Conor Walsh

Conor Walsh was a minimalist composer from Swinford, Co. Mayo. Conor drew inspiration largely from the wild Mayo landscapes in the West of Ireland. As a keen fisherman along the River Moy in Mayo and Lough Corrib in Galway, Conor would take note of his surroundings introducing these dramatic scenes into his deeply expressive melodies. It was at home on a 100 year old piano that Conor began his early compositions. These compositions drew from a variety of genres that span Minimalist to IDM, Chopin to Tool and have been likened to the music of Hauschka, Aphex Twin, Nils Frahm and Philip Glass. It was later in his career when Conor came across renowned musician and producer Enda Bates who brought Conor’s works to light.

A well regarded live performer – Conor performed at major festivals including Electric Picnic, Body and Soul, Another Love Story, and Other Voices in Dingle and Derry, having won the online competition to perform in the IMRO OtherRoom at Other Voices Derry 2014, which was then broadcast on RTÉ. He also appeared on 2015 series of TG4’s Ceol ar an Imeall, and opened for Hozier on a sold out Irish tour in Waterford, Cork and Limerick in 2013. Since his untimely passing Another Love Story has held a musical segment in their festival in Conor’s honour, known simply as – ‘For Conor’ and the Dublin based festival Hard Working Class Heroes has held an annual bursary in Conor’s name.

Conor’s music has also been used in RTÉ television Prime Time, Radio One, TV3 and R na G documentaries as well as the viral short film Analogue people in a digital age from Twopair films. Conor also scored the short film Testimony, directed by Kamila Dydyna. Tourism sites Mayo.ie and Ireland.ie have also used Conor’s works on their hugely successful advertising campaigns.

Conor tragically passed away on 11.03.2016 in his home.