Dean O'Connor's Departure from Armidale, Freeman's Journal, Sydney, 14 April 1888, p 18, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article115463245:

On Sunday last Dean O'Connor was presented at the Cathedral, Armidale, with an illuminated address and a testimonial, the gift of the Catholics in the district, as a parting token on the eve of his departure on a trip to the old country. The Dean has been twelve years in the diocese, and his rest will be a well-earned one. On Monday night the members of the Total Abstinence Society tendered the Dean a farewell, and a very attractive programme was submitted. Dean O'Connor carries away with him the best wishes, not only of the Catholics of the district, but of members of other denominations who have come into contact with him.

On Thursday week a tea and ball were held at Uralla, in aid of the funds of the local church, and as Dean O'Connor was to be present, the opportunity was seized upon to present him with an address and testimonial. The Dean drove out to Uralla, accompanied by Fathers Petre and McCormack. After the tea was ended, the hall was cleared, and the Mayor of Uralla (Mr. Everett) was invited to take the chair. Mr. Everett made a short speech, saying he was glad to take the chair on such an occasion, as the Dean had always shown a liberal spirit in all matters. He concluded by wishing Dean O'Connor a happy trip home. Mr. McMahon was then called upon to read the address, and he complied, referring in a graceful manner to the good the Dean had done in the district. Mr. P. Griffin then presented a cheque for £30. The Dean replied, thanking them very sincerely for the address and testimonial. He was very glad to notice the change of the social atmosphere of Uralla. When he first came to this district the people of Uralla had been bigoted and narrow-minded, but now all that was quite altered. The members of other denominations had been a great help to him in his work, and he hoped that the friendly spirit which now existed in Uralla would continue for years to come. He thanked them for all their kindness and generosity to him, and he wished them goodbye. The meeting broke up with cheers for Dean O'Connor.

We understand that the very rev. gentleman will first visit America before proceeding to Ireland, and that he will leave in the s.s. Alameda.

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Arrival of Very Rev. Dean O'Connor, The Armidale Express and New England General Advertiser, Sydney, 7 May 1889, p 4, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article189967125:

When it became known in Armidale last Sunday week that the Very Rev. Dean O'Connor was an unexpected passenger by the s.s. Parramatta, steps were immediately taken to provide a suitable reception for the genial and deservedly popular priest. The preparations were necessarily hurried, and a great amount of publicity could not be given to the welcome intelligence, but nevertheless a great assemblage of people of all denominations were in attendance at the railway station on Friday morning last to welcome the rev. gentleman home. The Dean was a passenger by the mail train from Tamworth, and was accompanied by Mr. John Trim, Mayor, and the Revs. Prior, Vaughan, C.S.S.R., and P. Corcoran. As the train drew up at the platform, three hearty cheers were given, and amidst numerous handshakings and congratulations he once more landed in Armidale. He was immediately escorted to Mr. J.J. Trim's carriage, which that gentleman had kindly lent for the occasion, and driven into town, accompanied by a numerous following of vehicles. In the leading carriage, besides the Dean there were his Lordship Dr. Torreggiani (Bishop of Armidale), Revs. Father McCormack, Vaughan, and Corcoran, and Messrs. J. Trim, Sen., J.J. Trim, T.J. Kearney, and S. Kearney (the hon. sec.). The procession proceeded along Rusden and Dangar streets, into Beardy-street, and thence through Marsh, Rusden, and Dangar streets to the Cathedral, where a choir of white-robed children, drawn up outside, under the conductorship of Mdlle. de Perceval, carolled forth a beautiful little "Caed Mille Failthe" and five little dots recited a "Welcome to Dean O'Connor" in a charming manner, at the end of which they presented the Dean with some beautiful bouquets of flowers. The organ pealed forth a stirring Te Deum, as the very rev. gentleman then entered the Cathedral, and, advancing to the high altar, recited a fervent prayer of thanksgiving, at the end of which Mr. Donnelly read and presented the following address, prefacing his remarks by saying he apologised for the hurried nature of the preparations for welcome, which were very incomplete, owing to the way in which they had been taken unawares, they having very good reason to believe that the Dean was then viewing and enjoying the many sacred scenes in the Holy Land, instead of being on his way to Armidale. Had they due notice of the Dean's arrival he could rest assured his welcome would have been of a far different nature, but he must only take the will for the deed—

"The Very Reverend Patrick J. O'Connor, Dean Vicar-General, Diocese of Armidale. Very Reverend and Dear Sir—Permit us on behalf of the Catholic congregation and other of your many friends of Armidale and surrounding districts to offer you a cordial and heartfelt welcome upon your return to this the field of your spiritual labours from your recent visit to the distant Green Isle of your birth. We trust that your sojourn in that dear though afflicted land was replete with much genuine happiness to you and to those whom ties of kindred or of early friendship claimed in an especial way your affectionate regard. We need scarcely assure you that during your absence the remembrance of your many excellent qualities and your zealous and disinterested labours for our good in the past has never been absent from our minds, and that we have looked forward to your return with anticipations of the most ardent joy. And, while deeply impressed with the great benefits which your ministrations in the future will confer upon ourselves, we feel the labours of our saintly and beloved Bishop—not the least of which are his noble efforts to establish Colleges for the higher education of our youth—are now so great that your invaluable assistance to him will, we are assured, be impossible to overestimate. Trusting that you may be happily spared for many years to be to us and ours as you have been in the past a guide, counsel, and sincere friend, we beg to subscribe ourselves, Very Reverend and dear Dean, your devoted and obedient servants—John Trim (Mayor), [...]"

