Rev William Celsus O’Connell . Born Knockbrack, Mallow, County Cork on 06 Jan 1910 . He was the son of farmer Phillip and his wife Minnie.
He was educated at St Bonaventure, New York, and St John, Waterford. He was ordained by Bishop Cotter 14th Jan 1934.
Curate to St Alphonsus Liverpool to 1937; curate at Our Lady and St Joseph, Prescot to 1943. In 1939 he is listed at the Presbytery at 1, West Street. Parish Priest was Father Hugh Fitzpatrick. From there he moved to St John’s, Wigan to 1956; he was then curate at Sacred Heart, Wigan for a year or so.
Father O'Connell was Parish Priest at St Cuthbert from 1957 – 1964
From St Cuthbert's, he became Parish Priest at Our Lady’s Eldon St until his retirement. He was made VF (Very Reverend, with oversight of a number of parishes) in 1968.
Father O'Connel retired to Newton le Willows in 1978, and died there 12th December 1980.