James Callachor aka Gallagher : Short Biography

Séamas Ó Gallachóir aka James Callahor aka Gallagher (1818-18 ) was a paternal great-great-great-grandfather of movie icon Nicole Kidman.

Born in Rathkenny (just south-west of Cootehill) his parents were Philip and Mary Gallagher (Callachor) whose landlord was Theopholis Lucas Clements of Rathkenny House.

In 1841, age 24, James Gallagher, agricultural labourer and his young wife Bridget (pregnant with their first child) embarked on a five-month voyage to Australia as ‘assisted’ or ‘bounty’ migrants.

James' wife Bridget Masterson (b.1822) was the daughter of Hugh & Ellen Masterson of Drumane, County Cavan. 

They sailed aboard the Agnes Ewing and arrived in Sydney in January 1842, baby Hugh having been born at sea. Three other sons Philip, James and Thomas were born in Australia. (Philip was great-great-grandfather to Nicole Kidman). By 1854, the Callachor’s were in Sydney, living in the working-class district of Woolloomooloo. Their son Fr. Hugh Callachor was educated at the Catholic college in Lyndhurst and later became a Benedictine priest.

• Their son Philip Joseph Callachor (d. 1909) married Theresa Mary Howley on 13 April 1869. Theresa gave birth to a son Austin Callachor on 12 October 1872 in West Street, Darlinghurst.
• Austin Callachor (d. 1939) a coffee and tea merchant in Sydney married Julia Finn (daughter of John Finn from Castlegregory Co Kerry). 
• Their second daughter Margaret Callachor married meat exporter Arthur Kidman. Their son Anthony Kidman (1938-2014), a biochemist and clinical psychologist was Nicole Kidman’s father.

Today all Australians of the spelling variation Callachor descend from the Gallaghers of Rathkenny, Co. Cavan.