 O 'Reily was born John O 'Reilly on 19 November 1846 , in Kilkenny , Ireland , the son of Michael , a military officer , and Anne , née Gallagher . He completed his primary education at the parochial school of St. John 's Parish , and spent six and a half years at St Kieran 's College . Due to poor health , he decided against pursuing a military career , and in 1864 he entered All Hallows College in Dublin to study for the priesthood . He learnt Irish , and studied mental philosophy , mathematics and ecclesiastical studies , achieving first prize in each of his classes . After being ordained on 21 June 1869 , he left Ireland for Western Australia in October , arriving in January 1870 . Having served briefly in Newcastle ( present day Toodyay ) and Northam , he became a parish priest in Fremantle , establishing the West Australian Catholic Record in 1874 and serving as its publisher , editor and printer from 1883 . 
