Born July 10, 1921

Entered Eternal Life October 12, 2004.

This record is the result of seven years research. On the following pages are listings of the Patrician Brothers who came from Ireland from 1883 together with Superior Generals and Assistant Generals on visitation; also the delegates elected to represent the Province at General Chapters in Ireland up to year 1980. The inclusion of the delegates, among who are Australia Patricians, was of considerable help in the research. The date of departure gives an indication of the approximate date of return. In a number of instances the returning delegates were accompanied by Brothers new to the Province.

Not all the Brothers listed on the attached sheets were identified as Irish. Some do not appear on the appointment listings. The record of the Brothers should be complete as can be and there should be no doubt as to their origin. Identifying the vessel and the date of arrival would clear up a number of doubts and add to the history of the Patrician Brothers in Australia. There are no better examples than those Brothers who arrived with Brother Alphonsus Delaney in 1895. 

The columns are shown under the headings; Date, Vessel, Surname, Fraternal, Christian, Left Order, Born, Died. Some explanations are required, particularly in respect of ‘Vessel’. Those shown in italics, e.g. ‘Rome’ have been established from the State Records of NSW. Those after 1922, unless otherwise stated herein, have been established from National Archives of Australia. Those shown in underlined italics, e.g. ‘Oratrava’ are based on information contained in Provincial records.

Those shown as ‘Unknown’, as yet, have not been identified to a vessel. In a number of cases the name of the vessel is unnecessary. Outgoing passenger lists from Sydney were not kept until 1898; only a report in The Freeman’s Journal of  July 9, 1892 which this writer attributes to Brother Eugene Ryan, who left the Order in 1895, led to the discovery of the departure and return of Brothers Dominic O’Neill and Fintan O’Neill (unrelated). The reason for their sailing to Ireland on date unstated, but probably late October 1891 and return to NSW in April 1892 is unexplained. It seems to have gone unrecorded. Both Brother Paul O’Connor (RIP) and Brother Boniface Carroll (RIP) make no reference to it in their writings, although Brother Paul O’Connor, on p.4 of his writings states: ‘Brother Fintan O’Neill went back to India about the end of 1891’. Perhaps ‘India’ should read ‘Ireland’. Brother Fintan went to India from Ireland in November 1893, returning to NSW in December 1901.

It is recorded that Brother Bernard Ryan and Brother Bernard O’Toole were the first Brothers at Forest Lodge in January 1892. Such could not be so. Brother Bernard O’Toole arrived in the company of the Brother Dominic O’Neill and Brother Fintan O’Neill aboard the SS Ophir on April 21, 1892. Their second arrival in NSW is conclusive evidence of the departure of the Brothers O’Neill for Ireland on date believed to be late October 1891. It is more likely that Brother James Ryan was the second Brother at Forest Lodge.

Those entries under ‘Surname’ shown in bold, e.g. O’Neill Dominic indicates an outgoing passenger.

Included under ‘Christian Name’ is an annotation ‘R’ indicating that the Brother was retained in Ireland, ‘A’ the delegate to the General Chapter is an Australian and ‘H’ on holiday to Ireland.

‘Left Order’ records the year in which a Brother left the Order. It should be remembered that a number of Brothers arrived under temporary (yearly) vows and upon completion were free to make a further commitment or leave. In a small number of cases, perhaps it was considered that the Brother was unsuited and was sent away. Generally the specific date is not known to the writer. Also included in this column is other information relative to the year of return of a Brother to the Irish Province, or, in some cases, transfer to the India Province; also visitation by a Superior General or Assistant General.

‘Born’ records date where known or year established from recorded age at date of death.

‘Death’ records date established from the Congregation’s ‘Liber Defunctorum’ or since 1999 from Congregational memorials.
Certain information and aspects of interest relating to some of the Brothers are detailed immediately below:

1884 – Brother John Maher was taken ill on the voyage and disembarked at Colombo accompanied by Brother Michael English. Their names should not be forgotten. Brother Michael’s name was provided by Brother Linus Walker. Brother Ignatius Price was transferred from the India Province in exchange for the two Brothers and joined the vessel at Colombo.

