Thomas F. Quinlan

Thomas F. Quinlan SSC was an Irish-born Catholic missionary prelate who served as Bishop of Chuncheon from 1945 until 1966. He was a member of the Missionary Society of St. Columban.

Biography Quinlan was a native of Borrisoleigh, Co. Tipperary, and studied for the priesthood for four years in St. Patrick's College, Thurles, before joining the Columban Fathers. He was ordained a priest in 1920 along with three others and was posted to the Han-yang province in China.

During his time in China the missionaries were a target for kidnapping and violence. After returning to Ireland, Quinlan was again posted to Korea, where he was stationed at the outbreak of the Second World War, he was appointed Bishop of Chuncheon in 1945.

Quinlan was captured and imprisoned by North Korea during the Korean War, and he was held with Bishop Patrick James Byrne, who died in prison; Quinlan had to bury him. He returned to South Korea in 1954 as Regent to the Apostolic Delegation. He retired from his bishopric in 1966 and died on New Year's Eve 1970.