Presentation to the Rev. Eugene McCarthy, Geelong Advertiser, 2 April 1859, p 2, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article150076982:

On the occasion of this gentleman, who has been officiating here for the last three years, proceeding to Ballarat for the purpose of fulfilling his ecclesiastical duties at that place, a number of his congregation, headed by Martin Treacy, Esq, J.P., waited upon him at the Roman Catholic Presbytery, yesterday evening, to present to him some token of their esteem, and for this purpose waited upon the reverend gentleman and presented him with a handsome gold watch and appendages, valued at 30 guineas. The following was the address presented on this occasion:—

"It is with feelings of the deepest regret that we, your friends and admirers, who have experienced your tender and fostering care for the past three years, approach you on this occasion to testify the great loss we shall sustain on your removal from amongst us, and to express to you our deep and anxious solicitude for your future welfare and happiness.

"We feel that all we could say in an address such as this, in praise of your virtues and talents, would indeed fall far short of what we would wish to express or you so justly deserve. We cannot, however, let you part from us without some slight memorial of our affection and esteem of a more lasting nature than mere words, and beg you will confer a favor on us by accepting the accompanying small token of our affection and appreciation of your exertions whilst ministering amongst us.

"We are, on behalf of the subscribers."
(Signed, on behalf of the Roman Catholic community, by Martin Treacy, Esq., chairman, and Mr W. P. Noonan, secretary.)

The following was the reply:—
"My dear Friends.—I most sincerely and from my heart thank you for your truly affection- ate address, and for the handsome present accompanying it.

"I required not these fresh proofs of the esteem and affection which I am convinced from experience you have long since entertained towards me; my gratitude shall be lasting.

"You have been so good as to express your regret for my departure from amongst you. My dear friends, I assure you that the feeling is reciprocal; for during my residence in Geelong I had all that I could desire, a fine Catholic people, affectionate friends, and most kind, amiable, and zealous brother clergymen.

"If during the first year of my ministry among you I have effected any good, for such you generously wish to convey by attributing to me virtues and talents I fear I do not possess, that good is secondary to the all-efficacious grace of Almighty God, to be attributed to the kind and fruitful soil of your good Catholic hearts, and to the wise counsel and the zealous exemplary co-operation of my respected fellow-laborers.

"I cannot allow the present opportunity to pass by without publicly expressing my sincere conviction that you my friends stand, I might say unequalled, certainly not surpassed, in your devotion to the interests, and in your generous sacrifices to the promotion and welfare of our holy religion. God will surely reward such noble meritorious efforts, such Catholic dispositions.

"I will now conclude by wishing you farewell; may God bless you, and may this your kind and generous expression of feeling, meet with its due reward both here and hereafter before the God of charity.—My dear and affectionate friends, your faithful and obliged servant,
"Eugene McCarthy."

After the reply had been read the visitors were entertained in a most hospitable manner in the manse of the Dean, where several ecclesiastics assembled with the laity to do honor to the occasion.

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Deaths, The Argus, Melbourne, 19 January 1863, p 4, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article6482765:

McCarthy.—On the 13th inst., Rev. Edward McCarthy, aged twenty-eight years, at the residence of his brother, Rev. Eugene McCarthy, of Nelson-street, Prahran.

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Shipping Intelligence. Arrivals, Queensland Times, Ipswich Herald and General Advertiser, Ipswich, 23 June 1863, p 2, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article123605918:

June 19.—Yarra Yarra, steamer, 650 tons, Captain F.C. Knight, from Sydney the 16th instant. Passengers—[...] Rev. Eugene McCarthy, [...]

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Dalby, Queensland Times, Ipswich Herald and General Advertiser, Ipswich, 20 September 1864, p 4, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article123603972:

(From Our Own Correspondent.)
On Tuesday evening, the 6th instant, a public meeting was held at the School of Arts to consider the present system of education. The chair was taken by Mr. J. Skelton, who was supported on the right by the Right Rev. Dr. Tufnell and the Rev. E. G. Moberly, and on the left by the Right Rev. Dr. Quinn and the Rev. Father McCarthy. [...]

