William Walsh

Who was William Walsh?

William Joseph Walsh served as the Roman Catholic Archbishop of Dublin from 3 July 1885 until his death in 1921. He was born in 11 Essex Quay in Dublin. He was educated at St. Laurence O’Toole Seminary School, Harcourt St., Dublin, the Catholic University of Ireland and St. Patrick's College, Maynooth where he became Professor of Theology in 1867. He was appointed vice-president of Maynooth in 1878 and president in 1880 until he was appointed Archbishop of Dublin.

He was sympathetic to Irish Nationalism and advocated Home Rule and agrarian land reform.

Walsh served on the Senate of the Royal University of Ireland and as part of the Commission of National Education.

He was appointed Chancellor of the newly founded National University of Ireland in 1908, a position he held until he died when he was succeeded by Éamon de Valera.