Background
O'Shea was born in March 1860 at Ballyduff, County Kerry, Ireland, to Timothy O'Shea, and his wife Ellen (née O'Sullivan).
O'Shea was born in March 1860 at Ballyduff, County Kerry, Ireland, to Timothy O'Shea, and his wife Ellen (née O'Sullivan).
He came to Australia with his family at age five and attended the local state school.
Admitted as a solicitor in 1885, he was a senior partner in the law firm, O'Shea, O'Shea, Corser and Wadley. O'Shea was appointed by the Denham ministry to the Legislative Council on 3 July 1914. He served for the next eight years until the Council was abolished on 23 March 1922.
O'Shea was a director of several companies including Queensland Brewery Ltd, Queensland Finance and Investment Company, Moreton Sugar Mills, and the Ipswich Electricity Supply Company. He was interested in horses, cattle, and motoring. He was especially keen on horse racing and at one stage owned two racehorses.
A lifelong bachelor, O'Shea died in October 1930.