Who was Monsignor Donal O'Callaghan?

by Rev. Alfred Isacsson, O. Carm.

(Father Donal O'Callaghan as NYC Parade Grand Marshal - 1951)

  As a Carmelite and a Hibernian it is good to recall the memory of Father Donal O'Callaghan, perhaps the most famous member of the Carmelites that were founded in New York from Ireland more than one hundred years ago.  

  Daniel Joseph O'Callaghan, who would become the Irish patriot par excellence, was born in the brauhaus cluster section of Yorkville, Manhattan on March 3, 1916.  His father, Michael, was born in Inchemay, Banteer, County Cork and his mother, Anna (nee Cassidy) first saw the light of day in Southbury, CT.  His father was a New York City policeman who rose to the rank of lieutenant in the Traffic Department and when he retired he took charge of the security detail at Fordham University.

  Young Daniel attended St. Monica's Grammar School and Xavier High School, then entered a military academy.  He went to Fordham University for one year before entering the Carmelite Order and was received as a novice on September 14, 1935, taking the name Donal in religious life.  He finished college, did theological studies at Catholic University and was ordained on May 29, 1943.  Except for five years when he lived at St. Simon Stock in the Bronx, he spent his entire priesthood in the Carmelites' eastside parish of Our Lady of the Scapular, which is now joined to St. Stephan's, the parish of another Irish hero, Dr. Edward McGlynn.

  Father O'Callaghan's interest in Ireland dated back to his high school years when he won a free trip to Ireland in a contest sponsored by The Irish World. He bore with him a message to the Lord Mayor of Dublin from his New York counterpart, Jimmy Walker.  He visited all his relatives and toured the famous places of the Emerald Isle. On his return, he joined the Corkmen's Association to which he belonged until his death in 1973.  Upon his ordination he became their chaplain. In his thirty years of priesthood there was scarcely a meeting that or social event of this organization at which he was not present.

  The AOH was another of his societies. He spoke to numerous meeting, conventions, and Communion breakfasts of this group.  He served as their New York State Chaplain from 1951 and also served one term as the national chaplain when his good friend, the late Judge James Comerford, was national president.

  Father O'Callaghan belonged for many years to the St. Patrick's Day Parade Committee, then under the aegis of the AOH, and his valued advice was often sought in naming the Grand Marshal, an honor which came to himself in 1951.  Annually a trophy named after him is given to a marching unit.  He was also a member of the Friendly Sons of St. Patrick and never missed their annual banquet.

  In later years, he was one of the organizers of the American Irish Immigration Committee, which had as its goal the changing of United States law that restricted the entrance of Irish into this country.

  Father O'Callaghan's influence among the Irish was very strong through the organizations to which he belonged.  More important than this was the political power he wielded in New York City. Dating back to the Mayoralty of William O'Dwyer, he had influence among those who had power in New York City.  He was thus the person to be seen to gain a promotion, have a bad mark removed from a record, or secure a job.  As those he helped moved up in the ranks of city government, the more people sought his help.

  Because of his friendship with Eamon DeValera, Sean T. O'Kelly, Jack lynch, Frederick Boland, Frank Aike, Sean McEntee, and others of the Irish government, his power extended across the Atlantic and his counsel was frequently sought. One such occasion was the Frank Aiken-Red China issue in the United Nations.

  Perhaps the crowning achievement of Father O'Callaghan was the dinner he tended Sean T. O'Kelly in the Spring of 1959 while the then president of the Republic of Ireland was on an official visit to the United States.  It was held in the the rather shabby hall of the Carmelite School on East 29th Street.  This site was chosen because it was the scene of many meetings of the Friends of Irish Freedom and other groups that promoted the freedom of Ireland.  It was on this evening that President O'Kelly referred to the hall as "the cradle of Irish independence in America."  This dinner was one of the most sought after for tickets in New York.  Judges, diplomats, politicians, union leaders and prominent clergy were a dime a dozen that evening in Carmelite Hall.

  In his early days, Father O'Callaghan was fiery in his support of Irish unity.  He was inclined to believe it could only be obtained by force.  In his later years, he was more pacifist and extended this changed view even to United States participation in the Vietnam War.  His yearly trips to Ireland included visits to prisoners in the northern jails and in between trips, he corresponded with these men.

  Father O'Callaghan was the provincial of the New York Carmelites from 1955 to 1961. During this time, he built additions to the providence's training facilities and paid off the large debts of province.  He sent men to the missions in what is present-day Zimbabwe.  Through his fundraising activities he established the province on a firm financial basis.

  The death of Father O'Callaghan in 1973, at the age of 57, was premature.  The loss to the Church and the Carmelite Order was great but the loss to the Ancient Order and the New York Irish was incalculable.  No people had a better leader or a better friend.

Father O'Callaghan with Parents, Brother & Sister.

(**Special Thanks to Msgr. O'Callaghan's niece, Margaret McGrath, for furnishing the pictures.)

Updated: 06/22/2010