Mayo musician to play at ceremony for Palestinian Ambassador to Ireland

MAYO native Eamonn Walsh is set to play at a ceremony for the Palestinian Ambassador to Ireland.

The accomplished traditional musician was personally contacted by Dr Wahba Abdalmajid to ask him to play at a ceremony to mark Ireland’s formal recognition of the state of Palestine.

Mr Walsh is no stranger to playing for foreign dignitaries, having previously performed at the Chinese and Japanese embassies. He also played the pipes in the Dáil chamber in 2021 at a ceremony to remember the 100-year anniversary of Seanad Éireann. 

He was previously written to by Yasser Arafat, the first leader of the Palestinian Authority, after he set up a cross-border project in Ballina in 2000. 

As part of this, Mr Walsh wrote to numerous world leaders and celebrities and received support from the Dalai Lama, Tony Blair and Yassar Arrafat among others. 

Speaking to The Mayo News this afternoon, Mr Walsh said he was ‘in awe’ to have been asked to play for Ms Abdalmajid.

The Dublin-based piper has been a long-time member of Comhaltas Ceoiltóirí hÉireann and is currently campaigning for Ballina to host Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann in 2028.

Originally from Ballina, he is a founding member of the Moy Valley branch of Comhaltas Ceoiltóirí hÉireann 

The ceremony recognising the new status of the Palestinian ambassador is expected to take place in the coming weeks.

_{Dr Wahba Abdalmajid (right) pictured with President Michael D Higgins}