The Dean, who was received with applause, said he could assure all his very many and very dear friends who had come to meet him that from the bottom of his heart he offered them his sincerest thanks for their many manifestations of their love, respect, and esteem for him. Their relations with him during his sojourn in Armidale had been very close and amicable, and the warm, spontaneous welcome he had received argued well for the future. In his work and many trials, the sympathy and assistance of the Armidale people of all denominations were always with him, and, from his cordial welcome, he could easily see everything would still be carried on in the same kindly spirit which had always been forthcoming. (Applause.) Looking at the improvements made in the Church buildings and properties while he was away, he came almost to think his return would rather be a loss than otherwise to Armidale, as everything had gone on so well. A magnificent convent, second to none in the colony, was being built, grounds and properties had been improved and enhanced in value, and a splendid college was in course of erection, for which had been engaged a staff of able and learned teachers—the brothers of St Patrick, who were a credit to the great parent house in Ireland, from which they sprung; so, taking all things into consideration, he could not see how Armidale was to gain anything by his coming once more amongst them. He expected they were anxious to hear something of his travels, and he might as well say at once he had travelled a great deal since he last said good-bye to all, when they came with warm hearts and full purses to say farewell. He again took occasion to thank them for their goodness at that time, when their kindness and generosity made him feel so happy and independent at home, and enabled him to enjoy himself so much. He had gone through the United States, and had visited Canada, and saw many great things. He had been to tbe Emerald Isle, the dear old country of his birth, and found things there in a very strange way, indeed, and the inhabitants dying right and left, from the poor and afflicted country, from the iniquitous misjudgment, as from a plague spot, but things were fast changing, and in a very short time local self-government would be granted them, and prosperity would once more dawn over the afflicted land. He had also visited Rome, and had also the ineffable happiness of visiting the Sovereign Pontiff, who received him most kindly, and made many enquiries of the people of Australia, and had also given him his Solemn Benediction to convey to his congregation. The Very Rev. Dean, who had been loudly applauded during the progress of his speech, then concluded by again thanking his listeners for their very cordial and earnest welcome, and hoped the work to be done in the future would be carried on as in the past, lightened by their sympathy and support.

We cannot conclude our report of the proceedings without congratulating the Dean on his safe arrival, and the evident enjoyment of his holiday, and only hope and look forward with feelings of great pleasure to his living long amongst us to continue his many philanthropic works.

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Religion & Temperance, Daily Telegraph, Launceston, 22 February 1906, p 3,http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article151822410:

Amongst the passengers who left Adelaide by the R.M.S. Ortona last week were Dr. O'Connor, Bishop of Armidale, New South Wales; Dr. Dunn, Bishop of Bathurst; [...]. Bishops O'Connor and Dunne are making their first official visit to Rome.

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T.W. Campbell, The Priests of the Diocese of Armidale: A Necrology, Braddon ACT, 2005:
O'Connor, Patrick Joseph

Born at Clonea, near Dungarvan, County Waterford, Ireland, on 25 December 1848, he was educated by the Christian Brothers and at the Collegiate Seminary, Dungarvan. He volunteered for the Armidale diocese with Jeremiah Joseph Doyle, studied at All Hallows, Dublin, and was ordained priest on 14 September 1875, after much confusion over his fate (it was the period when Armidale Bishop Timothy O'Mahony was travelling to Europe following the scandals and problems surrounding his episcopate). He worked for a time in Blackburn, England, as assistant priest to an uncle, finally arriving in Armidale in July 1876. He was made Dean of the cathedral in 1882, Vicar General in 1888, Domestic Prelate (Monsignor) in 1900 and, in 1901, was awarded the Gold Cross, First Class, 'Pro Ecclesia et Pontifice', reputedly the first Australian priest to be awarded the honour. He was consecrated Bishop of Soli, Cyprus in partibus infidelium and co-adjutor bishop of Armidale cum iure successionis on 3 May 1903 after his predecessor Elzear Torreggiani sought and obtained permission for the appointment. He succeeded to the see of Armidale as its third bishop at Torreggiani's death on 28 January 1904. In 1920, while on his last visit to Rome, he was made an Assistant to the Papal Throne, to which honour was attached the title 'Count'. In 1929 he sought approval for the appointment of a co-adjutor bishop. John Aloysius Coleman, a priest of the diocese, was nominated and ultimately consecrated on 8 September 1929. O'Connor travelled to Auckland New Zealand with Cardinal Patrick Moran and Bishop Gallagher of Goulburn in 1908 for the dedication of the new cathedral in that city. An older and only brother, David, was parish priest of Ballyduff, County Waterford. An aunt was a member of the Presentation congregation, Lismore, Ireland, two uncles were priests in England and Ireland, a niece became a member of the Armidale Ursuline community (Mother M Patrick Carroll OSU), a nephew, David Joseph Carroll, was a priest of the Armidale diocese (1910-1952). Another relative, Patrick Francis Walsh, also was a priest of the Armidale diocese (1915-1956). O'Connor was a prolific fund raiser and builder, the cathedral of St Mary and St Joseph Armidale, and St Patrick's Orphanage Armidale, fine examples of his achievements. He celebrated his last Mass in the chapel of the Ursuline convent, Armidale on 19 December 1931, had a seizure, and declined from that date. He died on 15 July 1932 and was buried within the Cathedral on 19 July 1932. The Month's Mind held in the cathedral on 17 August 1932 was addressed by Archbishop Daniel Mannix of Melbourne.
(Sources: FJ 4 Nov 1882 p 9, 15 Sep 1888 p 16, 31 Aug 1901 p 20, 14 Nov 1903 p 17, 12 Sep 1929 p 20, 21 Jun 1932 p 18, T W Campbell, 'Patrick Joseph O'Connor (1848-1932) Bishop and Builder', in Armidale and District Historical Society Journal, No 47, Apr 2004, pp 37-48, MDHC A-Z O69).

(Reproduced by permission of Tom Campbell.)