Harp Ireland

Historical Harp Society of Ireland - April Harpers' Gathering
2026-04-19 16:00 - 18:00 (Europe/Dublin) | Online
The Historical Harp Society of Ireland warmly invites you to their free online Harpers’ Gathering community social time, hosted by HHSI volunteer, Barbara Karlik. Come for harp chat, share what you’ve been working on, and try out tunes you want to play in front of a small, very supportive audience.
Register Here: https://us06web.zoom.us/meeting/register/doJ6AMOxTEW2xVjfOtrBzQ#/registration

The Sugarloaf Sessions Festival
2026-04-24 - 2026-04-26 | Bray, Co. Wicklow, Bray, Co. Wicklow, Ireland
The Sugarloaf Sessions is a one-of-a-kind, traditional Irish music festival for adult learners. This event is about more than just playing tunes–it’s about preparation, connection, and unlocking your full music potential.
Instruments: Fiddle, flute, tin whistle, banjo, concertina, button accordion, piano accordion, uilleann pipes, mandolin, and harp.
Festival Highlights
Pre-Festival Prep: Kick off your learning with the TuneClub app. You’ll get curated tune sets, handy practice tools, and even chat with tutors and other participants before the festival.
Hands-On Workshops: By day, join small-group workshops with expert tutors. Refine your technique, learn new tunes, and get personalised feedback in a supportive setting.
Friendly Sessions: Each evening, unwind at the group sessions paced so everyone can comfortably join in. Enjoy the thrill of playing an Irish session without stress.
Real Session Experience: Learn to accompany songs and gain practical know-how for playing confidently in a group.
Music Community: Be part of a warm, welcoming community and experience the camaraderie that makes Irish music so special.
Dates: 24 – 26 April 2026
Venue: Bray, Co. Wicklow
Book: https://tuneclub.com/experiences/the-sugarloaf-sessions/

Music at the Malthouse
2026-04-26 15:00 - 17:00 | The Malthouse, Main Street, Stradbally, R32 HP98, Ireland
Music at the Malthouse is an annual festival celebrating collaborations between Music Generation Laois ensembles and guest artists.
On Sunday 26th April, Music Generation Laois will host an afternoon of live music on Sunday 26 April, 2026 featuring Michael McGoldrick, Catriona McKay and Michael Rooney.
MG Laois Harp Ensembles have been working in collaboration with the Scottish Harper Catriona McKay and Monaghan’s Michael Rooney. Music from this very special collaboration will be performed at the Sunday afternoon concert in the Malthouse.
Michael McGoldrick (Flute | Whistles | Uilleann Pipes) has been working alonside the MG Laois Trad Orchestra, MG Laois Trad Group and their Directors Tommy Fitzharris, Denise Boyle and Siobhan Buckley. Ensembles will perform original compositions (new and old) by Michael McGoldrick and a number of traditional songs.
Music at the Malthouse is funded by the Arts Councl Festival Investment Scheme, Creative Ireland Laois and Laois County Council’s Tourism Grant 2026.
Date: Sunday 26th May
Time: 3pm
Venue: The Malthouse, Stradbally, Laois
Tickets: Book Here

Historical Harp Society of Ireland Online Courses
2026-05-02 | Online
The Historical Harp Society of Ireland have online courses, starting May 2nd.
Cerdd dant: Music of the medieval Welsh harpers
Explore the historical harp repertoire of the Welsh bardic tradition of cerdd dant (string music) through a guided, hands-on introduction to gosteg Dafydd athro (‘the prelude of master David’), the opening piece preserved in the Robert ap Huw manuscript.
Tutor: Dr Karen Loomis
Going to the Source: A fresh look at iconic Irish-harp compositions
Take a fresh historical approach to playing two iconic Irish traditional melodies, Tabhair Dom do Lámh (‘Give me your hand’) and Carolan’s Concerto, drawn from their earliest surviving sources.
Tutors: Dr Tamzin Elliott, Dr Siobhán Armstrong
The Year 1691: Music for a Jacobite hero
Learn to sing and play two powerful and poignant historical laments for the defeat of the Jacobites in Ireland: Chum Pádraig Sáirséal (‘Farewell to Patrick Sarsfield’) and Briseadh na Bóinne (‘the defeat at the Boyne’).
Tutors: Eibhlís Ní Ríordáin, Dr Siobhán Armstrong
All courses meet online on six Saturdays
Early-bird offer: enroll for €99 / course and save 24% off the full price of €130. Offer ends 28 April, 2026
Enrollment: https://irishharp.org/acadamh

