Fr willie cleary to be laid to rest in tullamore on thursday

Former Tullamore Parish Priest Fr Willie Cleary will be laid to rest in Tullamore this Thursday.

The popular priest, who was in his 80s and had served in Tullamore from 1980 to 2004, passed away on Sunday.

A native of Killucan, Co Westmeath, Fr Cleary took ill while visiting parishoners in Riada House in Offaly last Tuesday.

Tullamore priest, Fr Shane Crombie, said “people are very sad to hear of his passing because he was very highly regarded.” He said “one of his best attributes was he involved a lot of people, he opened up the parish.”

Prior to working in Tullamore, Fr Cleary had served as Parish Priest in Kilcormac and before that he minister in the Cathedral in Mullingar. Since his retirement, Fr Cleary acted as curate in Mornington, Co Meath.

Fr Cleary will be laid to rest in Clonminch Cemetery following funeral mass in the Church of the Assumption, Tullamore at 12 noon on Thursday.