Timothy O'Mahony was born in Rathard, .Aherla c'1822 the son of a farming family that later sold the holding to Wm Creedon who came from the Ballingeary- Bantry district. The future .Bishop commenced his studies for, the Diocese of Cork in the Irish College in Rome in 1843 where he was ordained in 1848 and was assigned to Innishannon as his first ministry.

He served for short periods in other parish's until he was appointed to St. Finbarr's parish in Cork City in 1860 where his good works including the Confraternity of the Holy Family, of which he was Spiritual director, remained after him as monuments of his piety and wisdom.

Fr. O'Mahony was called to the Diocese of Armidale, New South Wales in Australia in November 1869 by Pope Pius 1X. This Diocese in the Achdiocese of Sidney was declared to be in extent equal to the whole of Ireland. The ceremony of Consecration was held in St Mary's Cathedral with Bishop Wm Delaney of Cork the consecrating Prelate.

Following consecration Bishop O'Mahony left for Rome and then proceeded to Australia. His tenure as Bishop of Armidale was beset by difficulties from the outset. When the See.of Ross became vacant in 1874 Bishop OMahony was mentioned as a successor to the late Bishop O'Hea.

He has relatives still in Aherla and district and he was closely related to Eoin (the "Pope") O'Mahony the founder of the O'Mahony clan rally and his parents were buried in the family grave in Templemartin where a fine headstone stands dating back to 1811.


From S.C. 2-5-1995