William John Burke was ordained a deacon at St Patrick’s College, Maynooth in 1830. He was a step away from being fully ordained a priest, but ill health forced his to leave short of that. He recovered and wanted to finish his training abroad, like some of his contemporaries. He asked for permission to follow their example but it was not granted to him, instead he finished his training at St. John’s College, Waterford where he was ordained in 1831.
His first parish after ordination was Peter’s Well in County Galway. This probably did not satisfy the ambitious William John Burke, but he complied with the authorities on this occasion…