Meitheal Committee

Helen Gannon

Chair

Limerick woman Helen and Galway Husband Patrick ( known as PJ) arrived in St. Louis in 1967 as Doctor and Nurse. The first Comhaltas Concert passed through St. Louis in 1971 and the Gannon’s were hooked. In 1973 the Branch, St. Louis Irish Arts, was incorporated as a non for profit organization. Helen took over the leadership of the Branch in 1975. In 1987 Helen became the first TCRG in Missouri and the addition of the dance school took the Branch from strength to strength, today being one of the largest and most active Comhaltas Branch's in North America. Having served in many of the executive positions including North America Provincial Chair Helen, as the current Chair of Meithal, is enjoying her work in Comhaltas while Daughter Eileen All Ireland Harpist provides the Continuity.

Barb Bouchey

Grant Manager/Secretary

Barbara Walsh Bouchey is the current Grant Manager and Secretary for the NA Meitheal Fund. She was born and raised in St. Louis, Missouri. Her DNA says she is over 90% Irish with family from Counties Cork, Mayo and Meath. She attended Avila University and Rockhurst University in Kansas City, Missouri, graduating with degrees in Economics and Accounting. She worked for 30 years for what is now AT&T where she headed up their Investor Relations organization, part of their Auditing organization and their Business and Wireless Marketing product management organization. She is an Irish genealogy enthusiast and wrote her first book in 2020 on her Walsh family from West Cork.