James Quinn

James Quinn, also known as James O'Quinn (17 March 1819 – 18 August 1881 ), was an Irish-Australian prelate of the Catholic Church and the first bishop of the Diocese of Brisbane.

Early life Quinn was born at Rathbane (or Athy),

On arrival in Brisbane, the new diocese had four churches, four schools and a debt of £1250. Quinn was very active in trying to grow the Roman Catholic presence, leading to the joke that the colony should not be called Queensland but Quinn's Land. Despite such remarks, he was respected by both Catholics and Protestants alike. When a prominent Orangeman Rev Porteus gave a speech in Ipswich that angered the Irish Catholics, a riot was feared at a picnic to be held by the Orangemen the following day. Quinn travelled to Ipswich and used his influence with Catholics to calm them and then he attended the picnic to spread goodwill among the Protestants.

His brother, Matthew Quinn, became the Roman Catholic Bishop of Bathurst in New South Wales. Four sons of their sister Sarah (who married John Horan) also became priests: Matthew, Andrew, James and Joseph Horan.

Later life

O'Quinn suffered ill health late in life. On 16 August 1881, he was pronounced gravely ill and last rites were administered. He died in his home Dara in Fortitude Valley on 18 August 1881 aged 62, having done a good deal to moderate the acerbity of Irish factional feeling during his episcopate.

O'Quinn bequeathed everything he had to the Diocese of Brisbane. a lifesize statue by Achille Simonetti in St Stephen's Cathedral (1892)