St. Louis Irish Arts www.slia.org
7480 Whitehaven Drive St. Louis MO 63123 314.849.1662 info@slia.org
Mary became a student of St. Louis Irish Arts in 1993 at the age of four. She began playing the tin whistle as a child and soon after began playing the flute. Mary has travelled to Ireland to compete in the Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann, which is the All-Ireland Music Championships, every summer since 2004. She was a member of the senior grupai cheoil ensemble from St. Louis Irish Arts that won the All-Ireland title in 2004. Mary was also a member of the senior group that returned to compete in 2007. Mary earned the Gold Congressional Medal in 2007. She is currently a second year student at St. Louis University.
Mary is one of the few musicians to record on all four volumes in the St. Louis Irish Arts collection. In addition to playing with St. Louis Irish Arts, Mary also plays Irish music alongside her family. Mary’s father, Peter Walsh, plays guitar, sings and is a respected musician of the local and international music scene. Her older brother, Ian Walsh, is a former fiddle student and teacher of St. Louis Irish Arts and plays with The Banks Ceili Band of St. Louis among other musical notorieties.
Mary currently teaches flute and tin whistle for St. Louis Irish Arts. In November 2007, Mary was elected Youth Officer on the Midwest Regional Board of Comhaltas North America. In that capacity, she promotes youth activities throughout the Midwest and is working dilligently on the organizing committee of the Comhaltas North American Provincial Convention to be held in St. Louis in April 2009.
“The Butlers of Glen Avenue/Farewell to Chernobyl”
St. Louis Irish Arts IV arranged by Mary Walsh
“Jimmy Ward’s/Sliabh Russell”
St. Louis Irish Arts IV
SLIA Grupai Cheoil with Mary Walsh on flute
Mary playing with her father Peter Walsh 2008
Mary with friends Emmy & Leah Arkansas 2006
