Eithne Walls was a doctor and dancer. She performed Irish dance as part of the famed Riverdance ensemble. She was an Air France Flight 447 passenger and is presumed to have perished along with all the other passengers of that flight.
Eithne Walls Riverdance
Sadly, news of debris being found from the missing Air France Airbus A330 flying from Rio de Janeiro to Paris has resulted in the inevitable stories of those who were aboard the ill-fated flight. One of those people was Eithne Walls of Ballygowan, County Down, Ireland. She has been listed incorrectly in the news as Eithne Wallis.
Dr. Walls was one of three young Irish women who had studied and received their degrees to be doctors together. They were on their way back home after a vacation in Brazil. All three of the women were in their 20s and died in the crash of the formerly missing Air France flight. Eithne was 28-years-old. Her friends were Aisling Butler, of Roscrea, County Tipperary and Jane Deasy of Dublin.
She had qualified to be an eye doctor, but continued dancing. She had been dancing competitively for over 20 years and had won medals for her dance. She became a member of the Riverdance troupe after she retired from competitive dancing in 2000 and performed with the dance troupe on Broadway.
Walls studied for six years at Trinity College in Dublin, Ireland to be a doctor while continuing as a member of the ‘flying squad’ in Riverdance.
Her parents, Raymond and Mary Walls paid tribute to their daughter today in the Irish Times:
“It is with the heaviest and saddest of hearts that the Walls family confirm the loss of their dearest daughter and sister, Eithne,” the Walls family said.
“Eithne was an extraordinary person who brought light to the lives of everyone she touched.
“She was beautiful in every way, especially of spirit. She had a passion for life that permeated, enlivened and enriched those around her.
“We feel privileged to have shared her too short life, and the countless memories of her will stay with us forever.”
In a statement issued this morning, they added: “Eithne, we will miss your easy smile. We will miss your loving embrace.
“We will miss your happy hello. We will miss your dancing feet.
“We will miss your silliness, your wit and your hugs. We will always hold you in our hearts and you are never truly gone.”
Riverdance - Video
June 8th, 2009 at 2:05 pm
As somebody who used to work for Wall’s construction ( PJ ) I would like to offer my sincerest sympathy to the Walls family, and may God give you the strength to get through this awful tragedy. God bless. We are losing all our best people.
Patrick Feenan.
232 Ligoniel Road, ( North Belfast ).
Belfast, BT14 8DU.
June 12th, 2009 at 8:11 pm
Will always remember her. She made an impact on my life! LoL.
June 14th, 2009 at 5:20 pm
“Little fire”, you burned so bright. Ireland will miss you forever.