Msgr John Halpin 1870 - 1943

John Halpin was the son of William Halpin and Alicia Quish. Born approx 4th July in either 1869, as given in the Knockainey Church register, or 1872 as recorded by St Patrick's College, Thurles, or 1870 as recorded by Dubuque Archdiocese. It is not unusual for dates to differ. 

(c) P Leahy

College records show he was 15 when he entered St Patrick's College in January 1887. He came from Bruff, Baggotstown in the parish of Knockany in the Diocese of Cashel. He left the College in 1895 and was ordained for the Archdiocese of Dubuque. 

John Halpin was ordained by Archbishop Reardon of San Francisco, CA, on June 13 1895 in St Patrick’s College and Fr Halpin then travelled to Dubuque to begin his ministry.

The passenger records for the ship Servia show passenger no 0724, Fr John Halpin arrived in America 19^th September 1895. The ship departed from Liverpool but John embarked at Queenstown, now Cobh, Co Cork. He had two pieces of baggage. He was 24 years old. He was registered as a US citizen and was intending a ‘protracted sojourn’.

In 1920 Fr Halpin made a visit to Ireland returning to America on the ship S.S. Olympic. The journey took 7 days arriving in New York 28^th July 1920. Records show he was naturalised in Maguskita, Iowa and his address is given as Fairbank, Iowa.

I believe Fr Halpin ministered in the Archdiocese of Dubuque from 1895 until 1931 when he was installed as Pastor to St Columbkille on the evening of Thursday October 8th 1931 by Msgr Barry. Msgr Halpin remained Pastor of St Columbkille's until his death in 1943. 

In the 1940 US Census Msgr John Halpin lived at 1240 Rush Street, Dubuque, along with another Iowa priest, Lawrence Craney and 3 housekeepers.

On the same street was the Presentation Convent. This close association with the Presentation Sisters is probably the reason why three of Msgr Halpin’s nieces became Presentation Sisters in Dublin.

Msgr Halpin’s death was reported in the local press and thousands queued to see his body. He was buried on 18^th June 1943

Read more about Msgr Halpin in Dubuque here

Read more about St Patricks College here