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 (Europe/Dublin) | 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

Historical Harp Society of Ireland Summer Discovery Days
2026-07-08 08:00 - 2026-07-10 17:00 | Kilkenny, Kilkenny, Co. Kilkenny
Discover Ireland’s ancient brass-wire-strung harp this summer in concerts, workshops and talks with the Historical Harp Society of Ireland’s Summer Discovery Events. Taking place in from the 8th – 10th of July in Kilkenny, audiences have the chance to:

Listen: National and international performers on early-Irish harp, voice, uilleann pipes, baroque violin, viola da gamba and theorbo perform in two concerts at the 1000-year-old Parade Tower, Kilkenny Castle.
Learn: An illustrated lecture delving into the history of Irish harps.
Have a go: Hands-on workshops ranging from an absolute-beginner session (using replica historical harps) to a workshop for more experienced players.

Date: Wednesday 8 – Friday 10 July
Venue: Kilkenny, Ireland
Tickets and More Information Here

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 & Derry 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.

Harps Alive: Harping with Words: Reimagining Gaelic Bardic Poetry with Harp Accompaniments
2026-07-27 14:30 - 15:30 | Ulster University Belfast, Belfast
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.
Frequently 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.
Lauren Ní Néill
Cruitire 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.
Dr 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.
Date: Monday 27th July
Time: 2:30pm
Venue: Ulster University
Tickets: Book here.

Harps Alive: From Tradition to Practice – Harp Accompaniment and Style with Colm McGonigle
2026-07-27 16:00 - 17:00 | Ulster University Belfast, Belfast
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.
Colm 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.
Colm 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.
Now 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.
Date: Monday 27th July
Time: 4pm
Venue: Ulster University
Tickets: Book here.

Harps Alive: The Belfast Harp Festival as a Starting Point with Neil Martin
2026-07-28 15:00 - 16:00 | Ulster University Belfast, Belfast
In this engaging illustrated lecture, Neil Martin uses the Belfast Harp Festival of 1792 as a starting point to explore the wider historical journey of Irish music. Moving back and forth through time, the session examines the cultural, social and musical contexts that have shaped the tradition, from its early roots to its continued evolution. Through commentary, imagery and musical examples, Neil will illuminate key moments, figures and influences along this path. Insightful and thought-provoking, this lecture offers a deeper understanding of how history, place and people have contributed to the rich tapestry of Irish traditional music.
Date: Tuesday 28th July
Time: 3pm
Venue: Ulster University
Tickets: Book here.

Harps Alive: Arranging for Large-Scale Traditional Ensembles with Michael Rooney
2026-07-29 14:30 - 15:00 | Ulster University Belfast, Belfast
In this insightful talk, Michael Rooney explores the art of arranging traditional music for large-scale ensembles. Drawing on his extensive experience as a composer and musical director, he will examine how to expand traditional tunes and songs beyond small group settings while retaining their character and integrity. The session will look at orchestration, texture, and balance, as well as the challenges of writing for diverse instruments and varying skill levels. Through examples and discussion, Michael will offer a behind-the-scenes insight into shaping large ensemble sound, making this an engaging session for musicians, composers and anyone interested in the evolving possibilities of traditional music.
Date: Wednesday 28th July
Time: 2:30pm
Venue: Ulster University
Tickets: Book here.

