Testimonial to the Rev. Matthew Keoghan, Freeman's Journal, Sydney, 11 May 1878, p 17, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article111095763:

Notwithstanding the outspoken aversion of some readers of the Freeman's Journal to the subject of testimonials, and long reports of the same, we hope, Mr. Editor, that you will not through deference to what many would think a prejudice curtail this, especially as the circumstances of the case are such—to which Father Keoghan feelingly alludes in his reply—as to strike the chord of sympathy in every heart from which kindliness aud goodness are not entirely banished. The people of this mission, including members of every denomination, learning that Father Keoghan was advised to take a trip to Europe for his health's sake, and hearing that his means were limited, and that there was no provision derivable from ecclesiastical sources from which he could be assisted, generously resolved to aid him in such a manner that the removal of his wants should become the undoubted testimony of the reverence and admiration in which he was held. On Thursday night, the 25th inst., the result of the vigorous canvass—from which none was excepted and to which all cordially responded— was made known, and a large number of the most respectable citizens assembled in the Catholic church to show their respect for Father Keoghan by assisting at the presentation. The following address was read by Father Hayes, in the absence of the gentleman appointed to perform the duty, and a purse containing two hundred sovereigns was presented by Mr. Thomas McIntire, of Gerringong.

"Kiama, 25th April, 1878.
"To the Rev. Father Keogan, Roman Catholic Pastor of the Kiama Mission.
"Rev. and Dear Father,—We, the undersigned, Catholics of this mission, learn, with sincere regret of your departure from amongst us, and desire to express our hearty appreciation of your worth as a priest, end acknowledge the many favours and blessings we have received through your zeal in the discharge of your ministerial functions.

"Your unaffected gentleness and uniform kindness have been felt, and we are satisfied will be remembered, by the members of this community, many of whom—clergy as well as laity—have substantially assisted us, by their generous subscriptions, in swelling the testimonial we are about to present you.

"We are happy in being able to compliment you with having proved, without compromise of principle or sacrifice of truth, that a priest can fulfil all the duties of his sacred office with laudable success, and yet be held in friendliness by those who do not believe with him.

"Accept then the assurance that you carry with you the esteem of all, together with our prayers for a safe voyage and an entire restoration to health and strength.

"In conclusion, we beg your acceptance of this address and purse of sovereigns as a proof of our sincere respect; and in return, we request a kind remembrance in your pious prayers.

"Your faithful children in Christ "(Signed on behalf of the parishioners),
"J. F. Tyter, Kiama.
T. Hanley, sen., Jamberoo.
T. McIntyre, sen., Gerringong."

The rev gentleman, who evidently felt deeply the demonstration of kindness on the part of those among whom he had resided so long, replied as follows:—

My Dear Friends,—To say that I am deeply thankful and very grateful for this address as manifesting your esteem, and this testimonial as a proof of your generous kindness, is but feebly to express what any man, circumstanced as I am, must feel. The forethought which suggested this good-natured presentation was most opportune, for without this your amiable considerateness, I should be unable to carry into effect the directions of my medical advisers, who promise that a voyage to Europe may restore my health, or at least that such a trip is the most certain remedy for promoting so consummate a blessing. Through your thoughtful generosity this wished for event is no longer an impossibility, and I now feel buoyed up with hope, that the good God will mercifully grant my desires and your prayers, so that I may be enabled to return in the full vigour of strength. You console me, dear friends, by your expression of regret at my departure, and by the assurance that I have been a faithful pastor. The testimony of those over whom he is placed is, humanly speaking, the best guarantee the minister of religion can have that he has done well, and oftimes serves to sooth the harrassed conscience, which too frequently is not easily satisfied. And now with your permission I will advert to that in your address, which, if possible, gave me most pleasure, I refer to the friendly relations which you state, and I am proud to say, state truly, have existed between me and those not of my persuasion, and which you add has been practically illustrated by them on this occasion. I know not how much credit I may presume to lay claim to because of this fact ; but of this I am satisfied, that there is no man, knowing well those with whom I had the happiness of being intimately acquainted, who must not admire them for qualities which do honour to our common humanity. To say that I hold, and ever will hold, in esteem such persons may be a compliment to my judgment, but can be no flattery to my heart. In asserting that I have not compromised truth or principle, you say well ; my conscience would not allow it, and no really good man could feel respected by so base an act. It is goodness and probity in man that reason acknowledges as his most beautiful and fitting apparel, and which religion commands us to appreciate and love. There is no guide which recommends us to value only that virtue which kneels with us at the same altar. Hatred and dislike, however sanctioned by depraved reason, can have no place in religion : on the contrary, universal charity, every professor of Christianity understands, must be the guiding star of all our actions. If I, then, have entertained kindly feelings, as indeed I have, and endeavoured to meet my neighbours with friendly courtesy, without inquiry into the form of their belief, that so I might regulate my intercourse, I can only solace myself with having practised what is the simple duty of the humblest follower of the Divine Master ; and you will allow that the priest should not be the last to accept the lesson, and fulfil the precept. Let the honour and credit then be due and given to those who, through their good kind hearts, saw in the observance of an obligation, something deserving of respect and substantial acknowledgment. But I fear I trespass too much on your good-natured forbearance, and that there is more of the preacher than of the grateful man in my remarks. Be assured however feebly expressed, that my gratitude is too strong ever to die ; and that whatever befall me in the future, I shall always look back with affectionate tenderness to this moment, and to the kind friends whose genial souls beam around me, and whose generous hands have assisted me.

I accept, with the most heartfelt thankfulness your munificent testimonial and beautiful address and assure you that if my prayers avail with heaven, there is no choice gift in the heavens above that will not be yours. Farewell.

