Deceased
Parish Of Birth
Barryroe
Colleges Attended
St. Patrick’s College, Maynooth Co Kildare, Ireland
Details Of Ordination
St. Patrick’s College Chapel, Maynooth, Co. Kildare
21/6/1874
Appointments
Clonakilty PP : 06/1889 – 31/10/1921
Skibbereen Adm : 05/1884 – 06/1889
Skibbereen CC : 09/1883 – 05/1884
Clonakilty CC : 1880 – 09/1883
Castlehaven CC : 03/1878 – 1880
Rath and the Islands CC : 04/1877 – 03/1878
Cape Clear CC : 1874 – 04/1877
Notes
Appointed Vicar Forane (V.F.) of the Diocese of Ross in 1889.
Appointed Papal Prelate with title of Monsignor by his Holiness Pius X in October 1907.
Appointed Vicar General of the Diocese of Ross
As curate in Clonakilty in the early 1880’s, he was for the farmers of Clonakilty an advocate and protector in their struggle against evicting landlordism in the person of Bence-Jones of Lisselane (Clonakilty). The struggle at the time attracted world-wide attention, and songs and ballads, such as “The Wife of the Bold Tenant-Farmer” were sung all over Ireland.
He was a prominent supporter of Charles S. Parnell and, unlike most of his clerical collegues, he remained steadfastly so after the ‘Split’
When he became parish priest of Clonakilty in May 1889 he set about supervising the completion of the town’s Church of the Immaculate Conception. He was also responsible for the buidling of the Sacred Heart Church at Darrara (1897).
When the Southern Star newspaper was purchased in 1891 from its founder, he was appointed chairman of the new company and retained that position for many years.
For a comprehensive biography of Mons.O’Leary see; “Mons. John O’Leary: Crusading Chairman who Bestrode West Cork Region”, Southern Star Centenary Supplement 1889 – 1989, p. 3-4.
Date Of Death
31/10/1921
Place Of Death
Parochial House, Clonakilty, Co. Cork
Place Of Burial
Church of Immaculate Conception Grounds, Clonakilty, Co. Cork
Obituary
His Lordship. Most Rev. Dr. Kelly, Bishop of Ross, presided at the Solemn Requiem Mass, together with, His Lordship, Most Rev. Dr. Cohalan, Bishop of Cork. The celebrant of the Mass was, Very Rev. John Kearney, P.P., Ardfield; deacon was, Fr. John Collins, C.C., Clonakilty; sub-deacon was, Fr. William Holland, C.C., Leap, and master of ceremonies was Very Rev. Jeremiah J. Burke, P.P., Barryroe.