Fr Michael Branigan

Another Priest who died at quite a young age was Fr. Michael Branigan. who long preceded the time of Fr O’Hanlon. He was born in Drogheda, Ireland in 1834 and his early studies for the priesthood were in the seminary at Navan, later attending seminaries at Armagh and Salamanca, Spain.¹

Unfortunately, his health began to break down and he was encouraged to finish his course of studies in Australia, where the climate might suit him better. This he did, arriving in 1857 and entering Bishop Goold’s Seminary in Melbourne. He was ordained at St Francis’ Church, Melbourne in 1858 and, after an early assignment as teacher at St Patrick’s College, came to Heathcote in late 1860.

/

He remained in Heathcote for only a short time, when the then resident Priest, Fr Patrick Birch returned to Ireland for some time. He was replaced by Fr McCarthy in 1861 and then seems to have been posted to Kilmore. He was, for all this time dogged by ill health and Kilmore, known for its harsh winters and foggy days, was not an ideal choice. It is said that his final illness was brought about by exposure to the cold in the discharge of his ‘up country’ duties. His remains were interred in the vault in the sanctuary of the church he had built in Kilmore.

1. This account taken largely from McKenzie McHarg and Traynor 1997. The Catholic Parish of Heathcote – a history. Privately published. ↩︎