Irish musician Eithne Vallely (81) dies in road collision in Co Armagh

Death of Eithne Vallely

Eithne Vallely, an 81-year-old traditional Irish musician, has died after being hit by a truck in Co Armagh, police have said. The incident occurred on Friday morning while she was walking in the Portadown Road area.

Det Insp Stewart, from the PSNI’s collision investigation unit, said officers attended alongside colleagues from other emergency services. “Medical treatment was provided to the pedestrian, however she was pronounced deceased at the scene,” he said. The Portadown Road, which was closed for a time, has now fully reopened.

Tributes from the Armagh Pipers Club

Vallely co-founded the Armagh Pipers Club with her husband Brian in 1966. In a statement, the club said it was with “great sorrow” that they shared news of her death, extending “heartfelt sympathy” to her family. “Eithne brought music into the lives of children for six decades,” the club said. “Her enormous contribution to Irish traditional music was recognised nationally with many awards and honours.”

Political and community reactions

Sinn Féin MP for Newry and Armagh Dáire Hughes praised Vallely’s impact on traditional Irish music. “Eithne was a giant of Irish cultural life in Armagh and across Ireland – a pioneering musician. Her decades of contribution to music and cultural expression cannot be overstated, evidenced by her countless awards and honours,” he said. Hughes also noted her lifelong passion for traditional music, which began with the tin whistle in primary school and evolved into piano, violin, and more. He added that she passed this passion on to her family and the wider community through the founding of the Armagh Pipers Club.

Armagh SDLP councillor Thomas O’Hanlon expressed “deep sadness” at the news and described the death as “simply devastating.” He noted that Vallely came from Donegal but made Armagh her home.

Police appeal

The PSNI has appealed for anyone with information about the crash to contact them. The Journal notes that anyone with dash-cam footage can use the witness appeal form at a police website, quoting reference '24' 21/08/26.