Photo: beheymorens.scoilnet.ie
Most people’s thoughts are, I know, on yesterday and what happened to us in Cork and I’ll get to all the reports on that in a bit but first it’s only right and proper to acknowledge the passing over the weekend of a Mayo great. Fr Peter Quinn, wing-back on the 1950/1 double All-Ireland winning team passed away on Saturday. He was, I believe, ninety years of age.
A native of Quignashee, near Ballina, Peter Quinn was a Columban missionary priest who lived for decades in the Philippines. He was ordained late in 1950 and so, in order to get around the rule at the time forbidding priests from playing in “violent games” he donned the alias ‘Peter Quinlan’ in order to continue playing for the county in their successful Sam Maguire defence the following year.
The 1951 final win over Meath was Peter Quinn’s last match for the county. By that December he had taken up his missionary posting in the Philippines, his inter-county career behind him at the age of 26.
After retiring from the missions, Fr Peter lived and worked as a priest for some years in America before returning to Ireland in 2012. It was in the Árd Na Gréine Nursing Home in Enniscrone, a short distance from where he grew up, that he passed away on Saturday last.
His funeral will take place this coming Sunday (February 7th) in Ballina – full details here. An obituary piece in the Connaught Telegraph on the late Fr Quinn is here.
May this great and distinguished servant of Mayo GAA rest in peace.
FR. Peter Quinn. At dheis Dei go raibh a Anam dilis.
Lovely post WJ. Fr. Peter Quinn RIP
RIP Fr. Peter .
It amazes me how some of these players defied their church in order to play football during this period. Fair play to them , it must have been a very tough choice. I know one player who sat out an All-ireland final , I am sure he regrets it now , he eventually left the priesthood but never played for his county after that.
A fine age as well of 90 , I hope we all see it.
A lovely and fitting piece WJ, well done. Ar dheis De ar a Anam dilis.
A great servant to Mayo. May he rest in peace.
Another great Mayoman gone.
I had the pleasure of meeting him briefly a few years ago, while visiting Tom Acton in a nursing home in Ballina. He too, now sadly gone. I remember Fr Peter giving a loan of the ball from the 51 final , to my brother and sister in law for their wedding on the eve of the All Ireland final replay in 1996.
May he rest in peace.
RIP Fr.Quinn. I wonder if someone who told those great men of 50/51 that they would still be holding the torch in 2016….they surly wouldn’t have believed it.
Some of the comments on social media sites today on Fr.Quinns passing, mocking Mayo, the curse and what should be done to the remaining survivors really is sickening.
Nice job WJ.
A great servant to Mayo GAA and to the Church.
May he rest in peace.
Couldn’t agree more yew tree, it’s disgusting to hear people wishing bad things on those men when their only crime was going out and winning an all Ireland for Mayo. I hope if we ever win again there will be nobody wishing bad luck on any of the players.
Im sure Fr Peter will be looking down on his club Ardnaree on Saturday and that he won’t forget to put in a good word for Mayo as well.
RIP.
Rest in peace Fr Peter Quinn.
Amazing story about his two brothers being allowed into the team photo prior to that start of the 51 final, his last ever game for Mayo.
I have great respect for the men of 51 and what they achieved, they were
ahead of their time in terms of preparation and the team contained some of the greatest footballers to pull on a Mayo jersey.
I believe his medal collection is on display somewhere in Knock Airport although despite being a regular traveller through this venue I have never actually seen this.
May a true legend rest in peace.
T
RIP Father Quinn, we can only hope you will put a good word in for us and our quest here in this life. On those that make nasty comments, they are cowards that would run a mile if the were asked to mock the man or any of his teammates in their heyday.
I was in my first year in St. Jarlath’s college, Tuam, when Peter and a few of that great Mayo team brought Sam in. We were so proud. Though I joined the Columban MIssionaries myself, Peter and I were not to meet again ’till 2012, back in the seminary in Dalgan Park, Navan. Meantime, after nine years working in the shantytowns of Lima and for the first time beginning to think for myself, I questioned the clerical organisation and the man-made ‘law’ of celibacy – so I gave myself permission to get married, met my soul-mate, a Lima born social worker. For over two decades we continued our work among the poor, while rearing our three children. In the early 90’s we came to Ireland.
I tell you this, because in those 60 years since I first saw Peter society in Ireland has changed beyond recognition. The Church has lost the power to control people or to topple ministers or governments. Men like me, back then, were looked on as traitors, even called such by a Pope. But men like Peter just saw that tactic as a desperate effort to stop the floodgates from opening.
When I met Peter a couple of years ago, I told him what it had meant to us young lads that they had brought Sam into the school many years before. His eyes watered and he held my hand for a while.
RIP FR Peter
RIP .
Nice to hear them tales above. Makes the hairs stand thinking of Mayo with the Sam Maguire cup .
Fair play to him played his part on a great team . Only two left on that team now and I wish them a few more happy years yet. May he along with the other twelve men rest in peace.
A dear friend I met here in Florida and only later got to know that he knew my father from Cloonta. Eternal rest grant unto him, O Lord and let perpetual light shine upon him. May his soul and the souls of all the faithful departed, through the mercy of God, rest in peace. Amen.
Requiescat In Pace
Peter was a giant and was nothing short of a hero to many in sport and in the business of salvation. May this good man rest in peace and rise in glory!