Ireland's sporting world mourns passing of Mayo man Pat Quigley

The death has taken place of Pat Quigley, 'Anfield', Spencer Park, Castlebar.

In his late 70s, he died earlier today at Bon Secours Hospital, Galway, surrounded by his family and close friends.

He was predeceased last April by his beloved wife Eleanor and is survived by his daughter Patricia and her partner Charlie, son Shane and his wife Jess, grandchildren Aaron, Joshua and Tara, sister-in-law Nan Clarke (Ballina), relatives, neighbours and friends, to whom sympathy is tendered.

A widely popular and respected figure in the world of Irish sport, he served as president of the Football Association of Ireland from 1996 to 2000 and later became a member of UEFA, during which he travelled the world as an observer at Champions League matches.

His appointment to the role as head of the FAI represented the culmination of over two decades of voluntary involvement in the game at administrative level.

A lifelong Liverpool FC supporter, Pat first became involved in football in 1971 as an official of Road Rangers FC in Castlebar.

Road Rangers had been formed in 1969 with players drawn from McHale Road, a street which nurtured many of most talented players in the county town's soccer history.

Pat took a keen interest in the development of underage football and he donated a cup to the Mayo League in 1973 for an Under-18 competition.

Destiny dictated that Road Rangers were the first winners of the trophy in the 1973/74 season, defeating Westport Crusaders in the decider.

Rangers subsequently merged with Castlebar Celtic and enjoyed provincial success when Celtic won the Connaught Youth (Under-18) Cup in 1975, defeating Galway Bohs 1-0 in the final.

Pat became actively involved in Castlebar Celtic and gave long hours to the development of the club's underage structures alongside his good friends Henry Downes, John Flannelly and others.

As well as becoming a leading official with the Mayo Football League, an organisation in which he served two terms as chairman, he served the Connaught Football Association with distinction for many years as its figurehead, first being elected chairman of the provincial body in 1973.

He was first elected to the FAI Senior Council in 1973 and served on the top table of Irish soccer for over 40 years while also being an observer at League of Ireland fixtures.

Pat was the point of contact for supporters for many years for the purchase of tickets for the Republic of Ireland's international games, a role he fulfilled with great dedication alongside his wife Eleanor.

Pat also served a two-year term as president of the FAI Youth Council, the first Mayo man to hold the post.

He was a founder member of the Milebush Park Stadium Committee and was instrumental in the staging of many international games at the venue over the years.

A son of the late Paddy and Nora Quigley, Ballyheane, he gave a lifetime of service to the sport and, in more recent years, was a committee member of the Mayo Schoolboys/Girls and Youth League as well as retaining his directorship on the Milebush Park Stadium Committee.

He will also be remembered for helping clubs, along with his close friend Joe Butler, in attracting capital funding for major infrastructural developments at soccer grounds throughout Mayo and Connaught.

His home club, Ballyheane Football Club, recognised his formidable work for the sport over many years by naming their new ground Pat Quigley Park in his honour.

It was something he was immensely proud of.

Away from football, he was chairman of the Castlebar Swimming Pool Committee when the old facility at Humbert Way first opened in 1985 and he also served as chairman of Castlebar Tennis Club.

He was also involved with Croí, the organisation campaigning for greater facilities in west of Ireland hospital for victims of heart disease, and Castlebar Tidy Towns.

In his professional life, Pat worked as a sales representative for Glaxo Pharmaceuticals over a long period before his retirement and dealt directly with general practitioners from throughout the western and north western region.

In earlier years, he was a sales representative with Thomson Cakes and worked in Creightons, Claremorris, and Rhattigans, formerly of Castle Street, Castlebar.

A dedicated family man, news of his passing has evoked a huge sense of loss and sorrow across the county, province and country, such was his popularity and the respect in which he was held.

Pat will repose in Coady’s Funeral Home, Castlebar, (F23 XY63) on Wednesday from 4 p.m. with removal at 7 p.m. to his home.

Removal from his residence on Thursday morning at 10.30 a.m for Requiem Mass at 11.30 a.m 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.