Michael Martin Clancy

Father Michael Martin Clancy OSA (1868–1931) was an Irish-Australian Roman Catholic priest. He was the first resident Parish Priest in Geraldton, a town and parish in North Queensland, Australia. He was an inspirational parish priest who developed the Parish, established Catholic education in the Johnstone River district and built Innisfail's present Mother of Good Counsel Church. He played an important part in the development in the town and the district. Father Clancy was enthusiastically involved in the life of the town, local committees and governing bodies. He was instrumental in the changing of Geraldton's name to Innisfail in 1910. He also advocated for forging a link to the Atherton Tableland and the use of Mourilyan Harbour by shipping. After the people of Geraldton asked repeatedly for a permanent priest, Father Clancy was appointed to the new Parish of Geraldton in 1898 as the resident parish priest. He visited all over his extensive parish on horseback, sometimes riding bareback. He rode the 90 mile track to Cardwell through crocodile infested waters and over mountain ranges bare back. This prompted the parishioners in Cardwell to present him with a saddle on one of his visits.

Father Clancy's influence spread over the whole district. Within a few years, he had acquired land at Daradgee and employed workers to run the newly established church farm. This was a way of raising funds for the church used in Ireland. Before long, there was a church orchard at East Innisfail and another church farm at Bamboo Creek where Father Clancy ran cattle. There were very few projects that he was not involved in. In 1910, when confusion arose between Geraldton in Western Australia and Geraldton in Queensland, it was decided by the Queensland Government that Geraldton should change its name. Father Clancy was one of the committee considering a new name. On Father Clancy's suggestion the name Innisfail was chosen so that the connection with Thomas Henry FitzGerald, the founder of the sugar industry in the Johnstone River district, would not be lost. At various times he was a member of the Chamber of Commerce and he was appointed to a committee to enquire into direst shipping between Brisbane and Mourilyan Harbour. He was a strong advocate for the opening up of the Palmerston Highway from the Atherton Tablelands to Innisfail and the developing of Mourilyan Harbour as a port. Innisfail came to a standstill as the Funeral Procession made its way through the streets and back to the church.

Clancy's portrait was hung in the Johnstone Shire Council board room.