Bishop Willie Walsh 'was a radical in the true sense of the word'

Mourners carry the coffin at the funeral of the Bishop Emeritus of the diocese of Killaloe, Willie Walsh, at the Cathedral of St Peter and Paul, Ennis, Co Clare, on Monday. Picture: Eamon Ward

The late Bishop Emeritus of Killaloe, Willie Walsh, was a radical, profound, and effective crusader and an outspoken bishop who “challenged unquestioned beliefs”.

At Bishop Walsh’s funeral Mass at a packed St Peter and Paul Cathedral in Ennis, the current Bishop of Killaloe, Fintan Monahan, told mourners that “Willie was a radical in the true sense of the word”.

He said: “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."

On Bishop Walsh "challenging the system", Bishop Monahan said: “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 [and] questioning was a legitimate response to arriving at the divinely revealed truth using the gifts that God generously bestowed upon us.”

Bishop Monahan said that "Bishop Willie was a profound and effective crusader” in an understated, yet very effective, way . 

He added that the bishop won people over “to genuine Christian values through kindness, understanding, listening, generosity, care for the poor, the marginalised, people struggling and suffering in life”.

Bishop Willie did this through his unstinting work with the Travelling community, his pastoral outreach to survivors of abuse, the sick, the vulnerable, so many who availed of his spiritual outreach as a true pastor of Jesus Christ

Bishop Walsh died suddenly at his Ennis residence last Wednesday evening just weeks after celebrating his 90th birthday. He served as Bishop of Killaloe from 1994 to 2011.

The former Bishop of Killaloe, Willie Walsh, was 'a profound and effective crusader', Bishop Fintan Monahan told his funeral Mass on Monday. File Picture: Eamon Ward

Bishop Monahan said: “During the week, we were busy praying for the health and recovery of Pope Francis. 

"While we were doing that, a pastor cut out of the same cloth as the Holy Father stole away with no warning and less fuss.

Willie Walsh died as he lived, getting on with the business of things, not hanging around, just moving on with intent and clear direction

At the end of the Mass, his niece Miriam Burke told the congregation that she would like to express “our deep appreciation for all of you and coming to share these days with us”.

Ms Burke said: “Whilst we loved uncle Willie as a member of our family, we were always aware that we shared him with another family — the family of Killaloe diocese and the extended family nationwide.

“It is very clear to us that your sense of loss mirrors our own. 

"Willie would not have wanted us to dwell on our loss but rather to celebrate his life and a life that was lived with purpose, joy, generosity and above all humility.

"We have much to celebrate and much to learn from the example of his life.” 

Bishop Ger Nash, diocese of Ferns, blesses the coffin along with Fr Tom Ryan and Bishop Fintan Monahan after the funeral Mass. Picture: Eamon Ward

Members of the public turned out in large numbers on Monday and Sunday afternoon at the cathedral to pay their respects to the Roscrea native — who first came to Ennis in 1947, where he entered St Flannan’s College as a boarding student.

Bishop Walsh, who celebrated being a priest 66 years this month, was to remain in Ennis for the rest of his life apart from periods spent in Maynooth, Rome, and Galway on his studies.

Bishop Monahan said: “Thank God for the life and times of this outstanding human being, this man with such a gift for friendship, who for so many made this world a better place.” 

Bishop Walsh’s remains were laid to rest on the grounds of St Peter and Paul Cathedral close to the plot of the late Bishop of Killaloe, Michael Harty, whom he succeeded as bishop in 1994.