[Editor: A brief obituary of Patrick Hartigan, who wrote under the name of “John O’Brien”. Published in the Charleville Times (Charleville, Qld.), 31 December 1952.]
“Around the Boree Log”
Death of author
Monsignor Patrick Hartigan, author of an Australian bestseller, “Around the Boree Log,” died last Friday night.
Monsignor Hartigan, 75, died in Lewisham Hospital after a long illness.
He wrote “Around the Boree Log” under the pen-name of John O’Brien.
The book, a collection of Australian bush poems, has sold nearly 100,000 copies.
It is second only to C. J. Dennis’ “Sentimental Bloke” among Australian best-sellers.
The “boree” in the book’s title is the aboriginal name for the creeping myall, one of the best Australian firewoods.
Monsignor Hartigan was born at Yass of parents who migrated from County Clare, Ireland, in the 1860’s.
He trained for the priesthood at St. Patrick’s College, Manly.
Source:
Charleville Times (Charleville, Qld.), 31 December 1952, p. 5
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