Education
He was educated at Esker, near Athenry, later attending Saint Patrick"s College, Maynooth, where he was ordained a priest for the Diocese of Clonfert on 6 September 1903.
He was educated at Esker, near Athenry, later attending Saint Patrick"s College, Maynooth, where he was ordained a priest for the Diocese of Clonfert on 6 September 1903.
Dignan was a native of Ballygar, County Galway. 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.
