Comhaltas Ceoltóirí Éireann

Thomas J. Walsh
April 2, 1928 – April 10, 2008

It is with a sad pen that I write about the passing of our dear friend, leader, and teacher Thomas J. Walsh, who passed away at home April 10, 2008 at the age of 80.

Tom was born April 2, 1928 in New Britain, CT. He played Irish Traditional music since the age of 10. The son of Irish immigrants, Tom became an icon to many up and coming musicians. He taught many musicians tunes that had become less popular over the years. After the passing of his friend Eddie Burke, he teamed up with fellow musicians to compose the Eddie Burke Tune book to keep those tunes at the forefront of many seisiúns. This free book can be found on the Burke-Curry-Seery Branch website at www.blarneystone.com/comhaltas for download.

Tom first started playing traditional music at the age of 10 while his father whistled the tunes as he played along on his fife. As the years passed, Tom took up the penny whistle and then the piano accordion. It was at a dance at the Hartford Irish American Club that he met his late wife Fredrica, whose parents also emigrated from Ireland. In 2004, Tom was inducted in to the Northeast Region of Comhaltas Ceoltoiri Eireann North American Province Hall of Fame.

Tom played with many musicians over the years and was a constant figure at area seisiúns. Tom played with numerous ceili bands over the years including the Mountain Laurel Ceili Band. Tom could always be found next to his friends Eddie Burke, P.V. O’Donnell, Jim Meara, Larry Reynolds, Jim & Cindy Smith, and many others playing the tunes he loved for all these years.

Our deepest sympathy goes out to his family and close friends on the loss of such a great musician and man.

Stuart McEnerney
Vice Chairman
Burke-Curry-Seery Branch