Harp Ireland

The Sugar Club Harp Sessions | Catriona McKay and Chris Stout
2025-11-15 20:00 - 22:00 (Europe/Dublin) | The Sugar Club, 8 Leeson Street Lower, Dublin, D02 ET97, Ireland
Our Sugar Club Harp Sessions concert on Saturday 15th November features Catriona McKay and Chris Stout.

Join us on Saturday, 15th November at The Sugar Club for an unforgettable night of bold, boundary-breaking music with Catriona McKay (Scottish harp) and Chris Stout (fiddle).
Rooted in Scottish tradition and driven by fearless creativity, this world-class duo crafts a sound that’s emotional, dynamic, and wholly their own. A stunning blend of tradition and innovation.
This is a rare chance to experience two master musicians in an intimate setting, as part of our series celebrating the most exciting voices in harping today.
Venue: The Sugar Club, 8 Leeson Street Lower, Dublin 2, D02 ET97
Date: Saturday 15 November
Doors 7:30pm, Concert 8pm
Tickets at www.eventbrite.ie/

Harp Makers Symposium 2025
2025-11-16 11:00 - 16:00 | Irish Institute of Music and Song
Come along to Cruit Éireann|Harp Ireland’s gathering of harp makers on Sunday 16th November 11am-4pm in the Irish Institute of Music and Song, Balbriggan.
Take the opportunity to meet some of our most renowned Irish harp makers, each of them living and making harps here in Ireland.
You will have a chance to learn from expert master craftsmen about the traditions and techniques that go into building our national instrument. You can find out too about how to care for your harp at our Harp Clinic, guided by some of the best harp makers in the world.
Ask all your harp questions at harp makers’ talks, panels and Q&A sessions and compare the sound of different harps at harp pop-up performances, featuring some of our up and coming young players.
Don’t miss out on joining the harp makers, who bring your harp from design to reality, and learn to care for it from the inside out.

Sonóir : Celebrating Harps
2025-11-30 17:00 - 20:00 | The Whyte Recital Hall, 36-38 Westland Row, Dublin, D02 WY89
This stellar event brings together some of Ireland’s finest harpers and musicians for an unforgettable evening of music. We are thrilled to present the world premiere of Sonóir, Cruit Éireann|Harp Ireland’s commission composed by Mel Mercier, performed by harpers Alannah Thornburgh and Niamh O’Brien, bassoonist Sinéad Frost and Malachy Robinson (Viola da Gamba) with Mel Mercier (percussion). The evening also features performances by Ireland’s foremost harp duo Cormac De Barra and Anne-Marie O’Farrell, newly-commissioned work by acclaimed harper-composer Michael Rooney performed by the 20-strong Harp Ireland Ensemble and performances from Biird founder Lisa Canny (harp), Laura Doherty (fiddle), Tod Doyle (drums) and Niall Hughes (guitar and bass).
Date: Sunday 30 November 2025
Time: 5pm
Venue: The Whyte Recital Hall, RIAM
Tickets: https://www.riam.ie/whats-on/sonoir

Music on the Farm Concerts - Maria Matthews (soprano) and Fiona Gryson (harp)
2025-12-07 15:00 | Cornstown House Farm, Cornstown, Ashbourne, Meath, A84 N512
Maria Matthews (soprano) and Fiona Gryson (harp)
Maria Matthews is an Irish soprano and honours graduate of the TU Dublin Conservatoire of Music and Drama. She also holds a Master of Music from the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland. Maria performs regularly with Irish National Opera as chorus member, most recently in their productions of Gounod’s Faust and Puccini’s La bohème. In opera scenes Maria has portrayed roles including: Mimi (La bohème), Fiordiligi (Così fan tutte), Countess Almaviva (Le Nozze di Figaro) and Ellen Orford (Peter Grimes).
Maria took part in the 2021 “Raise Our Voices” and the 2023 “Celebrating the Voice” concert series, both curated by Irish Mezzo Soprano Tara Erraught. In 2021 she was the winner of the Birr Lyons Vocal Bursary in conjunction with the Trench Award, and in 2023 Maria was a Camerata Ireland Young Artist and a Voice Fellow at Opernfest Prague where she had the opportunity to sing with the Prague Philharmonic Orchestra in Smetana Hall.
Fiona Gryson enjoys a varied career as a professional, freelance harpist and teacher. A thoughtful and consummate curator, Fiona is a member of the Advisory Group for Cruit Éireann | Harp Ireland, director of the Fingal Harp Ensemble and co-director of the TU Dublin Conservatoire Harp Ensemble with Rachel Duffy and Clíona Doris. Fiona is in demand as a teacher of both Irish lever harp and concert pedal harp, running a private harp studio in Co. Dublin. A recipient of a Government of Ireland Postgraduate Scholarship awarded by Research Ireland, Fiona Gryson is pursuing PhD research with Prof. Clíona Doris and Dr. Helen Lawlor at TU Dublin Conservatoire. With clarinettist Berginald Rash, Fiona recently released their début album of clarinet and harp transcriptions entitled ‘Dathanna: Hues and Shades’ under the Orchid label. She has performed as Principal Harpist with the RTÉ National Symphony and Concert Orchestras, the Irish Chamber and the Ulster Orchestras. As a soloist and member of ensembles, she has performed extensively nationally and internationally, both live and on television and radio. With Rachel Duffy, she is delighted to co-direct Cairde na Cruite’s An Chúirt Chruitireachta International Harp Festival 2025.

