Former All-Ireland Mayo football winner Rev Peter Quinn died on Saturday last, January 30, in a nursing home in Enniscrone, Co Sligo. He was brother of the late Fr Des, who died in Dalgan Park in September 2015.
Fr Peter was a native of Quignashee, Ballina, and was ordained in Dalgan Park, Navan, Co Meath for the Columban Missionaries in 1950. He served as a missionary priest in the Philippines, Negros and in Student Catholic Action. He also served in the USA on promotion work for the Columbans, working out of St Pau, Boston and Silver Creek. He then joined the Orlando Diocese in the USA where he was incardinated (accepted as a priest of the diocese ). “Peter was always very welcoming to Columbans when they visited him. He was also a very generous benefactor,” said Fr Pat Raleigh, Dalgan Park. When Fr Peter retired back to Ireland he spent some time in Dalgan Park Nursing Home before moving to Ard na Gréine Nursing Home, Enniscrone, a few miles from his home.
Fr Peter was an outstanding footballer and won two All-Ireland Senior Football medals with Mayo in 1950 and 1951. He had to play under the name Peter Quinlan because of a ban on clerics playing inter-county football at the time. He had served his time playing football for his beloved Ardnaree, along with his brother, Fr Des. Both were remembered at a club Mass for deceased members last Saturday. Fr Peter donated his football medal collection to Knock International Airport where they are on display. He also presented one of the All-Ireland footballs to his local national school outside Ballina.
His football colleagues are among the greats of Mayo football – Pádraig Carney, Paddy Prendergast, Mick Mulderrig, Seán Flanagan, Tom Langan, Liam Hastings, and the list goes on.
"We thank Peter for his great contribution to Columban Mission over the years and for his great generosity. It is greatly appreciated. We offer our sympathies to Sr Josephine FMM his sister and also to his brother and other members of the family, including his nieces Margaret and Anne and nephew Fr Jarlath,” said Fr Pat Raleigh.
Fr Peter’s funeral Mass will be on next Sunday, February 7 in St Patrick's Church in Ballina, at 2.30pm. May he rest in peace.