Harps Alive | An Chruit Bheo | Harps Leevin’ Celebrating 230 Years of Bunting’s Legacy
2026-07-29 19:30 - 21:30 | Redeemer Central, 101 Donegall Street, Belfast, BT1 2FJ, United Kingdom
Marking the 230th anniversary of Edward Bunting’s A General Collection of the Ancient Irish Music (1796), Harps Alive | An Chruit Bheo | Harps Leevin’ is a landmark celebration of Irish harping, documenting the ancient tradition and highlighting current practise. This flagship concert brings together leading performers, tutors and composers for an evening of solo and ensemble performance, alongside new compositions and arrangements that reimagine historical repertoire for today’s audiences.
At its heart is the CÉHI All-Island Harp Ensemble, led by Síofra Ní Dhubhghaill, offering a powerful coming together of young harpers from across the island. Blending heritage and innovation, Harps Alive stands as a centrepiece of Belfast TradFest, celebrating the harp’s enduring voice and its evolving place in contemporary traditional music.
230 bliain ar aghaidh ó foilsíodh A General Collection of the Ancient Irish Music (1796) le hÉadbhard Bunting, is ceiliúradh mór suntasach é Harps Alive ar chruitireacht na hÉireann mar sheantraidisiún agus mar ealaín bheo chomhaimseartha. Tugann an mhórcheolchoirm seo cuid de na healantóirí, teagascóirí agus cumadóirí is iomráití le chéile d’oíche lán de cheol aonair agus comhcheoil, a athshamhlaíonn stór stairiúil ceoil do lucht éisteachta an lae inniu.
I gcroílár na hócáide, tá Ceolfhoireann Cruite Uile-Éireann Chruit Éireann le cruitirí ó cheann ceann na tíre, faoi stiúir Shíofra Ní Dhubhghaill, agus ceol cruite den scoth acu. Ag sníomh oidhreacht agus nuálaíocht le chéile, seasann An Chruit Bheo|Harps Alive|Harps Leevin’ mar cheann de phríomhimeachtaí na féile, ag ceiliúradh oidhreacht bheo na cruite agus an tionchar leanúnach atá aici ar cheol comhaimseartha na hÉireann i láthair na huaire.
Date: Wednesday 29th July
Time: 7:30pm
Venue: Redeemer Central, Belfast
Tickets: Book here.

Harps Alive: Live Sound for Traditional Music with Úna Monaghan
2026-07-30 15:30 - 16:30 | Ulster University Belfast, Belfast
Úna Monaghan is a live sound engineer with specialisms in traditional acoustic, experimental and multichannel music. She has 20 years of experience working internationally with leading musicians and composers, from Pauline Scanlon, Andy Irvine, Dolores Keane, Maighread and Tríona Ní Dhomhnaill, to Mark Lettieri, Muireann Nic Amhlaoibh, John Spillane, Liz Carroll, The Olllam, Liam O’Flynn and Landless. She was Donal Lunny’s front of house engineer for two of his major projects at home and on tour – Usher’s Island and Atlantic Arc Orchestra, and was touring engineer with At First Light, Ensemble Ériu, Notify and Réalta. She has mixed countless traditional musicians from Shetland to Shanghai and through her work in venues throughout Ireland, including years in An Droichead, The Black Box and the Duncairn Belfast, often by artist request. In 2025 she was sound engineer and designer for Jennifer Walshe’s major new opera MARS, in Galway Arts Festival and The Abbey, Dublin.
This talk and Q&A will discuss considerations for the amplification of traditional musicians, both from the point of view of the musician and the engineer. In addition to technical basics, expect detail from Úna’s own approach and insights beyond the practical. It is a must for anyone with questions about any aspect of their live sound.
Date: Thursday 30th July
Time: 3:30pm
Venue: Ulster University
Tickets: Book here.

Harps Alive: More harps please!
2026-07-30 16:30 - 17:30 | Ulster University Belfast, Belfast
Have you ever wondered what twenty harps playing together sound like? Harp ensembles have sprung up all over Ireland in recent years, inspired by the likes of Janet Harbison’s Belfast Harp Orchestra, which was launched in 1992. In this hands-on workshop, Lauren Ní Néill will guide harpers through the process and challenges involved in arranging traditional music for harp ensemble. Calling all harpers – bring your harps for some hands-on harp ensemble fun. If you’d rather listen, come along and get a feel for harps in numbers!
Date: Thursday 30th July
Time: 4:30pm
Venue: Ulster University
Tickets: Book here.

O'Carolan Harp Festival: Sonóir
2026-07-31 21:00 - 22:30 | St. Ronan’s Hall, Keadew West, County Roscommon, Keadue, Co. Roscommon, F52 N928, Ireland
Cruit Éireann|Harp Ireland, in conjunction with The O’Carolan Harp Festival, is thrilled to announce a spectacular headline concert taking place on 31st July 2026, in the St.Ronan’s Hall, Keadue. The evening promises an unforgettable celebration of harping.
At the heart of the night is a performance of Sonóir, a groundbreaking Harp Ireland commission by renowned percussionist and composer Mel Mercier. Originally premiered to critical acclaim at the Royal Irish Academy of Music last November, the piece brings together a highly unusual and evocative blend of two Irish harps (Niamh O’Brien and Alannah Thornburgh), bassoon (John Leonard), viola da gamba (Malachy Robinson), and traditional percussion (Mel Mercier).
The concert will also feature The Keadue Harp Ensemble ensuring the legacy of Turlough O’Carolan is celebrated by the community that champions it best, featuring Fiachra Guihen, Emma Benson, Sophie Daly, and Aoife Guckian.