1888 - Brother Baptist John McGrath was aged 16 years and 5 months on his arrival in NSW. Certainly he was the youngest Patrician Brother to come from Ireland. His date of birth has been agreed from both Irish and Australian provincial sources. At the time of his death, Brother Baptist was said to be 75 years of age. It is the opinion of the writer that he was in his 73rd year. While it is stated he was born at Cahir, Co Tipperary, no baptismal record has been found there nor at Mountrath. A number of his siblings have been found on the Cahir Parish register, but Brother Baptist has not. His father was of the Royal Irish Constabulary and the family may have been resident elsewhere at the time of his birth. [The information re baptismal search and siblings at Cahir was provided by Joan Sokolich, a grand-niece of Brother Baptist. The writer contacted Father Mark Townsend at Mountrath, Co Laois.]

1892 – Brothers Jerome McAuley and Joseph McDonell were the oldest Brothers sent to Australia. The vessel on which they arrived, as yet, has not been identified. It is said they left Ireland in March 1892. At the time of their arrival they were in their 64th and 68th year, respectively. This clearly indicates that the Province was in desperate need of Brothers. They seem to have been urgent replacements for Brothers Dominic O’Neill and Fintan O’Neill following their departure in May 1892 for Ireland and the General Chapter which concluded in October 1893. Brothers McAuley and McDonnell are not identified in the Victoria records. A number of searches over the period 1892-1894 have failed to identify the vessel and date of arrival.  There seems to be no record of their arrival in NSW or Victoria.

1895 – Brother Alphonsus Delaney, now 2nd Assistant General arrives in NSW with plenary powers. He is accompanied by Brothers Nicholas Boyle, Anselm Kavanagh, Clement Howlin and Aloysius Ryan. This is the only identification of Brother Nicholas Boyle. He is not named in the provincial appointment records nor the Irish record provided by the Congregational Archivist, Brother Linus Walker. The date of his leaving the Order is unknown. Brother Anselm Kavanagh appears in the appointment records in 1896 at Ryde. He is recorded as “Anselm (not Casey)” [Brother Anselm Casey died at Wagga in 1892] and is identified in 1897 simply as “Anselm”; it seems he left the Order that year. Brother Clement Howlin makes his first appearance in the appointment records in 1900 at Redfern. Brother Aloysius Ryan does not appear in the appointments record at all. Brother Paul O’Connor records that Brother Aloysius Ryan left to join the priesthood in 1897.

1895 – Brother Peter Gaynor, according to the appointment records, arrived circa 1895. The writer has been unable to identify him to a vessel. He does not appear in the Victoria records. Brother Peter died at Albury on December 26, 1897. The informant, Brother John Lee stated, “in colony two years”. However, ‘Planting the Celtic Cross’ – Foundations of the Catholic Archdiocese of Canberra and Goulburn by Rev. Brian Maher records on p.200 -  ‘Brother Peter Gaynor…… arrived from India shortly before in bad health.”       

1899 - Date of departure and vessel were established from provincial records. Brother Alphonsus Delaney does not appear on manifest ex Sydney. It is believed he travelled by rail to join the vessel at Melbourne. Brother Dominic Bourke is shown returning to Ireland with Brother Alphonsus. Brother Paul O’Connor recorded that Bro Dominic returned to Ireland in 1896, but an event also recorded by Brother Paul O’Connor and which occurred in 1898 establishes that Brother Dominic Bourke was at Holy Cross College, Ryde that year. ‘1896’ may have been a typographical error The writer has found no other reference to Brother Dominic’s return and is of the opinion he returned with Brother Alphonsus.

