By Dan Walsh
The death has occurred of Very Rev. William Howell, a native of Camolin and former parish priest of Gorey. He was aged 79 years.
“He was very popular and I know in Ballygarrett, he would’ve been behind building the new community centre beside the church and when he was in Gorey he looked after the renovation of the church.”
“He would have done an awful lot for the community and he was in Lourdes every year. No matter who you talk to, he was very popular,” said his niece Annette Bailey.
He taught Irish and Maths, and was also affectionnately labelled ‘the singing priest.”
Born at Boley, Camolin, in 1947, he was educated at Camolin National School, Scoil na Leanbh, An Rinn, Co. Waterford, St. Peter’s College, Wexford, St. Patrick’s College, Maynooth, and the University of Notre Dame, Indiana, 1985-’86.
Fr. Howell was ordained in the Church of the Immaculate Conception, Camolin, on June 8th 1974.
He was appointed to the teaching staff of St. Peter’s College in 1974 and transferred to St. Aidan’s Cathedral parish at Enniscorthy in 1989. He was appointed curate in Kilmyshall in 1992.
In 1998, he embarked on a sabbatical year for further studies and was, on his return, appointed Coordinator for Pastoral and Religious Formation in the Diocese of Ferns.
He also served in Ballygarrett and St Michael’s Parish, Gorey. He retired during Covid.
FAMILY NOTICE. V. Rev. William Howell, former Parish Priest, Gorey, and late of Boley, Camolin. March 5, 2026, peacefully, in the loving care of the staff in Knockeen Nursing Home.
Sadly missed by his loving sisters, brother, brothers-in-law Tom and Michael, sister-in-law Bernie, nephews, nieces, grandnephews, grandnieces, great-grandnephew, first cousins Mary, Betty and Molly, Bishop Ger Nash and his brother priests of the Diocese of Ferns, relatives, friends and former parishioners.
May Fr. William Rest In Peace
Reposing at The Church of The Immaculate Conception, Camolin tomorrow Saturday (7th March) from 3pm to 6.30pm.
Funeral Mass on Sunday (8th March) at 2.30pm with burial afterwards in the adjoining cemetery.
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