Harp Sessions at The Sugar Club | Cormac De Barra & Lisa Lambe
2026-05-21 20:00 - 22:00 | The Sugar Club, 8 Leeson Street Lower, Dublin, D02 ET97, Ireland
Two leading voices in Irish music, harper Cormac De Barra and singer Lisa Lambe, perform at Harp Sessions at The Sugar Club, the second in our 2026 series. Cruit Éireann is proud to premiere their collaborative work, Macalla na Mara | Sea Echoes; a new composition for harp and voice, inspired by our deep connection to the sea and a response to climate change and rising sea levels. Commissioned by Cruit Éireann, with support from dlr County Council, Macalla na Mara is a new work by two renowned artists and an artistic response to current challenges to the environment. Set in the intimate and iconic surroundings of The Sugar Club in the heart of the city, this concert also features music that reflects the rich harping tradition and explores contemporary Irish song and harp from two consummate performers.
Date: Thursday 21st May
Time: 8pm (doors 7.30pm)
Venue: The Sugar Club, 8 Leeson Street Lower, Saint Kevin’s, Dublin, D02 ET97
Tickets: Book here.
Cormac De Barra
Cormac is a third generation harper in a family of Irish-speaking singers and musicians raised in Dublin, but with roots in County Cork. A well-known TV presenter on TG4, he has recorded and toured with many of Ireland’s most celebrated artists including Hazel O’Connor, Julie Feeney, Brian Kennedy, Moya Brennan, Imelda May, Cathy Jordan, The Chieftains and Clannad. He and fellow harper, Anne-Marie O’Farrell, have performed together as an Irish harp duo for over 25 years. His most recent tours include the Music Network tour of Ireland with Altan’s Mairéad Ní Mhaonaigh and piper, Mark Redmond and a tour of Germany with Moya Brennan. The fourth album in the Voices & Harps collaboration with Moya Brennan – a tribute to Mary O’Hara – was released in May 2024.
Lisa Lambe
Hailed as “the finest singer and actor of her generation,” Lisa Lambe is an internationally acclaimed Irish singer, actor and folklorist. A leading presence at the Abbey and the Gate theatres, she has given international concerts at Radio City New York, Red Rocks, Celtic Connections, and Glastonbury. She has been central to the global success of Celtic Woman, with Grammy and Emmy nominations and six Billboard World Artist of the Year awards. She has performed regularly with the RTÉ Concert Orchestra, and on RTÉ Radio, for TV and Film soundtracks and as national anthem singer for FAI and American Football. She is the creator of the acclaimed Nightvisiting song story and folklore project which tours in Ireland and abroad. Lisa’s sixth solo album is due for release in 2026.
Note: Macalla na Mara|Sea Echoes has been commissioned by Cruit Éireann|Harp Ireland with support from Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council.

Macalla na Mara | Sea Echoes
2026-05-26 18:00 - 19:00 | dlr LexIcon, Dún Laoghaire, Co. Dublin, Ireland
Join two distinctive voices – harper Cormac De Barra and singer Lisa Lambe – for a performance of their powerful co-commission Macalla na Mara | Sea Echoes. Together, they explore the inspiration behind this evocative work: a creative response to the mystery of our surrounding waters, and a poignant meditation on climate change. Commissioned by Cruit Éireann|Harp Ireland with support from Dún Laoghaire Rathdown Arts Office. This event is funded with support from dlr Libraries.
Date: Tuesday 26 May 2026
Time: 6pm
Venue: dlr LexIcon, Haigh Terrace, Moran Park, Dún Laoghaire, County Dublin A96 H283
Free Entry. Booking is not required.

