John O'Brien was born Patrick Joseph Hartigan on October 13, 1878 in Yass, New South Wales Australia. His parents, Patrick Sr and Mary were natives of Lisseycasey, Clare, Ireland. He attended convent school in Yass, later on he entered St.Patrick's College, Manly in February of 1892. However, he was uncertain if he was ready for a vocation in priesthood and left St.Patrick's - Manly for St. Patrick's - Goulburn. There he studied under classicist Dr. John Gallagher who later became Bishop of Goulburn.
In 1898 he returned to Manly and became an ordained priest on January 18, 1903. He became curator of schools for the vast diocese in 1910 and was based at Thurgoona. He took the last sacraments to Jack Riley of Bringenbrong. who was rumored to have been A.B. Paterson's "Man From Snowy River". He was appointed priest in charge of Berrigan in 1916 and was made parish priest of Narrandera in 1917.
Throughout this time he was an avid student of Australian literature and had began publishing poems in The Albury Daily News, Catholic Press and other publications in 1906 under the pseudonym Mary Ann. He began writing under the name John O'Brien in November of 1921. At that time he also published "Around the Boree Log and and Other Verses" at the encouragement of friends George Robertson and C.J. Dennis.
His poetry successfully combined humor, lively faith, and rock solid piety, as well as the everyday lives of the people around him. He also incorporated the old faith of Ireland with the ethos of the Australian bush in his writings. His poems were a great success. "Around the Boree Log" ran through five editions and eighteen- thousand copies by 1926. It was made widely popular through the recitations of John Byrne. It also received wide acclaim in Irealnd and the United States. In 1925 it was made into a film and then in 1933 twenty of the poems were set to music by Dom S. Moreno of New Norcia, Western Australia.
He was a much loved figure in Narrandera and his years there were happy ones, disturbed only by the sectarianism brought on by the Sister Ligouri case. His writings were regularly published in the religious journal, Manly. However, poor health, age, and the want to spend more time on historical research led him to retirement as pastor in 1944. That same year he became chaplain of the Convent of the Sacred Heart, Rose Bay.
A large amount of his unpublished work was published in the parish of St. Mel's (Sydney, 1954), and a selection of his poetry was published as Around the Boree Log accompanied by the illustrations of Patrick Carroll in 1978.
In 1947 he was still in demand as an occasional speaker and preacher, that same year, in October, he was appointed domestic prelate with the title Reverend Monsignor. His favorite things during his semi-retirement was the love and companionship of close relations and visitors from Narrandera. He became ill with cancer in 1951, he completed his last collection, On Darlinghurst Hill in 1952, which was written for the centenary of the Sacred Heart Parish.
O'brien died on December 27, 1952 in Lewisham Hospital. A requiem mass was performed in St. Mary's Cathedral afterward he was buried beside his parents in North Rocks Cemetery. In the days of his youth O'Brien was tall and handsome, with a friendly, yet bashful and somewhat detached manner. He had a dry humor that was touched by something of a wistfulness. He was always ready for a conversation and was informed on many topics: art, literature, horses, and cars were among his favorites. His preaching was strong, yet undemonstrative. He was a well respected priest, a beloved member of the community and a celebrated author. His life was a very rich one, and very satisfying for him and all that knew him.
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