Date: Friday 31 July 2026
Time: 9pm
Venue: St. Ronan’s Hall, F52 N928
Tickets Here

Harps Alive: Walking Tour
2026-08-01 14:00 - 16:00 | Belfast City Hall, Donegall Square N, Belfast, BT1 5GS
Join researcher and storyteller Mark Doherty for a fascinating walking talk exploring Belfast’s rich and often overlooked harping heritage through the lives of two pivotal figures: Valentine Rennie and Alexander Jackson. Central to the development of the Belfast Harp Society in the 19th century, both men played a crucial role in preserving, promoting and reviving the Irish harp tradition during a period of immense cultural change.
Drawing on fresh research, historical insight and engaging storytelling, this special Belfast TradFest event traces the people, places and ideas that helped shape Belfast’s unique place in the history of Irish harping. From the legacy of the Belfast Harp Festival to the city’s continuing role in the contemporary harp revival, the tour offers audiences a deeper understanding of how Belfast became one of the most important centres of Irish musical heritage. A must for anyone interested in history, music, culture and the living tradition.
Date: Saturday 1st August
Time: 2pm
Venue: Belfast City Hall
Tickets: Book here.

TU Dublin Heritage Week Harp Events
2026-08-14 08:00 - 17:00 | Derry
Talk with Music Performance -The Harp in Nineteenth-Century Ireland: Heritage, Instruments and Music
An Illustrated Talk with Music Performance by Professor Clíona Doris and Dr Clare McCague (TU Dublin)
For National Heritage Week, Clíona Doris and Clare McCague from Technological University Dublin present an illustrated talk on Ireland’s harp tradition in nineteenth-century Ireland, including performance of repertoire from the period.
Drawing on the collection of nineteenth-century harps preserved at the National Museum of Ireland, this talk considers what surviving harps can reveal about a changing musical landscape, as well as the efforts to preserve and revive a harp tradition in Ireland. Linking with this year’s National Heritage Week theme of ‘Heritage at Risk’, this talk also presents a current project funded by the Heritage Council’s Heritage Stewardship Fund, which is to conserve and restore to playing condition a rare nineteenth-century pedal harp by Dublin maker William Jackson Junior (active in Dublin between c.1840–47), currently held in the custody of TU Dublin Conservatoire. William Jackson Junior represents the final generation of a successful Dublin harp-making lineage, started by his grandfather John Egan.
This event is drop-in, with no pre-booking required, and spaces will be allocated on a first-come, first-serve basis. The event will be taking place in the Museum’s Palatine Room, off Clarke Square. This space is accessible by lift and ramp.
Date & Time: 16 August, 2:30pm – 3:15pm
Venue: National Museum – Collins Barracks, Palatine Room, Collins Barracks , Benburb St, Dublin 7, D07 XKV4
Event Information: https://www.heritageweek.ie/event-listings/the-harp-in-nineteenth-century-ireland-heritage-instruments-and-music
The Jackson Harp: Craft, Commerce and Conflict in Nineteenth-Century Dublin
This lecture takes a rare nineteenth-century pedal harp by William Jackson Junior as its central focus and situates it within the thriving pedal-harp tradition that existed in Irish urban centres in the first half of the nineteenth century, particularly in Dublin. The pedal harp formed part of a European-derived art-music culture, embedded in concert life, domestic music-making, and private musical education.
Using the Jackson harp as a material and historical anchor, the lecture explores the wider network of pedal-harp making, selling, and playing in nineteenth-century Ireland. It examines how these instruments were produced and marketed, the economic and social conditions under which they were bought and sold, where they circulated, and who acquired them, with particular emphasis on the role of wealthy amateur musicians and domestic music-making. The Jackson harp is placed within the Egan–Jackson family network, a Dublin harp-making dynasty whose history was shaped not only by craftsmanship and commercial success, but also by internal family tensions and competing interests.
By centring on a single surviving instrument and examining the historical context of its manufacture and use, the lecture demonstrates how material objects can illuminate the musical, social, and economic history of the pedal harp tradition in Ireland, linking craft, commerce, and musical life in the nineteenth century.
Date & Time: 19 August, 6pm – 7pm
Venue: Oak Room, Mansion House, Dawson Street, Dublin 2, D02 AF30
Event Information: https://www.heritageweek.ie/event-listings/the-harp-in-nineteenth-century-ireland-heritage-instruments-and-music

