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 James McGahan, died 7 Jan 1874

Born to Michael and Kate (O’Callaghan) of Lower Creggan, Co.Armagh, Ireland, on 16th July, 1841. James McGahan studied at All Hallows and was ordained for the Brisbane Diocese before 1866. He was known as one of Bishop Quinn’s rebels and left with Fr Hogan for Newark, New Jersey in 1867. He died in that Diocese as Pastor of St Pius’ Church, Harrison on 7th January 1874. Pugh’s list him as having served in Toowoomba from 1866-1867. His first Toowoomba record is of a marriage celebrated in April 1866, at 8 am in the RC Chapel, Toowoomba, between John Connolly (Toowoomba) and Catherine Swift (Ireland). In June 1866, a misunderstanding regarding work to be done in erecting the R C Church at Drayton led to the Architect, Mr Gibson, being declared at fault and Fr Magahan (sic) declaring the contract null. In December of 1866, he opened the Church at Helidon. On Wednesday 18th December, 1867, a Public meeting was held at St Patrick’s Church to hear explanations of his Lordship, Bishop Quinn, on the cause and the sudden departure from Toowoomba of Frs Renehan, McGahan and Walsh, and Fr Devitt from Dalby.
(Ref. Linane Mc62, Pugh’s and “The Missionary College of All Hallows 1842-1891", no. 675)

Reproduced by permission of Bishop Ken Howell.

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Denis M. Long, Pioneer and Early Priests, Archdiocese of Brisbane, Deceased or retired by 1929, 2021, p 66:
Fr James McGahan

Once again for most of my information in regard to the brief story of Fr James McGahan I am indebted to Dr Byrne's paper to the Brisbane Catholic Historical society.

James McGahan entered All Hallows College from Mr Macken's in Cullyhanna in 1859. He was the son of Michael and Kate (nee Callaghan) McGahan of Creggan in Armagh born on 16 July 1841. He was ordained for Brisbane diocese. As Dr Byrne notes this is all that the All Hallows records reveal.(1) It is likely that his ordination was in 1865 for he was on the list of priests in the Brisbane diocese in 1866.

He had been sent to assist Father Michael Renehan in the vast rural parish of Toowoomba.
The Darling Downs was an environment which should have suited McGahan and may have done so except for the worsening feud between his parish priest and Bishop Quinn over matters of diocesan finance which would have been beyond McGahan's experience or comprehension. One can sympathise with the young priest thrust so early in his ministry into a conflict of loyalties between his parish priest and bishop. Perhaps ill-advisedly, he opted to stand by Renehan, his fellow alumnus from All Hallows. On 1 January 1867, McGahan added his name to the famous memorial of complaint addressed to Bishop Quinn. On 9 March of the same year, he would leave Brisbane with Renehan and four other dissidents and by the end of the month sail for England on the 'Rakaia'(2). Quinn believed that McGahan, along with other young renegades, William Mason Walsh, Thaddeus Hogan, Patrick Sheehan and Matthew Devitt were all 'Renehan's victims'. Nevertheless he would not allow their youth and inexperience to excuse their conduct.

These 'renegades' returned to All Hallows to discuss their futures with the rector, Dr Woodlock. American bishops, at this time, were pleading for more priests. McGahan was sent to the diocese of Newark, where his cousin was a priest in nearby Brooklyn. In the absence of the Bishop, the vicar-general appointed McGahan to Mount Holly, but he could have no permanence in that diocese without his former bishop's sanction. When McGahan heard that Quinn was to attend the First Vatican Council in December 1869, he once again asked Dr Woodlock to testify to his character. Quinn held firm to his decision demanding that McGahan 'do a month's penance at Mt Melleray'. If he was then convinced of McGahan's sincere contrition, he would officially release him into his new diocese. Father Patrick Moran, vice-rector of the Irish College in Rome, was appointed to expedite the matter. After McGahan promised Moran that he would do whatever Propaganda wished, Quinn finally granted the exeat or letter of release.

In May 1871, McGahan was offered a fresh start in Harrison (also known as East Newark), a small community in the western part of Hudson County. His ministry ceased abruptly with his sudden death as the result of a stroke on 7 January 1874.(3)

He was only thirty-two years of age.

Footnotes
1. Kevin Condon, cm, The Missionary College of All Hallows 1842-1891, student 675. P. 316.
2. Rakaia was a 1027 ton vessel of The New Zealand Shipping Company.
3. Dr Neil Byrne, "Bishop Quinn Departing Clergy of 1867: Part II - The Newark Trio", in the Proceedings of Brisbane Catholic Historical Society, 2000, Vol VII, pp. 50 to 54.

Reproduced by permission of Fr Denis Long.