Deaths, The Argus, Melbourne, 8 November 1865, p 4, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article5771467:

McCarthy.—On the 7th inst., at St. Mary's, Geelong, the Rev. Eugene McCarthy, late pastor of Richmond, of phthisis.

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News and Notes, The Ballarat Star, 8 November 1865, p 2, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article112880256:

The Rev. Eugene McCarthy died at St. Mary's, Geelong, on Tuesday evening at seven o'clock. The rev. gentleman officiated for many years in the Ballarat district, and was much respected.

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Died, Geelong Advertiser, 9 November 1865, p 2, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article147562132:

McCarthy - At St. Mary's, Geelong, on the evening of the 7th instant, of phthysis, the Rev. Eugene McCarthy, late of Richmond. The funeral will take place immediately after the Office and High Mass, which will commence at 10 o'clock this morning, in St. Mary's Church.

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The Late Rev. Eugene McCarthy, Freeman’s Journal, Sydney, 18 November 1865, p 730, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article115450814:

In Memoriam
(From the Geelong Advertiser, November 9th.)
With much regret we have to record to-day the death of the Rev. Eugene McCarthy, late Pastor of Richmond. On the evening of the 7th instant, at St. Mary's Presbytery, Geelong, he expired in the 34th year of his age, at a quarter to 7 o'clock, fortified with the sacraments of the church, in the tranquil faith and hope of a good priest, who had labored unselfishly and efficiently for the spiritual well-being of those committed to his charge for a period of 10 years. The reverend deceased was a native of Ballinoe Causeway, County of Kerry, Ireland; and, we may add, one of four brothers who had consecrated themselves to the sanctuary and service of God. Two of them, having completed their appointed work on earth, lie now in new graves in this new land within a brief interval of time. One survives still in Ireland, an honored priest, watching over and serving his Divine Master's charge under the picturesque shadows of his native hills; the other is actually attached to the Kilmore Mission in Victoria. The subject of this notice at an early period of life entered All Hallows College for Foreign Missions, situated at Drumcondra, near Dublin, where he went through and completed with considerable distinction the usual course of ecclesiastical studies. In the year 1856 he arrived in this colony to devote his young fresh energies and zeal to the high and sacred purposes for which God had called him to the holy ministry. His virgin mission was Geelong. Was it a wayward fate that decreed the altar here from which the young priest breathed his first pastoral prayer for his people should in return throw the hallowed shadow of its cross over his lamented bier? Though years have elapsed since his connection with Geelong ceased, still are visible many traces of unaffected piety and zeal in the hearts and lives of the many friends who survive him. His Lordship, Dr. Goold, then moved him to the rising and important mission of Ballarat, where he worked with unselfish ardor with Dr. Shiel, the present Bishop elect of Adelaide. Here, the right reverend prelate tells us, it was that the young missionary first caught the fatal seeds of that slow but insidious disease to which at last he has succumbed. While in that vast district, extending from Daylesford to Meredith, we have been assured that it was no uncommon matter with him to start at early morning and ride to Jim Crow ranges, as they were called in the early days, to administer the consolations of religion to his people, and then return before night fatigued to his humble home. If unassuming generosity, dealt out with no sparing hand, to the hidden and uncomplaining poor; if unaffected zeal in instructing the ignorant and rousing the luke-warm among his flock, are titles to gratitude and pious remembrance, then his claim is strong upon our charitable suffrages.

The severe labors of the mission compelled him at last, at the urgent advice of medical and ecclesiastical friends, to relinquish for a season his pastoral duties, and to seek in the milder climate of Queensland that total relaxation of mind and body so necessary for the renewal of an overworked constitution. Having spent some eighteen months in that beautiful climate, he returned here last January, with a renewed fund of health, to resume his priestly offices. He was appointed to the care of Richmond with the late lamented Father Smyth. With equal pace death stole upon them both, and to-day, both are passed away to a brighter world, where, we fondly pray, eternal rest may be their portion for ever. R.I.P.