Harps at Dublin City Fleadh
2026-08-22 16:00 - 2026-08-23 17:00 | Dublin City
Harper Aisling Ennis
Ever wondered what it feels like to play the Irish harp? Come and explore this beautiful instrument in a relaxed, hands-on session where you’ll hear it up close, learn a little about it, and have the chance to play a few notes yourself—no previous musical experience needed.
Date: Saturday 22 August
Time: 4-5pm
Venue: Parliament St (Workshop Tent)

Martin Family Harp Trio
Jaymee, Ryan and Kayla Martin are a family of harpers and multi-instrumentalists. They have performed extensively at home and abroad appearing at Belfast TradFest, the World Harp Congress in Cardiff, the Edinburgh Harp Festival, and most recently the 2026 IAYO Festival of Youth Orchestras at the National Concert Hall with the Music Generation Louth Harp Ensemble.
Date: Sunday, 23 August
Time: 1-2pm
Venue: Wolfe Tone Square (Main Stage)

Harper Claire O’Donnell
Join harper Claire O’Donnell on a musical journey through the world of Ireland’s travelling harpers. Blending harp music, storytelling and interactive family fun, this workshop celebrates the history, imagination and enduring magic of Ireland’s harp tradition.
Date: Sunday, 23 August
Time: 4-5pm
Venue: Parliament St (Workshop Tent)

Harps for Heritage: Macalla na Mara
2026-08-23 12:30 - 17:00 | Muckross Schoolhouse, Killarney, Ireland
Join Cruit Éireann|Harp Ireland in the beautiful surroundings of Muckross Schoolhouse for an afternoon of music, conversation and craft as harpers, harpmakers and friends explore the deep connections between our music, our landscape and our shared heritage. Sit with our master harpers and try your hand at playing an Irish harp, listen to harpmaker Tim O’Carroll as he shares the secrets and ancient craft of harp building and his efforts to safeguard it.
Experience the sounds, stories and traditions that connect people, places and generations. Inspired by Macalla na Mara |Sea Echoes, acclaimed singer Lisa Lambe, master harpers Cormac De Barra and Deirdre Granville, flute player Aoife Granville, and dancer Niamh O’Brien explore the enduring relationship between Ireland’s landscapes, its coastal communities and its cultural traditions through harp music, song, dance and storytelling. Discover how local rivers, lakes, coastlines and the natural world around them have inspired them; shaping their music and sense of place, the traditions they have inherited, and why passing these skills on to future generations matters more than ever.
Programmme
12.30-1.30pm Hands on Harps – Try your Hand!
1.45-2.30pm Crafting a Harp with Harp maker Tim O’Carroll
2.45-3.30pm Turning the Tide: Safeguarding our Natural Heritage
3.45pm-5pm Concert: Harps for Heritage 2026: Macalla na Mara|Sea Echoes
Date: Sunday 23rd August
Time: 12:30pm – 5:00pm
Venue: Muckross Schoolhouse, Killarney, County Kerry
This project received funding through a joint initiative by the Department of Culture, Communications and Sport and the National Monuments Service to support practices inscribed on Ireland’s National Inventory of Intangible Cultural Heritage.

Harps and their Stories
2026-09-11 13:00 - 14:00 | National Library of Ireland, Kildare Street, Dublin 2, Ireland
Join us for a celebration of the rich heritage of the early Irish harp. Renowned researcher, harper and teacher Simon Chadwick will present Harps and their Stories, exploring the lives of the early harpers, their music, and the traditions that shaped Irish harping. Following the talk, harper Eilís Lavelle will perform a selection of tunes from Edward Bunting’s 1792 manuscript collection, reimagining the melodies recorded at the Belfast Harp Assembly. Simon Chadwick’s insights and Eilis Lavelle’s performance will illuminate the enduring legacy of Ireland’s harping tradition.
Date: Friday, 11 September
Time: 1pm – 1pm
Venue: National Library of Ireland, Dublin 2

