John Dignan

John Dignan, Bishop of Clonfert, 13 June 1880 - 15 April 1953.

Dignan was a native of Ballygar, County Galway. He was educated at Esker, near Athenry, later attending St. Patrick's College, Maynooth, where he was ordained a priest for the Diocese of Clonfert on 6 September 1903. In 1919 he became administrator of the parish of Abbey, Loughrea, becoming its parish priest in 1921. While there his house was raided and bombed by the Black and Tans, who stole his property. He was targeted as he was a supporter of the independence movement. On 24 March 1924 he was appointed Bishop of Clonfert. In 1944 he published Social Security: outlines of a scheme of national health insurance.

References

• Lickmolassy by the Shannon, p. 201, John Joe Conwell, 1998, ISBN 0-9534776-0-6.