Titan of north Tipperary Bishop Willie Walsh has been laid to rest in Ennis

Bishop Emeritus Willie Walsh was laid to rest on Monday afternoon following his passing last Wednesday evening, 19 February, at the age of 90 years old.

He was a much-loved household name in north Tipperary and an integral part of the communities around Nenagh, Roscrea, Borrisokane and Ballina throughout his time as Bishop of the Killaloe Diocese.

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Bishop Emeritus Willie Walsh was born on the 16 January 1935 in the parish of Roscrea Co Tipperary.

The youngest of six children, he attended Corville and Roscrea National schools and received his Secondary School education at St Flannan’s College in Ennis.

He studied for the priesthood at St Patrick’s College, Maynooth and the Pontifical Irish College in Rome.

He was ordained to the priesthood in the Basilica of St John Lateran in Rome on the 21 February 1959 by Cardinal Luigi Traglia (who would later go on to become Dean of the Sacred College of Cardinals).

After ordination Bishop Walsh returned to the Pontifical Lateran University in Rome for further studies where he was awarded a Doctorate in Canon Law.

On his return to Ireland he was appointed to the staff of Coláiste Éinde in Galway while studying for the Higher Diploma in Education at University College Galway.

He was appointed to the staff of St Flannan’s College in Ennis in 1963 and taught Maths, Science, Physics and Religion for 25 years until his appointment as curate at the Cathedral in Ennis in 1988.

In 1990 he was appointed as Administrator of the Cathedral and held that position until he was appointed as Coadjutor Bishop of the Diocese on the 21st June 1994.

He succeeded to the Diocese following the unexpected death of Bishop Michael A Harty in August 1994. He was ordained Bishop at the Cathedral in Ennis on 2 October 1994.

He served as Bishop of the Diocese for sixteen years. He submitted his resignation to Pope Benedict XVI on reaching his 75th birthday in January 2010. He remained as Bishop of Killaloe until the appointment of Bishop Kieran O’Reilly on 16 May 2011.
Bishop Walsh was one of the founder members of the Catholic Marriage Advisory Council, (later to become ACCORD) in the Diocese of Killaloe.

During his time as Bishop he worked tirelessly to promote reconciliation and healing.

He gained world- wide attention for his Pilgrimage of Reconciliation during Advent 1999 when he undertook to walk across the Diocese from Loop Head to Kinnity as a sign of solidarity and repentance to all who had been hurt.

He had a life-long passion for the sport and in particular hurling. He has been involved in coaching hurling teams at club, college and county grades.

He was living retired in the parish of Ennis until his passing on Wednesday evening.

His funeral mass on Monday afternoon was led by Bishop Fintan Monahan, who is the current Bishop of the Killaloe Diocese.
In his opening remarks, Bishop Monahan said “the title of his bestselling auto-biography was ‘No Crusader’ but actually, he was a profound and effective crusader.

“He cared for the poor, the marginalised and all struggling people.”
Bishop Monahan went on to fondly remember his time with Bishop Walsh telling church-goers that “his warmth and kindness” was invaluable in helping him to settle into the dioceses when he took over as Bishop and that he was a “man with such a great gift for friendship.”

He told the crowd that Bishop Walsh “was a radical in the true sense of the word. He challenged unquestioned beliefs, the accepted mores of society and in doing so stripped them back to their origin, measuring them up against what he believed was the core of the Gospel, cineáltas chríost, the gentleness of Christ.

“Being frequently out-spoken, he stirred things up. This sometimes ruffled feathers, was occasionally misunderstood, upset a few and others saw it as an effort to overturn hard earned orthodoxy.

“However, Willie, often in thinking out loud did this with raw honesty, integrity, conviction and belief that his exploration, questioning was a legitimate response to arriving at the divinely revealed truth using the gifts that God generously bestowed upon us.”

Following communion, members of Bishop Willie Walsh spoke to the crowd. Michael read an excerpt from the final passage of Bishop Walsh’s book “Willie’s final words were ‘I happily leave my future in God’s hands’. His future has arrived, he is now in God’s hands and we are happy to leave him there in God’s hands.”

His niece Marian, thanked the crowd, Bishop Monahan and other members of the church for their help and understanding in recent days. She said “Whilst we loved uncle Willie as a member of our family, we are also aware that we shared him with a second family, that of the diocese of Killaloe.

“We are all incredible lucky to have shared in his life.”

Many have paid tribute
Many have shared tributes since Bishop Willie Walsh’s passing. At the beginning of his funeral mass, a message from Apostolic Nuncio to Ireland Archbishop Luis Mariano Montemayor was read aloud “His Holiness Pope Francis was saddened to learn of the death of Bishop Emeritus William Walsh, and he sends condolences to you, the clergy, religious and lay faithful of the Diocese of Killaloe.

