Walsh, William Joseph (1841–1921)

Irish Catholic archbishop of Dublin from 1885. His independent mind was shown by his misgivings (privately expressed) on the papal condemnation of the Land League's ‘Plan of Campaign’ (1888) to withhold rents. He was more circumspect on Charles Stewart Parnell's relationship with Kitty O'Shea than other Irish bishops. During the rise of Sinn Fein, Walsh supported the independence movement 1919–21. Civil war was imminent as he lay dying, but he was unable to influence events. He is remembered in Ireland for patriotism and social concern.

Before his ordination in 1866, Walsh was a professor at St Patrick's College, Maynooth, published in law and economics, and was hailed as the foremost canon lawyer in the Irish church. A Dubliner, he understood the feelings of his people better than Cardinal Paul Cullen.