Michael Martin Clancy

He was ordained in Ireland by Bishop John Hutchinson who was recruiting priests for the North Queensland Vicariate in Cooktown.

In return for payment of his education costs, Father Clancy guaranteed a permanent commitment to the Cooktown Vicariate.

As part of his duties as an assistant priest to Father Thomas Corcoran in Cairns, he made several visits to Geraldton.

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.

Father Clancy was a member of the Railway League which was instrumental in having the main northern rail route re-drawn to include Innisfail in 1914.

A new church was built of silky oak and with two sets of stumps supporting the frame to make it stronger but this was not enough to save it from the 1918 Innisfail cyclone.

After the cyclone, the silky oak framework of the church was visible lying on its side but the priory was destroyed and the school razed to its floor boards.

Father Clancy had decided that the new church was to be built of concrete and devised a method for transporting sand and gravel to the building site at minimum cost.

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.

Permission was given for Father Clancy to be buried in the church as a tribute to a man who had tirelessly served not only his parishioners but also the people of the whole Johnstone River District.

[8] Father Clancy was buried in front of the Shrine to Mary, Mother of Good Counsel, a cross inlaid in the floor indicating his tomb.