Bishop Willie was President of Accord from 1999 to 2009.
He was associated with Accord since a centre was established in Ennis in 1969.
He credited Accord’s members with teaching him “so much about such precious human values as self-acceptance, empathy, generous sharing, mutual support, affection and love”.
His kindly demeanour, pastoral approach and personal warmth endeared him to all of us in Accord.
The phrase Pope Francis so often uses around sacramental marriage, ‘accompaniment’, was very much part of Bishop Willie’s philosophy in life.
May his gentle soul rest in peace.