Walsh, James

James Walsh (1803-1873), Catholic priest, was born in Cappahayden, County Callan, Kilkenny, Ireland, in 1803. He died at Merasheen, Placentia Bay, on 12 July 1873.

Walsh studied for the priesthood in St. Kieran's College, Kilkenny, and, in 1831 was ordained a priest in Dublin, Ireland by Michael Anthony Fleming, Bishop of St. John's.

At the invitation of Bishop Fleming, Rev. Walsh arrived in the Vicariate of Newfoundland in 1835. He was appointed as priest at Carbonear where he was an active member of the Benevolent Irish Society (BIS).

In the latter part of 1841 Rev. Walsh was transferred as parish priest to the Sacred Heart Parish, Placentia. He set out from Carbonear in the month of December to walk to Placentia in order to be available to celebrate the Masses for the Christmas Season in his new parish. The journey was arduous and tragic as some of his companions died along the route after being caught in a bitter snow storm.

Rev. Walsh also served at St. Joseph's Parish, Bonavista (1855-57). In 1862 he was appointed as the parish priest of Sacred Heart Parish, St. Kyrans, Placentia Bay, where he resided until his death in 1873. Rev. Walsh was also a member of the Board of Education for Placentia West.

Created - April 29, 2013

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