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X-WR-CALDESC:Events for Harp Ireland
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DTSTART;TZID=Europe/Dublin:20260727T080000
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DTSTAMP:20260227T154834Z
CREATED:20260227T154816Z
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UID:22021-1785139200-1785776400@www.harpireland.ie
SUMMARY:O’Carolan Harp Festival and Summer School 2026
DESCRIPTION:KEADUE\, CO. ROSCOMMON –The village of Keadue\, the final resting place of the legendary blind harper Turlough O’Carolan\, is proud to announce the return of the O’Carolan Harp Festival and Summer School. Running from Monday\, July 27th to Monday\, August 3rd\, 2026\, this week-long celebration marks one of Ireland’s most significant cultural gatherings\, blending world-class performance with immersive musical education. \nThe Summer School: A Week of Mastery \nThe festival kicks off on Monday\, July 27th\, with the highly anticipated Summer School. Musicians of all ages and abilities will gather for intensive workshops led by master tutors. The curriculum is designed to be comprehensive\, ensuring the preservation of traditional Irish arts: \n\nMorning Classes: Dedicated to Harp\, Tin Whistle\, Concertina\, Bodhrán\, and Set Dancing.\nAfternoon Classes: Specialized sessions in Banjo\, Flute\, Button Accordion\, Fiddle\, Traditional Singing\, and Sean-Nós Dancing.\nSpecial Sessions: The “Try the Harp” initiative returns\, offering beginners a unique opportunity to touch and play the instrument in a supportive environment.\n\nConcert Highlights: Harp Ireland & Téada \nThe 2026 festival boasts a stellar lineup of evening performances\, with two major highlights anchoring the schedule: \nThe O’Carolan Harp Festival in conjunction with Harp Ireland are co -sponsoring  on Friday 31st July in Keadue a fantastic concert  of Mel Mercier’s newly  Harp Ireland commissioned work\, called Sonóir for 2 Irish harps\, Bassoon\, Viola Da Gamba and percussion which we premiered last Nov in the Royal Irish Academy of Music. The idea would be that they will perform individually as well as collectively – all renowned musicians in their own right – Niamh O’Brien (Harper\, Composer and Fullbright Scholar\, Alannah Thornburgh (Harper\, Best Folk instrumentalist at the RTE Folk Awards 2025)\, Malachy Robinson (Irish Chamber Orchestra) Greg Crowley( National Symphony Orchestra) and Mel Mercier himself on percussion. \nThe evening also features our local Harpers Aoife Guckian\,Sophie Daly\, Fiachra Guihen and Emma Benson who are legendary throughout the North West and beyond . \nSunday Evening  Main Event: Téada The festival’s centerpiece performance takes place on Sunday in Thr O’Carolan Centre at St. Ronan’s Hall\, featuring the internationally acclaimed group Téada. Known for their raw energy and virtuosic precision\, Téada is a leading voice in traditional Irish music. Their performance promises to be a high-octane celebration\, bringing a global perspective back to the heart of North Roscommon. Formed in 2001\, Téada has headlined major music festivals across the US\, Canada\, Europe\, and Australia. Led by fiddle player Oisín Mac Diarmada\, the group is celebrated for a sound that is both sophisticated and unpretentious\, proving that traditional music remains a living\, breathing\, and wildly exciting art form. \nA Legacy in String Beyond the stage and classroom\, the festival will include the annual Harp Competition\, attracting competitors from across the globe to vie for one of the most prestigious titles in the traditional circuit. The week concludes on the August Bank Holiday Monday with the legendary Door Dancing competition and a festive parade through the village. \n“We are thrilled to welcome the world back to Keadue\,” says the Festival Committee. “From the quiet focus of our morning workshops to the thunderous applause for Téada\, this week is a testament to the enduring spirit of O’Carolan.” \nTickets & Enrolment: Online registration for the Summer School and ticket sales for all concerts will be open soon . Due to high demand\, early booking is strongly advised.
