Career
Born in Port Melbourne, Victoria, O'Collins was ordained as a priest on 23 December 1922. He was appointed as bishop of Geraldton in Western Australia on 11 February 1930. On 23 December 1941 he was appointed as bishop of Ballarat and returned to Victoria.
O'Collins retired on 1 May 1971 and was appointed as Bishop Emeritus of Ballarat. He was appointed a Knight Commander of the Order of the British Empire (KBE) in 1980 for services to religion and the community.