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13th October
1878
Patrick Joseph Hartigan born
Born in Yass, New South Wales, Patrick Joseph was the fifth of nine children born to Partick and Mary Hartigan, both originally from Lisseycasey, Co.Clare, Ireland. (Image: Father Hartigan's parents, Catholic Weekly)
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20th October
1878
Baptism
Patrick was baptised with John Collins and Mary Hartigan as godparents. (Image: St Augustine's Yass, Catholic Education)
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1st January
1885
Yass Convent School
Patrick attended the Convent of Mercy School in Yass (Image: Convent of Mercy, Yass, Sisters of Mercy)
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1st February
1892
St Patrick's College Manly
Entered St Patrick's College, Manly, at age 13. The family was poor, and Sister Bernard of Yass wrote to the President of the College to seek assistance. (Image: The young Patrick Joseph Hartigan)
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1st December
1894
St Patrick's College Goulburn
Uncertain of his vocation as a priest, Patrick moved to St Patricks Goulburn and studied with Father (later Bishop) John Gallagher (Image: St Patrick's College Goulburn, 1874)
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1st January
1898
St Patrick's College Manly
Patrick returns to Manly to continue his studies
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18th January
1903
Ordination
Patrick Hartigan is ordained as a presbyter (priest) at the Cathedral of Saints Peter and Paul, Goulburn. He celebrated his first Mass the next day.
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22nd January
1903
Curate of Albury
Appointed to assisst Rev. Griffin in the Parish of Albury
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9th August
1906
When the Circus Came to Town
Father Hartigan had a deep love of Australian literature, and lectured in Albury as well as writing for the Australiasian Catholic Record. Father Hartigan had this poem published simultaneously in the Bulletin and the Albury Daily News under the nom-de-plume of "Mary Ann"
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1st August
1910
Inspector of Schools, Diocese of Goulburn
The post of Inspector of Schools meant moving to Thurgoona and travelling around the Goulburn Diocese, mainly by train. Fr. Hartigan used the time to compose poems.
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1st January
1911
Renault
Purchases a second hand 8hp Renault motor car in Sydney, becoming the second priest in NSW to own a car.
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1st June
1911
The Man from Snowy River
Administered the Last Sacrament to Jack Riley of Bringenbrong, reputed to have been "The Man from Snowy River". Dates for this are contradictory, but it seems Riley survived for 2 more years after the event. (Image: Jack Riley at his hut, source unkonwn)
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1st January
1914
The Little Irish Mother
After using the pen names of "Mary Ann " and "A Country Priest" , Fr Hartigan begins publishing under the name of John O'Brien. He took the name from a milk cart proprietor known to sell adulterated milk.
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1st January
1916
Appointed as Priest to Berrigan
Continuing to write and publish individual poems such as "The Old Mass Shandrydan" (Image : Berrigan Post Office 1910, State Library of NSW)
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26th February
1917
Moves to Narrandera
Using his new t-Model Ford car, Fr Hartigan relocates to Narrandera as parish priest. (Image: St Mels, Narrandera)
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6th January
1921
Angus and Robertson
George Robertson, partner of Angus and Robertson, meets Fr Hartigan and offers to publish a book of verse. (Image : George Robertson, State Library of Victoria)
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1st November
1921
Around the Boree Log
The first edition of 5,000 copies, with cover illustration by Patrick Lindsay, is a sellout
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1st January
1925
The Film
Around the Boree Log was made into a film in 1925, but the reviews were not enthusiastic and Fr Hartigan himself did not like the result. An actor played the role of Fr Hartigan in the film (Image: Still from "Around the Boree Log" National Film and Sound Archive)
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1st February
1925
Holy Year Pilgrammage
Fr Hartigan travels to Rome as part of the Holy Year Pilgramage. He becomes ill, recuperates in Fiesole near Florence, and travels on to Ireland
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10th October
1925
Back Home
Fr Hartigan arrives back in Narandera after his voyage. (Image: The Convent at Narrandera)
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1st January
1933
Set to music
Dom Moreno, a Spanish Benedictine monk from New Norcia, sets twenty of the poems from "Around the Boree Log" to music
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1st January
1936
Hudson Roadster
A tremendous interest in cars, Fr Hartigan liked powerful cars and had a reputation as a fast but careful driver.
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1st January
1944
Retires as Pastor of Narrandera
Having said 8,500 Masses at St Mel's Church in Narrandera, as well as marrying 320 couples and conducting 485 funerals, Fr Hartigan retures as parish priest.
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1st February
1944
Becomes Chaplain of the Convent of the Sacred Heart, Rose Bay
Today known as Kincoppal - Rose Bay School, the Convent of the Sacred Heart were delighted to welcome Fr Hartigan as their Chaplain, a position which gave him more time for writing. He is a frequent visitor to the State Library in his research.
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20th October
1947
Rt Rev Monsignor Hartigan
In recognition of his contribution to poetry and history, as well as his service to the diocese, Pope Pius XII confers the rank of Domestic Prelate, giving the title of Monsignor.
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1st January
1951
Completes On Darlinghurst Hill
Although ill throughout the year and spells in Lewisham Hsopital, Monsignor Hartigan completes his history of the Darlinghurst Parish
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1st May
1951
On Darlinghurst Hill published
Monsignor Hartigan had to leave the Lewisham Hospital to attend the dinner at the Australia Hotel to celebrate the publication of the book, which sold out the first edition within a week.
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27th December
1952
Death of Monsignor Hartigan
After a number of weeks in hospital fighting intestinal cancer, Monsignor Hartigan was given absolution in the evening and passed away shortly after.
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30th December
1952
Requiem Mass
A Solemn Requiem Mass for Monsignor Hartigan is held at St Mary's Cathedral in Sydney. He is buried in the Catholic Cemetery in North Rocks, next to his mother and father.
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1st June
1954
Parish of St Mels published
Frank Mecham, Monsignor Hartigan's nephew, collects the unpublished poems of John O'Brien as a volume "The Parish of St Mel's" published by Angus and Robertson
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1st January
1981
Biography published
Frank Mecham published the biography of Patrick Hartigan, "John O'Brien and the Boree Log" with Angus & Robertson
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12th March
1994
John O'Brien Festival established, Narrandera
An annual festival to celebrate and promote bush poetry, the John O'Brien Festival is established in Narrandera to coincide with St Patrick's Day.