At the conclusion of the reply, W.C. King, Esq, a gentleman whose liberal spirit is only surpassed by his talents and graceful oratory, passed a high eulogium on Father Keoghan, because of his many admirable qualities and amiable social character. He especially dwelt on his charitable disposition, and pointed to this as the one virtue which above all others distinguished him as the genuine type of the true Christian gentleman. He recommended his practices and life as an example to others, and wound up an address, which for elegance of diction and beauty of sentiment, was unique. Father Keoghan, in a few happy remarks, thankfully acknowledged the compliments paid him. The whole proceedings were judiciously diversified by some choice selections from the choir, under the able management of Mr. Tyter, who was well supported by some lady and gentleman amateurs, residing at present in Kiama. It will please Father Keoghan's friends to know that this sum will, we believe, be doubled, through the untiring exertions of the generous and worthy dean of Wollongong.

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The Rev. Father Keoghan, The Telegraph and Shoalhaven Advertiser, 8 January 1880, p 2, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article132978223:

The friends of the Rev. M. Keoghan, long and favourably known in connection with the Roman Catholic Church of Kiama has, we understand, returned to the colony with health fully recruited. When the rev. gentleman left Kiama for a season of repose in the old fatherland, there were but dubious hopes of his recovery from the illness from which he was then suffering; and such was the general esteem in which he was held, not only by the members of his own communion, but by other citizens of Kiama, that a testimonial was subscribed to by many persons of religious persuasion differing from the recipients. His flock will now learn with feelings of deep gratitude that he will shortly be enabled to undertake his duties with renewed health and vigour in his recent sphere of labour. The Rev. Father Hayes proceeds to Cooma, and will bear away with him the esteem of many outside the pale of his own church—as a good citizen, and a jovial hospitable host.

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District News. From Our Correspondents. Gerringong, The Kiama Independent, and Shoalhaven Advertiser, 20 August 1880, p 2, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article113841546:

An accident which however was not attended with any serious results to life or limb occurred during last week. A horse and buggy the property of the Rev. Father Keoghan were left standing in a quiet place by that gentleman while he went to visit Mr. Thomas McIntyre, sen., who was ill; when by some means the winkers fell off from the animal's head; he rushed at full speed down the street, and came in contact with one of the alignment posts opposite the Post Office Stores. Both horse and vehicle were overturned by the shock. The former, however, cleared himself of all but the shafts; and continued his course till he reached the Crooked River and was caught by some of the neighbours.

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The Rev. Father Keoghan, Bowral Free Press and Berrima District Intelligencer, 21 November 1885, p 2, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article112410064:

It was decided at a meeting of Roman Catholics held at Moss Vale on Sunday last to at once open a subscription list for the purpose of presenting the Rev. Father Keoghan with a testimonial on his departure from the district to take charge of the Appin district. Mr E. Cashman was appointed secretary, and about £40 were subscribed in the room.

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Freeman's Journal, Sydney, 6 February 1886, p 15, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article119443689:

Father A. W. Petre has been appointed Catholic chaplain to the gaol at Berrima, vice the Rev. M. Keogan, transferred.

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Clerical Changes, Freeman's Journal, Sydney, 20 March 1886, p 14, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article119445463:

[...] Father Collins will continue at Mount Carmel, but the rev. gentleman (Father Hanrahan) who was his assistant for some time will go to Parramatta in place of the Rev. P. McIntyre, who is promoted to the charge of the Appin district. Father Keogan's failing health will not allow him to remain any longer in active duty at Appin, hence the appointment of Father McIntyre, who it need scarcely be said will be missed by the Catholics of Parramatta, in whose service he has been ever most zealous and devoted.

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Holy Week Ceremonies, Freeman's Journal, Sydney, 1 May 1886, p 14, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article119447458:

The Holy Week ceremonies at the Cathedral were carried out with a religious impressiveness of effect [...] The clergy present included [...], Keoghan, [...]

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Australasian Catholic Directory 1887 p 90: "Keogan, Rev. M, on sick leave, Sydney."

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

No. 693: Matthew Keogan, 1860, Mr O'Reilly's, Virginia. Of Christopher and Margaret Carroll, Munterconnaught, Kilmore. Ord. for Sydney, 28.3.1864. Armidale (Tenterfield), '66-81 (circa); said to have died in Berrima (Syd) about 1887.

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T.W. Campbell, The Priests of the Diocese of Armidale: A Necrology, Braddon ACT, 2005:
Keoghan, Matthew

Born at Munster Connaught, Co Cavan, Diocese of Kilmore. date of birth unknown. Educated at O'Reilly's school, Virginia, Co Cavan. He studied at All Hallows. He was ordained in 1865 for the Sydney archdiocese. Exact date and place of ordination unknown. He arrived in Sydney in November 1865. He was sent almost immediately to Tenterfield as the first resident priest, servicing a territory as far south as Glen Innes and west to Inverell. He remained at Tenterfield until 1869 when he transferred to Armidale, and where he supervised the start of construction on the new cathedral for the city. Following the return to Armidale of John Thomas Lynch, who had responsibility for the diocese pending the arrival of Bishop Timothy O'Mahony he transferred to Grafton in August 1870. In June 1878 he accompanied Timothy McCarthy on a trip back to Ireland. After his return to Sydney he was appointed to Kiama, Berrima and Appin. In March 1886 but again took ill and was hospitalised for a time, staying at one time with a priest friend at Rozelle. He died in Berrima, date unknown. Place of burial unknown.
(Sources: Farrell, Foley, Doody, TS 21 Feb 1866, MDHC A-Z K72A).

(Reproduced by permission of Tom Campbell.)