The Most Reverend Patrick Duggan (1813–1896) was an Irish Roman Catholic clergyman who served as the Bishop of Clonfert from 1872 until his death.

Duggan was born in Cummer, County Galway

County Galway

County Galway is a county in Ireland. It is located in the West Region and is also part of the province of Connacht. It is named after the city of Galway. Galway County Council is the local authority for the county. There are several strongly Irish-speaking areas in the west of the county...

 in 1813. He was ordained to the priesthood

Priesthood (Catholic Church)

The ministerial orders of the Catholic Church include the orders of bishops, deacons and presbyters, which in Latin is sacerdos. The ordained priesthood and common priesthood are different in function and essence....

 in 1841 and appointed curate

Curate

A curate is a person who is invested with the care or cure of souls of a parish. In this sense "curate" correctly means a parish priest but in English-speaking countries a curate is an assistant to the parish priest...

 to the parish of Kilmoylan and Cummer in County Galway, and later parish priest.

He was appointed Bishop of Clonfert on 10 September and by papal brief

Papal brief

The Papal Brief is a formal document emanating from the Pope, in a somewhat simpler and more modern form than a Papal Bull.-History:The introduction of briefs, which occurred at the beginning of the pontificate of Pope Eugenius IV , was clearly prompted for the same desire for greater simplicity...

 on 2 October 1871. He was consecrated bishop on 14 January 1872.

Duggan supported the Tenant Right League

Tenant Right League

The Tenant Right League, established in 1850, was an organisation which aimed to secure reforms in the Irish land system. Formed by Charles Gavan Duffy and Frederick Lucas , it united for a time Protestant and Catholic tenants, Duffy calling his movement The League of North and South.The political...

 and the Home Rule movement. In the 1872 County Galway

Galway County (UK Parliament constituency)

The UK Parliament constituency of County Galway was an historic Irish constituency, comprised the whole of County Galway, except for the Borough of Galway. It replaced the pre-Act of Union Parliament of Ireland constituency...

 by-election

By-election

A by-election is an election held to fill a political office that has become vacant between regularly scheduled elections....

, Duggan organized support for Captain (later Lieutenant-Colonel) John Philip Nolan

John Philip Nolan

Lieutenant-Colonel John Philip Nolan was an Irish nationalist landowner and Member of Parliament in the House of Commons of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland and as member of the Irish Parliamentary Party represented Galway County and Galway North , .He was the eldest son of John...

 who was favourably disposed towards tenant rights.

Nolan was elected but lost his seat on the grounds of undue clerical influence and Dr. Duggan was brought to trial with others before the Court of Common Pleas

Court of Common Pleas (England)

The Court of Common Pleas, or Common Bench, was a common law court in the English legal system that covered "common pleas"; actions between subject and subject, which did not concern the king. Created in the late 12th to early 13th century after splitting from the Exchequer of Pleas, the Common...

, but the case collapsed and he was acquitted.

In 1884 he was requested by Michael Cusack

Michael Cusack

Michael Cusack was an Irish teacher and founder of the Gaelic Athletic Association.-His Life:...

 and others to become patron of the planned Gaelic Athletic Association

Gaelic Athletic Association

The Gaelic Athletic Association is an amateur Irish and international cultural and sporting organisation focused primarily on promoting Gaelic games, which include the traditional Irish sports of hurling, camogie, Gaelic football, handball and rounders...

. Dr. Duggan declined due to illness and suggested Thomas Croke

Thomas Croke

Thomas William Croke D.D. was the second Catholic Bishop of Auckland, New Zealand and later Archbishop of Cashel and Emly in Ireland...

, Archbishop of Cashel and Emly, in his place.

He is buried in Glasnevin Cemetery

Glasnevin Cemetery

Glasnevin Cemetery , officially known as Prospect Cemetery, is the largest non-denominational cemetery in Ireland with an estimated 1.5 million burials...

 in Dublin.