First Irish canonisation in quarter of a century begins for army chaplain

Fr Doyle was born in Dalkey, Co Dublin in 1873 and entered the Jesuits in Rahan, Tullabeg, Co Offaly, in the Diocese of Meath in 1891.

A canonisation cause has been opened for Fr Willie Doyle, who served as a chaplain in the 16th Irish Division of the British Army during the First World War.

This is the first canonisation process opened in Ireland in over a quarter of a century — the last being for Legion of Mary founder Frank Duff in 1996.