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 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.

Walsh 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 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.

Just 5 weeks ago Bishop Willie celebrated his 90^th birthday on 16^th January. He died suddenly on 19^th February 2025.

Ar dheis Dé go raibh a anam