World Harp Congress - Submit Your Video
2025-12-19 08:00 - 2025-12-31 17:00
Dear young harpers (up to 35)

The World Harp Congress warmly invites you to join them on a journey into the modern sound of the harp.

You can choose any piece you love that sparks your imagination or brings you peace, joy, or fun, written after 2000 — and they’ll be happy to share it and celebrate your playing, as well as the composers whose ideas inspire you.

Just record your piece (max 6 min) as beautifully as you can. Together, we’ll bring new ideas to light.

Aisling Lyons at Scoil Gheimhridh Ghaoth Dobhair
2025-12-28 08:00 - 2026-01-31 17:00
Beidh Aisling Lyons mar theagascóir cruite ag Scoil Gheimhridh Ghaoth Dobhair na bliana seo.
Aisling Lyons as this year’s harp tutor at Scoil Gheimhridh Ghaoth Dobhair.
Book your place here: https://scoilgheimhridh.com/harp/

Harps at Tradfest 2026
2026-01-23 08:00 - 2026-01-25 17:00
Catch wonderful harp performances throughout Tradfest 2026.
Concert: Aoibhe Kettle
Date: 23 January 2026
Time: 1pm
Venue: The Cobblestone, 77 King St N, Smithfield, Dublin, D07 TP22
Concert: Grainne Hambly
Date: 24 January 2026
Time: 1pm
Venue: Rathfarnham Castle, Rathfarnham Rd, Rathfarnham, Dublin, D14 K3T6
Concert: Celebrating the Harp with Stephen Rea, Brídín, and TU Dublin Harping Ensemble
Date: 24 January 2026
Time: 4pm
Venue: Áras Chrónáin, Watery Ln, Orchard Rd, Clondalkin, Dublin 22, D22 X856
Concert: IIMS Harp Ensemble
Date: 25 January 2026
Time: 4pm
Venue: Ardgillan Castle, Ardgillan Demesne, Co. Dublin, K34 C984
Tickets and Full Programme: https://tradfest.com/

Anne-Marie O'Farrell at St Brigid’s Festival – The Irish Composers Collective: ‘Sounds of Spring’
2026-02-01 13:00 - 14:00 | National Botanic Gardens of Ireland, Botanic Road Glasnevin Dublin 9, Dublin, Ireland
The Irish Composers Collective presents ‘Songs of Spring’, a lunchtime concert of exciting new chamber music for harp, cello and soprano, taking place against the beautiful backdrop of the National Botanic Gardens.
Acclaimed musicians Yseult Cooper Stockdale (cello), Sylvia O’Brien (soprano) and Anne-Marie O’Farrell (harp) will perform a range of new works written by members of the Irish Composers Collective. These pieces, composed specially for the concert, will explore themes of Irish mythology, storytelling and nature. Come along for what promises to be a special celebration of Imbolc and the arrival of spring.
The Irish Composers Collective is funded by the Arts Council of Ireland.
Date: Sunday 1st February, 1pm
Venue: National Botanic Gardens, Glasnevin
Tickets: Free event, registration required here

The Irish Consort
2026-02-15 18:30 - 20:00 | Pepper Canister Church, Mount St Crescent, Dublin 2, D02 HC65, Ireland
Join us in the beautiful Pepper Canister Church for a unique evening with The Irish Consort, directed by Siobhán Armstrong. This concert explores the role of the early Irish harp at the 17th century English royal court and features the Irish premiere of William Lawes’ harp consorts performed on a brass wire strung early Irish harp by Siobhán Armstrong, with Bojan Čičić (violin), Reiko Ichise (bass viol), Elizabeth Kenny (theorbo).
Venue: Pepper Canister, 7 Mount St Crescent, Dublin 2, D02 HC65
Date: Sunday 15th February 2026
Doors: 6:00pm, Concert: 6:30pm

Sugar Club Harp Sessions | Michael Rooney & Muireann Nic Amhlaoibh
2026-02-28 20:00 - 22:00 | The Sugar Club, 8 Leeson Street Lower, Dublin, D02 ET97, Ireland
Michael Rooney and Muireann Nic Amhlaoibh open our 2026 Sugar Club Harp Sessions. Both artists are leading figures in Irish traditional music and bring a distinctive blend of creativity, musicianship and deep cultural knowledge to the stage. Muireann Nic Amhlaoibh is a renowned sean nós singer from Corca Dhuibhne and a multi award winning artist celebrated for her expressive and powerful performances. Michael Rooney is an influential harper and composer whose innovative style and large scale ensemble works have become central to the modern harp repertoire.
Venue: Sugar Club, 8 Leeson Street Lower, Saint Kevin’s, Dublin, D02 ET97
Date: Saturday 28 February 2026
Doors: 7:30pm Concert: 8:00pm

An Chúirt Chruitireachta 2026 | Early Bird Offer February 1st
2026-06-28 08:00 - 2026-07-03 17:00
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. Book your place here: https://forms.gle/TWj11be8wva5Kc9E7 Early Bird Prices Valid Until 1 February 2026.
Information on festival packages are as follows:
Residential Packages:
Student Participants (U18 or O18 with a valid student ID) : €570
Adult Participants (18+ Years) : €850
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
