, Advocate, Melbourne, 2 September 1882, p 20, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article170027113:

[...] Says the Portland Guardian of the 26th ult. :—There is now in Portland an East Indian Catholic priest, the Rev. Father Cesary. He came on a visit to Australia to renovate his health after twenty years' labour in Calcutta. He is at present enjoying the hospitality of the Rev. Father O'Donoghue, his former fellow labourer in Calcutta. Father Cesary speaks in glowing terms of the salubrity of Portland and the natural beauties of the town, so that after his return to the hot climate of India, we may expect to have other residents of India paying us a visit. He will celebrate mass in All Saints' Church to-morrow, and preach at half-past nine o'clock in the morning, and also address the congregation at Vespers at seven in the evening. [...]

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Father O'Donahue's Jubilee Letter, The Protestant Standard, Sydney, 23 June 1888, p 9, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article207799109:

Though rather late now (remarks the Victorian Standard) to publish information in reference to the Jubilee demonstrations held last year, we willingly give a place to the following letter. This is the first time it has been published. Our correspondent says:—

"The following letter was written by the Rev. Father O'Donahue, of All Saints' Roman Catholic Church, Portland, in answer to the Jubilee Committee, for asking his school children to take part in the procession, and to say a few words to his children (all other ministers to do the same) on Queen's Jubilee day, June 21st, 1887.

"In reply to your communication of last evening asking me to say a few words to the children after they have partaken of refreshments on Jubilee day, I beg to say that as any address from a clergyman must naturally be more or less of a religious character, I must decline to comply with the wish of the committee. Should I speak to the children about the glories of the long reign of Her Majesty I would naturally have to make some allusion to my own country, Ireland. And then it would sound strange, if not incredible, for me to state that during the fifty years 1,225,000 died of starvation in Ireland, that is at the rate of 66 per day through the whole fifty years; that 3,285,000 were evicted, and had their homes pulled down or burned over their heads, and that the evictions are going on every day. And that about 4,800,000 persons had to leave Ireland and go to foreign countries, and that this emigration is going on at the rate of over 2,000 per week at the present time. This language would most likely cause angry feelings, and provoke an angry reply, which is best avoided. Moreover Catholic children are forbidden to be present at or listen to quasi religious addresses from ministers of other denominations. Therefore to obviate all difficulty or unpleasantness which may arise I have determined to give at my own expense a picnic for my own children in All Saints' school on that day.— Father John O'Donahue."

Although couched in apparently temperate phrases our readers will discern the evil spirit underlying these gross exaggerations. To say that an average of 66 persons die of starvation per day in Ireland is totally untrue. It is doubtful if so many die from that cause in a year. But we may remind the rev. gentleman that, whatever the number may have actually been, the quantity would have been indefinitely greater but for the noble and disinterested charity of the English people, who have on every occasion heretofore have given most liberally to the Irish when distress and famine threatened them. But ingratitude seems to be the leading characteristic of the Celt, until now the English are disgusted at the base return for their liberality ; and it is doubtful, should another potato famine overtake the unhappy land, whether the English would respond in anything like the liberal manner they have previously done. As to the evictions, when people conspire in handng the landlord's just due over to an illegal and irresponsible body, with a view to defeat the ends of justice, strong measures have to be taken to bring such persons to their senses. But no severer measures have been taken to accomplish this end than would be employed in any other civilized country in the world. The Rev. Father O'Donahue's letter may be taken as a simple of what they teach the children in Romish secular schools ; and this knowledge should make us resist by every means the unceasing agitation by the Romish priests and bishops for separate State maintenance to perpetuate the dissemination of such teaching.

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Victorian death registration: John O'Donoghue, age 74, Portland, no. 10426/1900.

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The Late Rev. J. O'Donoghue, Portland Guardian, 5 September 1900, p 2, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article63681215:

The obsequies of the late Father O'Donoghue, for 22 years Roman Catholic priest of Portland, were carried out in All Sants' Church on Tuesday morning with all the ceremonial of the Catholic Church. The church was draped in deep mourning by the Sisters of Loretto. The arrangements were in the hands of the Rev. Father Shanahan, P.P., Hamilton, in the unavoidable absence of His Lordship, Dr. Moore. who has left for Sydney to attend the Catholic Congress. Masses were celebrated at 7.30 and 8 a m. for the repose of the soul of the deceased priest. The parishioners showed their respect for their late pastor by attending the masses. At 10 o'clock office for the dead was chanted, and immediately after a solemn "Requiem Mass" was celebrated, the Rev Father Scanlon, of Hamilton, being celebrant; Father Howell, Stawell, deacon; Father Ryan, Ararat, sub-deacon, and Rev. Father Shanahan, of Hamilton, master of ceremonies. At the conclusion of the High Mass the Absolution at the Catafalque was pronounced by the celebrant.

On Monday evening a very touching scene was witnessed, when the parishioners, with weeping eyes and aching hearts, pressed round the bier before the coffin was sealed, to take a last look at the kindly face, and say a last farewell to all that was mortal of him whom they held in such reverence and affection. Father Shanahan's address to the sorrowful congregation at the conclusion recalled, in a few pathetic sentences, the sense of loss sustained by the people— a wise counsellor and a kind friend was no more.

When the hour arrived for the funeral to leave All Saint's Church a large number of residents gathered at the church to take part in the procession, while the paths were well lined with others, chiefly of the gentler sex and children, to watch the cortege wend its way towards the South Cemetery. As the coffin left the church a signal was given and the sonorous tones of St. Stephen's Church of England bell were heard, followed by the bell of All Saint's Church, the tolling being continued till the cemetery was reached. The funeral was headed by the different Sodalities:—The Divine Infant; St. Joseph, St. Aloysius; and the Children of Mary. Immediately in front of the hearse was a mourning carriage containing the Rev. Fathers Shanahan, Howell, Ryan and Scanlan.

The pall-bearers were Messrs [...]. While the school children, under the care of the Nuns, the girls wearing veils, marched in the funeral procession.

The burial service at the grave was conducted by the Rev. Father Shanahan, assisted by the above priests, and the remains were lowered into the grave amidst the grief and tears of his late people.

If proof were needed of the high esteem in which the deceased clergyman was held it was eloquently emphasized by the large and representative concourse of people who followed the remains to the grave. People of all denominations united in showing their respect, the Very Rev. Archdeacon Allnutt and the Rev. T. Shanks being amongst the mourners. The business places were partially closed, and from the principal buildings flags floated at half mast.

A large number of floral tributes were received, including a lovely wreath from the Sisters of Nazareth, Ballarat.

The mortuary arrangements were in the hands of Mr. J. Papley.

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Death of the Rev. John O'Donoghue, Ballarat, Freeman's Journal, Sydney, 15 September 1900, p 35, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article111308249:

The Ballarat Diocese has lost one of its ablest and most highly-respected veterans in the ranks of the priesthood by the lamented death of the Rev. John O'Donoghue, who had been parish priest at Portland for 22 years. Father O'Donoghue had been seriously ill for some time. He, however, endeavoured to discharge his duties up to the very day of his death, but had to be supported back to his residence, and died a few hours afterwards. Father O'Donoghue had been a member of the local Benevolent Asylum committee for 16 years, and last week, when he sent in his resignation, he was made a life governor. The deceased clergyman was highly esteemed among all classes of the community for his genial disposition and his acts of private and public benevolence. The rev. gentleman at the time of his death was in his 75th year.