James Byrne

Dr James Byrne (1870–1938) was an Irish-born priest, who served as the first Roman Catholic Bishop of Toowoomba, in Queensland, Australia.

Early life James Byrne was born on 25 July 1870 in Ballingarry, County Tipperary, Ireland, the son of James William Byrne, a land steward, and his wife Catharine (née Flannery).

Religious life Dr Byrne was educated for the priesthood at St. Patrick's College in Thurles, County Tipperary, Ireland, and ordained by the Archbishop of Cashel on 21 July 1896. He volunteered to work in the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Brisbane in Queensland, Australia. He ministered in Brisbane for more than 20 years, being Administrator of St. Stephen's Cathedral for 12 years. Afterwards he was appointed Vicar-General of the Archdiocese of Brisbane. From 1917 until 1929 he was parish priest at Ipswich. In 1922 he was appointed a domestic prelate to the Pope. His funeral was held on Monday 14 February at St Patrick's Cathedral, conducted by James Duhig (Archbishop of Brisbane) and John Heavey (Vicar Apostolic of Cooktown). So many people attended his funeral that hundreds had to remain outside the cathedral during the service and the funeral cortege to the Drayton and Toowoomba Cemetery was over two miles long.

Legacy The diocesan centre in Toowoomba, is named the James Byrne Centre, in his honour, and the James Byrne road.