Janet Harbison's Adult only Harp Weeks
2026-05-31 - 2026-06-06 | Dungloe, Co. Donegal, Dungloe, Co. Donegal, Ireland
The Adult Only (Residential) week
This course is for players over the age of 18, at all levels and abilities. Held by celebrated veteran Janet Harbison, this course focused on personal development, social playing, fun and friendship located in the town of Dungloe on the magnificent Donegal coast – and at the heart of traditional Irish community. Janet will take your musicianship, confidence, creativity and traditional music understanding to a new level – enabling you to understand how music works and leading you to develop your own tunes and arranging skills. The style of teaching is oral with everyone challenged to a comfortable level. Learning is like language – instilling all the necessary skills, confidence and fluency of a native player – always focused on the core repertoire known to musicians and harpers world-wide. With a maximum of 8 participants, everyone is assured of personal attention with workshops, lectures, concerts and sessions in the evenings, and a great trip out on Wednesday afternoon. There is lots of interaction with local musicians – Join Janet and the community of Dungloe musicians for a week to remember!
Course dates
May 31 – 6 June (Spaces Available)
July 5 – 11 (Limited spaces)
What’s included
• 5 days of Summer School training from 9.30am to 3.30pm (with 9.30am – 12.45pm on Wednesday) with lunches provided (all diets catered to) and all evening concerts, lectures and sessions (with travel where necessary!)
• Accommodation for 6 nights (from Sunday to Saturday) in twin or double ensuite bedrooms in adjacent (and fully equipped) holiday cottages. All bookings are treated as for single occupation, but you are welcome to bring a friend/partner if you wish.
Kitchens are set up with starting breakfast supplies, and all-day teas and coffees.
• A mid-week trip out to Glenveigh National Park, Arranmore Island or Mount Errigal (cost not included).
• For participants booking consecutive weeks, the in-between night’s accommodation is free.
• Harps are available to all (at an extra charge) if you don’t wish to bring your own!
• Pick-ups and drop-offs are arranged free of charge for all travelling by air or bus.
What’s not included:
• Your evening meals. As we have self-catering facilities, you may choose to eat in or out.
On Monday, Wednesday and Friday evenings, we book a table at McCafferty’s Pub which is very near us and an excellent pub and restaurant. On Thursday evening, we do a ‘pot luck’ at home where all who wish can contribute to a communal evening.
• The optional Wednesday afternoon trip out to Arranmore or to Glenveigh Castle in the Glenveigh National Park. Either trip costs €30 (including bus/ferry/entrance costs).
• The Wednesday evening concert in Dungloe’s community centre (featuring all local musicians, singers and dancers) where a ‘contribution’ to cover the interval refreshments is requested (€5 expected)
Course price (includes course, concerts etc, lunches and arrival night dinner): €900
Accommodation (6 nights) Twin or Double bedroom en suite and starting breakfast supplies: €490
Harp Hire (at the venue during classes and practice periods, and elsewhere by special arrangement): €80
‘Plus ones’ (friends/partners): €300

An Chúirt Chruitireachta 2026
2026-06-28 08:00 - 2026-07-03 17:00 | An Grianán, Termonfechin, Louth
Cairde na Cruite’s annual summer festival runs from Sunday 28th June to Friday 3rd July 2026. The full programme will be announced in early 2026. Register Here
Information
Residential Packages:
Student Participants (U18 or O18 with a valid student ID) : €600
Adult Participants (18+ Years) : €900
Listener: €700
The residential rate includes all workshops, concerts, meals and accommodation at An Grianán from Sunday 28th June until Friday 3rd July 2026.Non-residential Packages:
A. Morning Package:
(morning classes: 9.30am – 1pm)
€150

B. Half Day Package:
(includes morning classes, dinner and afternoon workshops: 9.30am – 5pm)
€300

C. Full Day Package:
(includes morning classes, dinner and afternoon workshops, evening meal and concerts: 9.30am – 10pm)
€495

Janet Harbison Harp Teacher Course
2026-07-11 - 2026-07-18 | Dungloe, Co. Donegal, Dungloe, Co. Donegal, Ireland
Janet Harbison’s Donegal Harp Summer School
Teacher’s Week: Residential and Non-Residential
This course starts on Sunday morning at 11 am July 12th. Arrive Saturday evening (July 11th) or before 11am on Sunday morning (July 12th). This course runs alongside the Dungloe Open Harp Week:
What’s included
• 14 hours of Teacher Training, 10 hours of Teaching Practise with inclusion in the regular summer-school classes
• Training materials and sample books
• All evening activities, concerts, lectures, sessions
• Lunches (for all dietary options) and supper on Sunday evening (July 13). All other evenings we eat out or cook in (this cost not included)
• An optional mid-week trip out to Glenveigh National Park, Arranmore Island or Mount Errigal. (Extra cost: €30)
• 7 days of accommodation (from Saturday to Saturday) in twin or double ensuite bedrooms in homely, fully equipped adjacent holiday cottages. Kitchens are set up with breakfast supplies, and all-day teas and coffees. (For participants taking 2 consecutive weeks, the in-between night is free)
Course Price (Per person): €1,100
Accommodation (6 nights) Twin or Double bedroom en suite and starting breakfast supplies: €490
Harp Hire (at the venue during classes and practice periods, and elsewhere by special arrangement): €80
Find out more: JanetHarbisonHarp.com

Cruit: Oscail an Doras | Opening Concert
2026-07-17 19:00 - 21:00 | St. Mary’s Church, Belcruit, Kincasslagh, Ireland
Launching the inaugural Cruit festival, this special opening concert brings together an exceptional lineup of traditional musicians and spoken word artists in the beautiful setting of St Mary’s Church, Kincasslagh. Featuring harpers Michelle Mulcahy and Lauren Ní Néill, uilleann piper Louise Mulcahy, fiddle player Eugene McKenna and acclaimed actor Stephen Rea, the evening celebrates the rich musical and storytelling traditions of Ireland and Donegal through harp music, poetry and collaboration inspired by landscape, heritage and cultural connection.
Date: Friday 17th July
Time: 7pm (doors 6.30pm)
Venue: St. Mary’s Church, Belcruit, Kincasslagh, Co. Donegal
Tickets: Book here.