“Recalling with gratitude the kind and gentle way with which he carried out his many years of episcopal ministry, His Holiness commends the late Bishop’s soul to the mercy of Christ the good shepherd, to those gathered for the Mass of Christian burial and to all who mourn his passing, in the sure hope of the resurrection, the Holy Father imparts his blessing as a pledge of consolation and peace in the Risen Lord.”

Taoiseach Micheál Martin posted on X “Bishop Willie Walsh was a thorough gentleman, who supported those in need and people on the margins of our society.

“He held a strong belief in the power of reconciliation. A lifelong lover of the game of hurling, he will be sadly missed by all who knew him.”

Archbishop of Armagh Eamon Martin wrote “I was sad to learn this morning of the death of Bishop Willie Walsh, a caring pastor, inspired by love of the Gospel, and, as his own motto put it, a bishop living by ‘the gentleness of Christ’.

“Throughout his almost 66 years of priesthood, Bishop Willie’s ministry demonstrated God’s love for all people - particularly those on the margins of society.

“As President of the Irish Catholic Bishops’ Conference, I wish to acknowledge Bishop Willie’s steadfast commitment in support of sacramental marriage.

“This was evident in his role as President of the Catholic marriage care agency, Accord. Bishop Willie’s leadership in the area of marriage preparation, and counselling, was characterised by his support for all entering into Catholic marriage, as well as in his sincere compassion and outreach for those experiencing difficulties in their marriages and relationships, something which continues to inspire the work of Accord to this day.

“In addition, I wish to acknowledge Bishop Willie’s strong contribution, from 1994 to 2010, to the work of the Bishops’ Conference, in particular as a member of the Episcopal Commissions for Pastoral Care, Social Welfare; Education; and, of Research and Development.

“Bishop Willie was a gifted communicator who was a beloved figure in his native diocese of Killaloe, and throughout the country.

“On behalf of my brother bishops, I wish to express my condolences to Bishop Willie’s family, to Bishop Fintan Monahan of Killaloe, to the priests, religious and faithful of the diocese, and to all who knew and loved him.

“May Bishop Willie Walsh rest in peace, and may his legacy of love, service, and faith continue to inspire us all.

“Ar dheis Dé go raibh a anam dilís.”

Archbishop of Cashel Kieran O’Reilly said “It is with sadness that I have learnt of the unexpected death of Bishop Willie Walsh, Bishop Emeritus of the Diocese of Killaloe.

On behalf of the priests, religious and lay faithful of the Archdiocese of Cashel and Emly, together with Archbishop Emeritus, Dermot Clifford, I extend my sincere sympathy to Bishop Willie’s family, many friends, Bishop Fintan Monahan, the priests, religious and lay faithful of the diocese of Killaloe, on the death of their kind and generous shepherd.

“Bishop Willie welcomed me as his successor in 2010 to the diocese of Killaloe. From the very beginning he was always warm, friendly and very supportive.

“I deeply appreciated his friendship.

“Over my years in Ennis, I discovered him to be an exceptionally kind and generous pastor with special care for those at the margins of society.

“His life was characterised by a generosity of spirit that made him a unique shepherd - his kind and generous heart was key to his ministry.

“He never ceased to reach out to those most in need.

“We thank the Lord for the years he shepherded the people of God in the diocese of Killaloe.“He touched the lives of many people in a profound and deeply spiritual way recognising in each person the presence of the divine.

“It is with a sense of gratitude for his life that we commend our brother, Bishop Willie, to our heavenly Father, may Bishop Willie hear the words of Matthew’s gospel, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world’ (Matthew 24).

“With trust in the Risen Lord, we pray for the happy repose of his gentle soul and commend him to our Father’s eternal love. Assuring Bishop Willie’s family of our prayerful remembrance at this time of sorrow and grief.

“Ar dheis Dé go raibh a anam dílis.”

Bishop Willie Walsh is predeceased by his parents Ellen and William, brothers Joe, Eddie and John and his sisters Maura and Catherine.

He was dearly loved and will be sadly missed by his nieces and nephews; Karina, Michael, Emma, Willie, Miriam, Jim, Mark, Liz and Con and their families, sister-in-law Christine, his cousin Fr. Laurence OCSO, Bishop Fintan Monahan and the clergy, religious and laity of the diocese of Killaloe and his wide circle of friends.

Following his requiem mass on Monday at 1pm, Bishop Walsh was laid to rest in the grounds of SS Peter and Paul Cathedral in Ennis.