It was with great sadness that we announced the death of Bishop Emeritus Willie Walsh suddenly but peacefully at home on 19th February 2025, just a few short weeks after Bishop Willie celebrated his 90th birthday on 16th January and celebrated the 11.30am Mass on Sunday 19th January in thanksgiving, which was his last public Mass in the Cathedral that he loved so well.
Bishop Willie lay in repose in Ss Peter and Paul Cathedral, Ennis, on Sunday 23rd February from 3.00pm with evening prayer at 7.00pm.
Requiem Mass took place on Monday 24th February with burial afterwards in the Cathedral grounds.
Cineáltas Chríost (In the gentleness of Christ)
Our thanks to John O’Neill and Pat Hanrahan for the photos.
Bishop Willie Walsh was born on 16 January 1935, the youngest of six children, near Roscrea, County Tipperary. He attended primary school in Corville National School, Roscrea Boys National School, and secondary school in St. Flannan’s College, Ennis
He was ordained to the priesthood by Archbishop Luigi Traglia on 21 February 1959 in the Archbasilica of Saint John Lateran, in Rome.
Bishop Willie was appointed to the staff of St Flannan’s College in 1963. He was passionate about hurling and was central to the success of many teams in St Flannan’s College, Éire Óg club in Ennis, and Co. Clare. He was also involved in the foundation of the Catholic Marriage Advisory Council in the Diocese of Killaloe in 1970, working with marriage tribunals at diocesan, regional and national levels.
He was appointed curate at Ennis Cathedral in 1988, and subsequently administrator in 1990, a position he held until his appointment as coadjutor bishop of Killaloe on 21 June 1994. Following the sudden death of Bishop Michael Harty on 8 August 1994, Bishop Willie succeeded to the see, and was ordained as Bishop of Killaloe by the Archbishop of Cashel-Emly, Dermot Clifford, on 2nd October in the Cathedral of Saints Peter and Paul, Ennis.
In accordance with canon law, Bishop Willie submitted his episcopal resignation to the Congregation for Bishops on his 75th birthday on 16 January 2010.