Cruit: Scéal na Cruite | The Harp Story
2026-07-18 11:00 - 12:00 | St. Mary’s Parochial Hall, Belcruit, Kincasslagh, Select a State or Province:, Ireland
Join Cruit Éireann | Harp Ireland Chair, Aibhlín McCrann and poet Cathal Ó Searcaigh for an engaging exploration of the history and cultural significance of the Irish harp. Set just off Cruit Island, whose name derives from the Irish word for harp, this event traces the instrument’s journey through Irish history, storytelling and tradition. Scéal na Cruite offers audiences a deeper understanding of the harp’s enduring connection to identity and Ireland’s living cultural heritage.
Date: Saturday 18th July
Time: 11am (doors 10:30am)
Venue: St. Mary’s Parochial Hall, Belcruit, Kincasslagh, Co. Donegal
Tickets: Book here.

Cruit: Lón Anama | Poetry for the Soul
2026-07-18 13:00 - 14:00 | St. Mary’s Parochial Hall, Belcruit, Kincasslagh, Select a State or Province:, Ireland
Enjoy a reflective lunchtime gathering of poetry, music and storytelling featuring acclaimed actor Stephen Rea and poet Cathal Ó Searcaigh, with harper Michelle Mulcahy. Lón Anama | Food for the Soul offers therapeutic moments of connection and calm through the interplay of harp music and the spoken word.
Date: Saturday 18th July
Time: 1pm (doors 12:30pm)
Venue: St. Mary’s Parochial Hall, Belcruit, Kincasslagh, Co. Donegal
Tickets: Book here.

Cruit: Ceardlanna Cruite | Harp Workshops
2026-07-18 14:30 - 16:30 | St. Mary’s Parochial Hall, Belcruit, Kincasslagh, Select a State or Province:, Ireland
Join us for the first ever harp workshops on Cruit Island. Beginner, intermediate and advanced students will have an opportunity to learn from master harpers Michelle Mulcahy, Cormac De Barra and Lauren Ní Néill. Come along to hear their unique insights on the music of the ancient harpers, slow airs and dance music on harp; a gathering not to be missed!

Date: Saturday 18th July
Time: 2:30pm (doors 2pm)
Venue: St. Mary’s Parochial Hall, Belcruit, Kincasslagh, Co. Donegal
Tickets: Book here.

Cruit: Macalla na Mara | Sea Echoes
2026-07-18 19:00 - 21:00 | St. Mary’s Church, Belcruit, Kincasslagh, Ireland
Closing the first ever Cruit festival, Macalla na Mara | Sea Echoes commissioned by Cruit Éireann | Harp Ireland, with support from dlr County Council, brings together a stellar lineup of artists for an evening of harp music, song, traditional music, and spoken word. As part of the concert, Cormac De Barra and Lisa Lambe will present this new work Macalla na Mara | Sea Echoes, inspired by our relationship with the sea and the impact of climate change on our natural environment. Featuring performances from the Inishowen Harp Ensemble, harper Lauren Ní Néill, Maighread Ní Dhomhnaill, Mairéad Ní Mhaonaigh, Neil Martin, and Stephen Rea, the concert blends contemporary and traditional performance in a unique programme.
Date: Saturday 18th July
Time: 7pm (doors 6:30pm)
Venue: St. Mary’s Parochial Hall, Belcruit, Kincasslagh, Co. Donegal
Tickets: Book here.

O’Carolan Harp Festival and Summer School 2026
2026-07-27 08:00 - 2026-08-03 17:00 | Keadue, Roscommon, Keadue, Roscommon, Ireland
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.
The Summer School: A Week of Mastery
The 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:

Morning Classes: Dedicated to Harp, Tin Whistle, Concertina, Bodhrán, and Set Dancing.
Afternoon Classes: Specialized sessions in Banjo, Flute, Button Accordion, Fiddle, Traditional Singing, and Sean-Nós Dancing.
Special Sessions: The “Try the Harp” initiative returns, offering beginners a unique opportunity to touch and play the instrument in a supportive environment.

Concert Highlights: Harp Ireland & Téada
The 2026 festival boasts a stellar lineup of evening performances, with two major highlights anchoring the schedule:
The 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.
The evening also features our local Harpers Aoife Guckian,Sophie Daly, Fiachra Guihen and Emma Benson who are legendary throughout the North West and beyond .
Sunday 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.
A 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.
“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.”
Tickets & 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.