Brother Alphonsus Delaney and Brother Joseph McDonell were elected to represent the Province at the 1899 General Chapter, the remaining delegate being an Irish proxy. Insufficient funds were available to meet Brother Joseph McDonell’s fare. The then Superior General, Brother Anthony O’Neill, by letter held in the Provincial archives, offered to guarantee a loan for the fare; however Brother Joseph did not depart until October 27, 1899 and failed to attend the General Chapter.
1906 – Brother Dominick Rickerby returned to Ireland. In 1972 Brother Albert Small (RIP) wrote that Brother Dominick was President of Mountrath College in 1909. Brother Albert further stated that Brother Dominick left the Order a few years later to join the priesthood in Queensland at Rockhampton or Brisbane. It is the intention to seek information from Catholic archives in Queensland.

1907 - Brother Bernard Ryan returned to Ireland. Date of departure was established by Bro. Paul O’Connor from provincial records. Appointment listings indicate he returned to NSW early 1911.

1907 - Brother Colman Keenahan was shown as ‘Coleman Keenaham’.

1908 – Brother Rodan Bergin wrote of Brother Fidelis Downes; ‘He was one of a family, eight of whose children entered religion. Four joined our Congregation and all died in it. The other brothers were Bro. Joseph who died in Galway in 1934 [aged 55], Bro. Conleth whose missionary activities were in India and who died at sea returning to Ireland for a holiday [in 1930, aged 40] and Bro. Finbarr who was Superior General during the years 1937-1949, [died 1949, aged 62]. Four sisters entered convents, three of whom laboured in mission lands.”

1911 – Brothers Finian Byrne and Canice Grimes were the writer’s luckiest finds. The passenger manifest was so faint that had not the names appeared in alphabetical order, they probably would have been illegible. The Brothers do not appear in the Victoria record and it is believed such may have been the reason. Finding each name confirmed the validity of the other.

1911 - Brothers Stanislaus Bergin and Benignus Kealy sail from Sydney to Ireland via North America. They are shown as ‘Kealy and Berigan’ ‘Berigan’ is clearly a clerical error

1912 - Brother Aloys Curley transfers from the India Province but is found unsuitable and is sent back to Ireland six months after his arrival.

1920 – Brother Serenus Quann arrives under the fraternal name of ‘Arsenius’ which in 1922 was changed to ‘Serenus’. It is said the boys at Redfern and Waterloo were somehow involved in this decision.

1923 - Brother Cyprian Fitzpatrick returns to Ireland. Date and vessel established from provincial records.

1925 – In May, Pope Pius X1 grants a Private Audience in Rome to the Superior General, Bro. Boniface Carroll and the Provincial, Brother Benignus Kealy. It seems Brother Benignus was on his way to the 1925 General Chapter and met with Brother Boniface in Rome. The other delegates Brother Celsus Daly and Brother Austin O’Connell no doubt proceeded direct to Ireland. The return of Brothers Daly and O’Connell has been identified in April 1926. Both joined their vessel at Marseilles. The date and vessel of Brother Benignus’ return, as yet, has not been found.

1925 – The search for the arrival of Brother Oliver Healy was the last undertaken. Brother Oliver first appears in the appointments listing in 1926 at both Ryde and Redfern which indicated he arrived late 1925 or early 1926 which period was searched without success.

