Fr Richard Farrelly

Early Life

Richard Farrelly was born in Maperath, Kells, Co. Meath, Ireland. He was educated and undertook his studies for the priesthood at St Kieran’s College in Kilkenny. He was ordained priest in St Mary’s Cathedral, Kilkenny on June 16, 1919.

Life in Australia

Fr Farrelly came to Adelaide the following year, arriving on May 10. On June 6, he was appointed Assistant Priest at Mount Gambier. Later he moved to Thebarton parish, but while there he was afflicted with a very serious illness of meningitis. He did recover but the illness had a permanent affect on his wellbeing.

Nevertheless he was appointed Parish Priest of Millicent. Then on February 1, 1934 he went to Hamley Bridge as Parish Priest.

Continuing ill-health

While at Hamley Bridge he suffered a serious heart attack, once more spending several months in Calvary Hospital where he was cared for by the good Sisters. After he recovered, in November 1950 he took up the position of Parish Priest of Colonel Light Gardens.

However, being uprooted from Hamley Bridge where he had been for many years to take charge of a large city parish at his time of life and with the history of his health had a greater strain on him than he had expected. But the people of Colonel Light Gardens were very supportive and had ‘taken them to their hearts’.

Fr Farrelly died in Calvary Hospital on November 25, 1955. While he had been in ill health for some time, his death came rather suddenly and unexpectedly.

Solemn Requiem Mass was celebrated in St Francis Xavier’s Cathedral. Archbishop Beovich presided and the celebrant was Fr E O’Connell Parish Priest of Parkside.

Paying tribute to Fr Farrelly and his life the Archbishop said: “We grieve at the death of a kindly and generous priest. He had shown his generosity in youth by answering the call to become a priest and leaving his beloved country to work in a far distant land. Fr Farrelly was zealous in his work for souls, hospitable to his fellow priests and kind to all with whom he had any dealings.”

(There is no record of his burial.)

May he rest in peace.