Irish Catholic

In 1800, about 400 men who were allegedly believed to have participated in the Irish rebellion of 1798 were transported to Sydney. Among this group was James Harold, Peter O’Neil, and James Dixon, who were the first priests in the country. The Governor found them to be cooperative and announced toleration for the Catholics in 1803 while also allowing Father Dixon to say mass.

Later in 1804, some of the Irish convict at Castle Hill rebelled, and they refused to listen to the pleas of the officers and Fr Dixon, they eventually fought the Battle of Vinegar Hills with the government forces and were defeated. Since then, the Irish have adopted a policy of assimilation, and respectability and soon became part of the society of New South Wales. A notable man during this period was James Meehan, a surveyor who performed most of the Colony’s survey during the time of Macquarie and helped Irish to settle to the southwest and Campbelltown area.  There was a period during the Macquarie era when there was no priest, and the Catholic worship was done in the homes of James Dempsey and William Davis, both of whom were also part of Men of ’98.