Ireland mourns passing of legendary soccer figure Pat Quigley
Pat Quigley pictured with the Quigley Cup earlier this year, a cup he donated to the Mayo League in 1973 for an underage competition.
The sporting sphere across Mayo, around the country and further beyond has been left in mourning following the death of former Football Association of Ireland (FAI) President Pat Quigley, of “Anfield”, Spencer Park, Castlebar. He was 78 years old.
He died in Bon Secours Hospital, Galway, on New Year’s Eve surrounded by family and close friends.
Pat received his most prestigious honour in 1996 when he was appointed president of the FAI following a two-year stint as Vice-President and was in the role of president until 2000.
He began his journey in football administration with the now-defunct Road Rangers FC in 1971. Eager to see the development of underage football, he donated a cup to the Mayo Football League in 1973 for an under-18 competition and fittingly Road Rangers were the inaugural winners of the trophy after defeating Westport Crusaders in the final.
Pat would later become a member of the Mayo Football League, and served two terms as chairman as well as being a founding member of the Milebush Park Stadium Committee.
He would also go on to become a Mayo delegate to the Connacht Football Association and a Connacht delegate to the FAI, later elected chairman of the Connacht FA in 1975, and in later years was a committee member of the Mayo Schoolboys/Girls and Youth League.
Pat later served a two-year term as president of the FAI Youth Council, becoming the first Mayo man to hold the post.
His tireless work saw him home club, Ballyheane FC, name their new ground Pat Quigley Park in his honour in 2001, which Pat took great pride in.
Predeceased by his wife Eleanor in late April, he is deeply regretted by his daughter Patricia and her partner Charlie, son Shane and his wife Jess, grandchildren Aaron, Joshua and Tara, relatives and friends.
Pat will repose in Coady’s Funeral Home, Castlebar, (F23 XY63) on Wednesday, January 3, from 4pm with removal at 7pm to his home.
Removal from his residence on Thursday morning at 10.30am for Requiem Mass at 11.30am in the Church of the Holy Rosary, Castlebar.
Pat will be laid to rest afterwards in Ballyheane Cemetery.
May his gentle soul rest in peace.
