Irish birth record, https://www.irishgenealogy.ie/files/civil/birth_returns/births_1895/02211/1834940.pdf: "Superintendent Registrar's District Skibbereen, Registrar's District Union Hall. Births Registered in the District of Union Hall in the Union of Skibbereen in the County of Cork. No. 414. On 11 April 1895 at Droumilihy, Kilmacabea, birth of Cornelius, male, father Cornelius Cahalane of Droumilihy, farmer, mother Mary Cahalane formerly Mahony; informant: Mary Mahony her mark, present at birth, of Droumilihy; 8 May 1895."

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Fr Denis W. Martin, Priests of 1928, Brisbane, 2003, pp 182-183:
Dean Cornelius Cahalane

Only two years of Con Cahalane's priesthood were spent in what is now the Brisbane Archdiocese.

Cornelius Cahalane studied at the very Irish-sounding Skibbereen Junior Seminary in Cork before proceeding to the Irish College in Rome where he received a Licentiate in Theology. He was ordained with Daniel Cremin, Justin McCarthy and James O'Connor at St John Lateran Basilica in 1919. He arrived in Brisbane about six months after them, however.

Rosalie was his only Brisbane appointment and this for 18 months until the end of 1921. Apparently he was 'in frail health' which looked like lung trouble, as he was deliberately sent out to Charleville, then Roma, and finally Dalby from 1951 to 1959. In the Toowoomba Diocese, he was a consultor and a Vicar Forane or Rural Dean as were so many Toowoomba priests.

With Bishop Brennan in 1958, Dean Cahalane went on a pilgrimage to the Holy places and Ireland where he was able to see again the surviving members of his family.

Soon after returning to Dalby, the Dean's health went into a decline. He died in the Dalby hospital on 13th November 1959 and was laid to rest in the Dalby Cemetery.

(Reproduced by permission of Fr Denis Martin.)

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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 Cornelius Cahalane, died 12 Nov 1959

Born on 3rd April, 1895 in Droumilihy, Kilmacabea, Rosscommon, Ireland, to Cornelius and Mary Cahalane (nee Mahony). He attended the National School in Glandore, Co. Cork and Secondary School at Skibbereen. His seminary training was taken at Irish College, Rome and he was ordained at the Basilica of St John Lateran in Rome on 15th March, 1919. Known as the Shy Dean, one of his first appointments was a short one to Blackall. He was sent there to die because of severe chest illnesses. Appointments followed in Rosalie, Brisbane (1920), followed by Charleville (1922), Roma (1931) and Dalby (1951). He travelled extensively when in the Charleville Parish but found the going tough, and whilst there built the Churches at Quilpie and Injune. He had a lot of difficulty relating with people because of his timidity. He was very reserved but with definite ideas on many subjects. As Dean of Roma and Dalby deaneries he was reported never to have been to the Dalby Post Office, he was so reserved that he never left the Presbytery except on holidays or to go to the Church. He had, however, a very lovable character and was liked by priests - although sometimes feared because of his quick and sharp observations, irrespective of persons. He accompanied the Bishop on a Pilgrimage to Lourdes. As a Pilgrim himself he visited Rome, Lourdes, Fatima and the Holy Land, and was able to return to his homeland for a family reunion in 1958. He was diagnosed with inoperable cancer in October 1959, he died soon after his return to Dalby from hospital. He is buried in Dalby.
(Ref. Clerical CV and Fr B Kane)

Reproduced by permission of Bishop Ken Howell.