The death has taken place of Bishop William Lee, the former head of the diocese of Waterford and Lismore.
He was the Bishop of Waterford and Lismore from 1993 until his retirement in 2013 and died this morning at the age of 82.
His successor, Bishop Alphonsus Cullinan said it was with "great sadness and profound respect" that he announced the news of the death.
"Bishop Lee dedicated his life to serving the Catholic Church and the people of the Diocese of Waterford and Lismore with firm commitment and passion," Bishop Cullinan said.
Bishop Lee was originally from Newport in north Tipperary and was ordained to the priesthood in 1966 at the age of 25.
He later earned a doctorate in Canon Law and served as president of St Patrick's College in Thurles before being appointed as bishop in 1993 by Pope John Paul II.
He also served as secretary to the Irish Episcopal Conference between 1998 and 2013.