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Kevin Condon, CM, The Missionary College of All Hallows 1842-1891, Dublin, 1986. Appendix: Matricula 1842-91:

No. 274: Eugene McCarthy, 1850, St Vincent's, Cork. Of Francis and Juliana Stack, Ballyheigue, Kerry; b. 1.4.1832. Ord. for Melbourne, 29.6.1855; Geelong - Ballarat - Port Fairy - St Kilda - Castlemaine. An 'unselfish and efficient priest.' Died of TB, 7.11.1865.

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A Prayer-Calendar of Deceased Priests & Deacons in Australia 1788-2009, compiled by W.T. Southerwood, Sixth Edition, 2009, p 149: "Geelong, Castlemaine, Ballarat Port Fairy, St. Kilda, etc, Vic"

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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 Eugene McCarthy, died 7 Nov 1865

Born in Ireland to Francis and Julia McCarthy (nee Stack). He trained at All Hallows College, Drumcondra, Dublin, and came out to Australia with brothers Edward and Francis. All three are listed as dying of T.B. in Melbourne. It is unconfirmed whether this is the same Eugene McCarthy listed in Pugh’s Almanac as having served in Toowoomba and Dalby in 1864 and 1865.
(Ref. Linane Mc24 and Pugh’s).

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 62:
Fr Eugene McCarthy

This priest is mentioned in Pugh's Almanac as being in Toowoomba in 1864 and in Dalby in 1865. The Toowoomba Prayer Calendar for deceased priests mentions that Fr McCarthy could have been the priest who died in Victoria on 7 November 1865.(1)

An obituary for Fr Eugene McCarthy reveals something of the presence of him in the diocese of Brisbane which sees him recorded as D McCarthy in the Sick and Infirm Priests Society listing of deceased priests who served in the diocese of Brisbane.

Fr Eugene was one of three brothers who came to Archdiocese of Melbourne as priests. Another brother was a priest in his native Ireland. Each of the three brothers in Australia died young.(2) Fr Edward died at Hamilton in Victoria in January 1863 as the result of a fall from a horse. A younger brother Francis died at Beechworth in June 1867.

Eugene McCarthy was born at Ballyheigue in County Kerry on 1 April 1832. He was the son of Francis and Juliana (nee Stack) McCarthy.

He entered All Hallows Missionary College in 1850 with his brother Edward who was two years younger. They came to All Hallows from St Vincent's College Cork. Eugene was ordained for the Melbourne diocese on 29 June 1855. His brother Edward arrived in Melbourne in April 18[5]6.(3)

Fr Eugene's first appointment was at Geelong. In April 1859 he was transferred to Ballarat where he worked with Dr Sheil ofm who, in 1866, became bishop of Adelaide. The parishioners of Geelong gave Fr Eugene a gold watch at a farewell from that parish, held in the presbytery on 1 April 1859.(4)

While in the vast district covered by the Ballarat parish, extending from Daylesford to Meredith, he laboured generously.

The several labors of the mission compelled him at last, at the urgent advice of medical and ecclesiastical friends, to relinquish for a season his pastoral duties, and to seek in the milder climate of Queensland that total relaxation of mind and body so necessary for the renewal of an overworked constitution. Having spent some eighteen months in that beautiful climate, he returned here last January, with a renewed fund of health, to resume his priestly offices. He was appointed to the care of Richmond.(5)

Queensland records show that after a short time in Toowoomba Fr McCarthy was the first resident priest in Dalby where he was assisted by Fr William Bowe,(6) who was the first priest to die in Brisbane diocese.

Fr Eugene McCarthy died at St Mary's Presbytery in Geelong at 7pm on 7 November 1865. This was the parish in which he began his Australian ministry nearly ten years previously.(7)

Footnotes
1. Prayer Calendar, Deceased priests who have ministered the Catholic Faith throughout Toowoomba and districts. 1864-2007, 2007.
2. Freeman's Journal, Sydney, 18 Nov 1865, p.730.
3. Kevin Condon, Missionary College of All Hallows 1841 to 1891, students 274 and 275, p. 300.
4. Geelong Advertiser, 2 Apr 1859, p. 2.
5. Freeman's Journal, Sydney, op. cit.18 Nov 1865, p. 730.
6. Dalby parish history, twb.catholic.org.au/parish.
7. Ibid.

Reproduced by permission of Fr Denis Long.