Edmund Finn
Encyclopedia
Edmund 'Garryowen' Finn was an Australia
n journalist and author who wrote many colorful descriptions of the life and people in early Melbourne
.
Finn was born in Tipperary
, Ireland
, the son of William Finn and his wife Catherine, née Mason. He was educated for the priesthood at Galbally
Abbey, near Limerick
.
Finn arrived in Melbourne on 19 July 1841 and was employed as a tutor of the classics. In 1845 Finn joined the staff of the Port Phillip Herald
under editor George Cavenagh. He worked on The Herald for thirteen years. In 1858 the chief secretary, John O'Shanassy
, who had been at school with Finn, appointed him clerk of the papers of the Victorian Legislative Council
, a position from which he retired on a pension in 1886 due to failing eyesight.
In 1878 he published Der Eggsberiences ov Hans Schwarts … with Humorous Interleaves. The Garryowen Sketches … 'by an old Colonist' were reprinted as a book in 1880. The Chronicles of Early Melbourne 1835 to 1852 by Garryowen, in two volumes, were published in 1888.
Finn married twice. A son, Edmund, published A Priest's Secret (Melbourne, 1888) and other works.
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
n journalist and author who wrote many colorful descriptions of the life and people in early Melbourne
Melbourne
Melbourne is the capital and most populous city in the state of Victoria, and the second most populous city in Australia. The Melbourne City Centre is the hub of the greater metropolitan area and the Census statistical division—of which "Melbourne" is the common name. As of June 2009, the greater...
.
Finn was born in Tipperary
Tipperary
Tipperary is a town and a civil parish in South Tipperary in Ireland. Its population was 4,415 at the 2006 census. It is also an ecclesiastical parish in the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Cashel and Emly, and is in the historical barony of Clanwilliam....
, Ireland
Ireland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
, the son of William Finn and his wife Catherine, née Mason. He was educated for the priesthood at Galbally
Galbally, County Limerick
Galbally is a village in southeast County Limerick, Ireland, on the border with County Tipperary. It is located at the foot of the Galtee Mountains and at the western approach to the Glen of Aherlow...
Abbey, near Limerick
Limerick
Limerick is the third largest city in the Republic of Ireland, and the principal city of County Limerick and Ireland's Mid-West Region. It is the fifth most populous city in all of Ireland. When taking the extra-municipal suburbs into account, Limerick is the third largest conurbation in the...
.
Finn arrived in Melbourne on 19 July 1841 and was employed as a tutor of the classics. In 1845 Finn joined the staff of the Port Phillip Herald
Port Phillip Herald
The Port Phillip Herald was first published as a semi-weekly newspaper on January 3, 1840 from a weatherboard shack in Collins St. It was the fourth newspaper to start in Melbourne.The paper took its name from the region it served...
under editor George Cavenagh. He worked on The Herald for thirteen years. In 1858 the chief secretary, John O'Shanassy
John O'Shanassy
Sir John O'Shanassy, KCMG , Australian colonial politician, was the 2nd Premier of Victoria. O'Shanassy was born near Thurles in County Tipperary, Ireland, the son of a surveyor, and came to the Port Phillip District in 1839...
, who had been at school with Finn, appointed him clerk of the papers of the Victorian Legislative Council
Victorian Legislative Council
The Victorian Legislative Council, is the upper of the two houses of the Parliament of Victoria, Australia; the lower house being the Legislative Assembly. Both houses sit in Parliament House in Spring Street, Melbourne. The Legislative Council serves as a house of review, in a similar fashion to...
, a position from which he retired on a pension in 1886 due to failing eyesight.
In 1878 he published Der Eggsberiences ov Hans Schwarts … with Humorous Interleaves. The Garryowen Sketches … 'by an old Colonist' were reprinted as a book in 1880. The Chronicles of Early Melbourne 1835 to 1852 by Garryowen, in two volumes, were published in 1888.
Finn married twice. A son, Edmund, published A Priest's Secret (Melbourne, 1888) and other works.
Further reading
- 'Garyowen' (Edmund Finn) A selection from The chronicles of early Melbourne, 1835 to 1852.