ABSTRACT
This chapter represents a preliminary examination of the role of the Irish Catholic press in the southern hemisphere, a role argued here as critical, and predominantly orchestrated by Irishmen. It is surprising that the historians seem to have bypassed the role and significance of the Irish Catholic press, a transnational institution shadowing the Catholic Church, in enabling and reinforcing links across the diaspora. Within Australasia some historians have acknowledged the significance of the Irish Catholic press. The New Zealand Tablet editors incorporated material from Australia's Irish Catholic newspapers. The reverse was also true. Items covered a broad range including local church news, particularly about senior churchmen such as Bishop Moran, but also about Archbishop Croke of Cashel, bishop of Auckland from 1870-74. Preliminary analysis of the eight newspapers reveals their common receipt of many overseas publications such as Dublin Freeman's Journal, Boston Pilot, the Irish World, the Liverpool Catholic Times, the American Ave Maria, the London Tablet, and Universe.
