William Tierney (abt. 1832 - 1891)

Born about 1832 in Ballycormick, County Carlow, Ireland

Died 2 Nov 1891 at about age 59 in Beechworth, Victoria, Australia

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Biography

William Tierney was baptised in March 1832, in Dunluckney, County Carlow, Ireland, the son of Martin Tierney and Esther Lalor of Ballycormick. ^[1]

The Argus (Melbourne, Vic) Tuesday 3 November 1891 p 1

DEATHS

TIERNEY. —On the 2nd inst., at Beechworth, the Very Rev. Dean Tierney. R.I.P. ^[2]

Wodonga and Towong Sentinel (Vic) Friday 6 November 1891 p 2

DEATH OF THE VERY REV. DEAN TIERNEY

We deeply regret and we are well assured that the regret will be very largely shared from one end of the district to the other, and, indeed, far beyond the limits of the district -that it is our painful duty this morning to announce the death of one who has long been the foremost figure of the Roman Catholic Church in the north-east. The Very Rev. Dean Tierney died on Monday night. It is something over a fortnight ago that Dean Tierney was attacked by influenza. Dr Haynes, his medical adviser, was at once in attendance, and as the case was manifestly a serious one, that gentleman invited Dr Skinner to assist in the treatment of the patient. Both gentlemen were unremitting in their attention. At first the Dean made light of his illness. He was cautioned that the greatest care was requisite. But, we fear, he disregarded the caution, and left his room. This was followed by a revival of the illness in an aggravated form, and bronchitis, as is so frequently the case, supervened. From this stage it was that the medical attendants lost hope, and the progress of the illness proved the accuracy of their apprehensions. During the last two days it was evident that the venerable ecelesiastic was sinking rapidly, and at a quarter to nine on Monday night his soul passed peacefully into the hands of his Creator. The tolling of the convent bell gave intimation to the people of the town and neighborhood that one whom many had learned to love, and whom all had learned to respect, had ended his earthly pilgrimage and had gone to his reward.

It is some 30 years since the Very Rev. Dean Tierney was appointed to the pastorate of the Roman Catholic Church in Beechworth. Those who only knew the district in these latter days can have but a faint idea of what this charge iniolved. In reality, Dean Tierney's district extended from Seymour to Beechworth and from Beechworth to Wodonga in the one direction, and from Rutherglen and Wahgunyah to the Upper Murray and away up to Omeo in the other. The radius to be traversed was from 150 to 200 miles. And the charge, vast as it was, was not looked upon as a merely nominal one by him who had accepted the responsibility of it. He invested the responsibility with a downright, earnest reality worthy of all praise. Regular periodical visits were paid to all the outlying places. Wherever practicable, the stated religious ordinances of the church were established. The arduous routine duty of the parish priest was not neglected. On the contrary, we are reminded that on one occasion the Dean travelled from Beechworth right up to Omeo to give the consolations of religion and administer the last sacrament to a woman who was on her death bed. This is one instance of self-denying, earnest, hard-working zeal; but it is one of very many. Except when it was necessary to be in Beechworth, Dean Tierney was always moving about amongst his distant parishioners, ministering to their spiritual wants, exhorting them by counsel encouraging them by example. ... continued, at length ... ^[3]

Sources

1. ↑ BAPTISM courtesy of John Cherry: see Dunleckney, Microfilm 04195/06 Page 43 [1]
2. ↑ 1891 'Family Notices', The Argus (Melbourne, Vic. : 1848 - 1957), 3 November, p. 1. , viewed 01 Jan 2019, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article8626276
3. ↑ 1891 'DEATH OF THE VERY REV. DEAN TIERNEY.', Wodonga and Towong Sentinel (Vic. : 1885 - 1954), 6 November, p. 2. , viewed 01 Jan 2019, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article69563938