Patrick Quigley, 1794-1874

By Patrick F. Meehan
Extracted from "Laois Yearbook" 1983

Patrick Quigley was born in Maryborough in 1794. His father was a tenant farmer on the Parnell Estate. Patrick quickly leased Bloomfield House and farm, founded the "Leinster Independent" a nationalist and catholic newspaper in opposition to the Leinster Express, which was at that time a Unionist newspaper. The Independent was published at Triogue House, Portlaoise. It later merged with the Kilkenny Times and was published in that city, but it has now long ceased to function.

Mr. Quigley became a Justice of the Peace for the county and a member of the Mountmellick Board of Guardians and chairman of the Maryborough Town Commissioners. A few months before his death he caused a sensation when he nominated the O'Duinn Lt. General Francis Plunket Dunne of Brittas Castle as first Conservative Home Rule candidate in the election in 1874. The general failed to gain the seat and the sitting Liberal Home Rulers, Edmund Dease and Kenelm Digby were returned. He died at his residence Bloomfield House in 1874 and was buried in the Heath Churchyard.

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