Harp Ireland

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 (Europe/Dublin) | 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.