URL:https://www.harpireland.ie/showevent/ocarolan-harp-festival-and-summer-school/
LOCATION:Keadue\, Roscommon\, Keadue\, Roscommon\, Ireland
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://www.harpireland.ie/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/Keadue-Festival-Image-e1772207016266.jpg
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DTSTART;TZID=Europe/Dublin:20260727T143000
DTEND;TZID=Europe/Dublin:20260727T153000
DTSTAMP:20260626T152131Z
CREATED:20260623T114835Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260626T152131Z
UID:22452-1785162600-1785166200@www.harpireland.ie
SUMMARY:Harps Alive: Harping with Words: Reimagining Gaelic Bardic Poetry with Harp Accompaniments
DESCRIPTION:The recitation of Gaelic bardic poetry alongside accompanying harp music was a highly esteemed performance practice throughout Gaelic society which involved the famed trio of An File\, An Reacaire agus An Cruitire (the poet\, reciter and harper). Whilst the survival of many Gaelic bardic poems provides us with insights into the complex nature of the poetry\, a lack of recordings\, transcriptions and source material relating to the accompanying harp music obscures our knowledge and understanding of the harpers’ creative practice. \nFrequently mentioned throughout early Irish literature\, the harper undoubtedly played a vital role within this mode of practice which demanded a high level of skill in accompanying poetry governed primarily by syllables and strict metrical rules of composition. Have you ever wondered what these 16th century Irish bardic poems could sound like with harp accompaniment? Come along to get a glimpse into our Gaelic past\, and how we might reimagine it for musicians today. \nLauren Ní Néill \nCruitire traidisiúnta\, léachtóir agus taighdeoir mór le rá as Gleann an Iolar\, Co. Dhoire\, is ea an Dr Lauren Ní Néill. Tá sí tar éis seinm go fairsing ar fud na hÉireann agus na hEorpa\, agus tá sí ina stiúrthóir ceoil ar Chruitirí Dhoire agus ar Chruitirí Inis Eoghain chomh maith. Cuireadh spotsholas uirthi i léiriúcháin ar nós Sruth (TG4/BBC Alba)\, Folk Map of the British Isles agus Beart Bunting\, agus léiríonn a cuid oibre ceangal domhain le traidisiúin stairiúla agus chomhaimseartha na cruite. Ina taighde PhD le déanaí\, Bairdne\, déanann sí iniúchadh ar chur chuige nua maidir le tionlacan cruite do fhilíocht bhairdice Ghaelach. Ba í Lauren an chéad CEO ar Chruit Éireann | Harp Ireland agus tá sí ag léachtóireacht faoi láthair i gceol traidisiúnta na hÉireann in Ollscoil Uladh. \nDr Lauren Ní Néill is a highly regarded traditional harper\, teacher and researcher from Glenullin\, Co. Derry. She has performed and taught widely across Ireland and Europe and is musical director of both the Derry Harp Ensemble and the Inishowen Harp Ensemble. A featured performer on productions including Sruth (TG4/BBC Alba)\, Folk Map of the British Isles and Beart Bunting\, her work reflects a deep engagement with both historical and contemporary harp traditions. Her recent PhD research\, Bairdne\, explores new approaches to harp accompaniment of Gaelic bardic poetry. Lauren was the first CEO of Cruit Éireann | Harp Ireland and currently lectures in Irish traditional music at Ulster University. \nDate: Monday 27th July\nTime: 2:30pm\nVenue: Ulster University\nTickets: Book here.
URL:https://www.harpireland.ie/showevent/harps-alive-harping-with-words-reimagining-gaelic-bardic-poetry-with-harp-accompaniments/
LOCATION:Ulster University Belfast\, Belfast
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://www.harpireland.ie/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/Lauren-Ni-Neill-Harping-with-Words.png
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DTSTART;TZID=Europe/Dublin:20260727T160000
DTEND;TZID=Europe/Dublin:20260727T170000
DTSTAMP:20260626T152050Z
CREATED:20260623T150350Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260626T152050Z
UID:22468-1785168000-1785171600@www.harpireland.ie
SUMMARY:Harps Alive: From Tradition to Practice – Harp Accompaniment and Style with Colm McGonigle
DESCRIPTION:This workshop with Colm McGonigle explores the evolving role of the harp in Irish music\, from historical traditions to contemporary practice. Through examples and demonstration\, the workshop will examine accompaniment\, arranging and stylistic approaches across different tune types. \nColm McGonigle is an acclaimed traditional musician\, harper and concertina player from Belfast\, widely respected as both a performer and educator within the traditional music community. Initially introduced to music by his father Tom\, he began on concertina before expanding his practice to piano and later the Irish harp\, developing a broad and sensitive musical style rooted in the Ulster tradition. \nColm has performed extensively across Ireland\, the UK and internationally\, with appearances at major venues and festivals including the BBC Proms at the Royal Albert Hall\, Cambridge Folk Festival\, Celtic Connections and Festival Interceltique de Lorient. While based in London\, he was a harp tutor with the London Irish Music School and Feith an Cheoil School of Music\, and has delivered workshops at leading traditional music festivals. \nNow based in Dublin following doctoral studies\, he remains active as a performer\, tutor and session musician\, contributing to the continued development and transmission of Irish traditional harp music. \nDate: Monday 27th July\nTime: 4pm\nVenue: Ulster University\nTickets: Book here.
URL:https://www.harpireland.ie/showevent/harps-alive-from-tradition-to-practice-harp-accompaniment-and-style-with-colm-mcgonigle/
LOCATION:Ulster University Belfast\, Belfast
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://www.harpireland.ie/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/Workshop-with-Colm-McGonigle.png
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