A review of the Irish record confirmed the provincial record, however in 1993 the writer had made a notation against the Irish record ‘see Annals – Forest Lodge Community 1925’, extracts of which, relevant to particular Brothers, had been provided by Brother Linus Walker. The extract stated ‘Vol. 2, p.599. Brother Oliver Healy served in Australia 1925-1946. His first appointment was to Forest Lodge where he remained for a year before going to Redfern’. This indicated Brother Oliver arrived in late 1924 or early 1925. Alas, the search through these months again proved futile. A further review of records established that Brother Oliver had taken Perpetual Vows on July 17, 1925. The writer surmised the vows were taken either immediately before leaving Ireland or immediately following his arrival in NSW. A further search carried out on January 14, 2005, identified his arrival on July 4, 1925 aboard the SS Devanha. Brother Oliver travelled in the company of Brother Basil Cassidy, returning from holiday in Ireland. The vessel had a net weight of only 4300 tons and carried only 20 or so passengers.
1929 - Brother Macartan Keegan taught at Forest Lodge from 1931 to 1937. He became involved in the Catholic Young Men’s Sporting Association (CYMSA) at Forest Lodge, which promoted the sports of cricket and rugby league. Brother Macartan introduced hockey and the St. James’ CYMSA Hockey Club, captained by Brother Macartan, won the 2nd Grade Competition; however to compete in First Grade it was required that the Club be a District Club. Brother Macartan is identified as the Founder of the Glebe District Hockey Club. It is recognized as one of the outstanding hockey clubs in NSW, indeed Australia. Many members have represented at International and Olympic level. The history of Glebe District Hockey Club, titled “Under the Arches” by Max Solling OAM, M.A.,LLB. features a photo of Brother Macartan in St. James’ CYMSA hockey club attire of white shorts and blue shirt with a gold V and another in his religious habit as coach of the Glebe District Hockey Club team in white shorts and maroon shirt with a white V. Brother Macartan Keegan was a big man; in both photos he towers over the players.

1930 - Brother Macartan Ryan arrives in the company of Brother Finian Byrne and Brother Fidelis Downes, both returning from holidays. Brothers Finian and Macartan embarked at London and were joined by Brother Fidelis at Marseilles.  Brother Macartan Ryan and Brother Macartan Keegan were responsible for introducing the sport of hockey at Holy Cross College.

1932 - Brother Rodan Bergin and Brother Stanislaus Slattery S.G. identified arriving on the SS Ballarat. Brother Canice Grimes not found.  It seems Brother Canice returned unaccompanied. Vessel not yet identified. Perhaps he returned via the USA, as did Brother Aloysius Hannigan in 1938.

1935 - Brother Charles Cody appears on manifest as ‘Michael Coady, aged 21 years, schoolteacher’. ‘Coady’ clearly is a clerical error. Christian name, age and year of arrival agree with provincial records.

1938 – Brother Aloysius Hannigan returned from the General Chapter separately via USA.

1946 - The six Brothers arrive aboard the aircraft carrier HMS Indomitable. They leave the vessel at Fremantle and continue on to Sydney by rail. See The Green Sash, Volume 6 Issue 2, August 1999 for Brother Malachy Corbett’s recollections of the voyage. – on website www.patricianbrothers.com

1949 - Brother Basil Downey, Brother Gerald Egan (RIP) and Brother Cronan O’Meara arrive at Melbourne aboard the SS Largs Bay. They complete their voyage to Sydney aboard her sister-ship SS Moreton Bay. Details established from Brother Basil Downey’s diary of journey. See The Green Sash, Volume 11, Issue 4, September 2004 - ‘An Important Record’- on website www.patricianbrothers.com 

1950 - Brother Vianney Foyle has not been identified to a vessel on date shown or thereabouts. The date was obtained from provincial records. Perhaps he disembarked at Melbourne. Victoria records not available to writer.

1956 – Brother Paul O’Connor writes, ‘Brother Rodan Bergin was appointed Provincial. This was a unique appointment, as Brother Rodan was a member of the Irish Province, but he had been in Australia previously (1932-1950) and the Brothers in Australia had recommended his appointment.’

1959 – Brothers Charles Barry, Iranaeus Peter Higgins, and Flannan McCann are the first Patricians to arrive by air. This then became the accepted form of travel

1969 – Brother Thomas Rice is the last Patrician Brother to arrive from Ireland and teach in NSW.

2004 – Brother Marcellus Broderick and Brother Patrick O’Neill arrive from Ireland to assist at Aitape, PNG and Thursday Island respectively. Thirty years had passed since the arrival of an Irish Patrician to labour in the Province.

Brother Paul O’Connor’s writings cease at the end of 1968. Since that date there have been visitations by Irish Superior Generals not included in the attached listings, viz., Brother Denis Lomasney S.G., Brother Cormack Cummins S.G. and Brother Aengus Kavanagh S.G.; also Australians, Brother Patrick Lovegrove S.G. and Brother Philip Mulhall S.G.