Following in the Footsteps of Lafcadio
2026-09-13 14:30 - 16:30 | Lafcadio Hearn Japanese Gardens, Tramore House, Pond Rd, Waterford, X91 DE48, Ireland
Follow in the footsteps of the Irish-Greek writer Patrick Lafcadio Hearn, and get a glimpse of his life and literary legacy in this tranquil garden setting at the beautiful Lafcadio Hearn Japanese Gardens in Tramore, before meeting in the Kokoro Heritage Centre for a special concert to celebrate the connections between Irish and Japanese culture.
Join acclaimed Irish harper Tríona Marshall on her unique musical journey: Suaimhneas| Serenity brings together Irish and Japanese music and storytelling traditions, responding to the distinctive landscapes and atmosphere of the gardens which recreate Lafcadio’s life and legacy.
Lafcadio’s Trail
The afternoon begins with a guided musical journey through the gardens. Led by harper Tríona Marshall, audiences will move between different garden spaces, encountering newly commissioned harp music and stories along the way; Triona’s response to her unique surroundings.
She will perform on Irish harp alongside Charlie Marshall on Satsuma Biwa and shakuhachi, Macdara Ó Faoláin on mandolin. Storyteller Nuala Hayes will share stories from Lafcadio Hearn’s Japanese writings, including The Cave of Koko-Ura and Urashima Taro, alongside Irish folklore and music.
Concert in the Kokoro Heritage Centre
The garden trail culminates in a concert in the Kokoro Heritage Centre, featuring:

Tríona Marshall (harp)
Charlie Marshall (Satsuma Biwa & shakuhachi)
Nuala Hayes (storytelling)
Macdara Ó Faoláin (mandolin & bouzouki)
Music Generation Waterford Harp Ensemble with harper Jill Devlin and Macdara Ó Faoláin (Mandolin)
Cruit Éireann|Harp Ireland Quartet (Aisling Ennis, Aisling Lyons, Cormac De Barra & Gráinne Meyer)

The concert will feature Tríona Marshall’s new commission for Irish harp and Satsuma Biwa, exploring the meeting of Irish and Japanese musical traditions.
Also featuring a special collaboration between the young harpers of Music Generation Waterford, directed by Jill Devlin, with Macdara Ó Faoláin the afternoon concludes with the Cruit Éireann | Harp Ireland Quartet performing acclaimed composer Bill Whelan’s recent work for four harps, commissioned for Féile na Tána.
Date: Sunday, 13 September 2026
Time: 2.30pm–4.30pm
Venue: Lafcadio Hearn Japanese Gardens, Tramore, Co. Waterford
Tickets: Book Here

Caomhnú Lú - For the Birds
2026-09-18 18:00 - 20:00 | Highlanes Gallery, 36 Saint Laurence Street, Drogheda, Leinster, A92 F7PH, Ireland
Cruit Éireann|Harp Ireland’s Caomhnú Lú commission, For the Birds, by composer Donnchadh MacAodha in collaboration with Music Generation Louth Harp Ensemble, is a three-part contemporary work focusing on Louth’s natural environment and unique harping legacy. This new contemporary commission for solo harp and ensemble is a musical response to the birdlife of County Louth, drawing on the Louth Bird Report and its record of activity along the county’s coastline over twelve months. Dundalk Bay and the wider Louth coast are vital habitats for the many species that pass through and settle here, and this piece meditates on the fragility of that world in the face of climate change. Bird calls and songs are evoked throughout, tracking the arrival and departure of different species from spring to winter.
Young Ensemble harpers are led by renowned local harper and teacher, Deirdre Ní Bhuachalla with performances on Culture Night on September 18th and on Cruit Éireann|Harp Ireland’s global celebration of the harp, Lá na Cruite|Harp Day, on October 17th. Green activist Mark Deary leads a special open forum and discussion capturing community responses and views at Highlanes Gallery on Culture Night.
For the Birds is accompanied by specially curated images by videographer, Seán McMahon projected on the gallery walls of familiar places throughout the county – already suffering the consequences of climate change and severe flooding. During the performance the audience will experience an immersive sound and visual landscape resonating with the piece and the current evolving climate crisis.
Date: Friday 18th September, Culture Night
Time: 6pm
Venue: Highlanes Gallery, 36 Saint Laurence Street, Drogheda, A92 F7PH

Culture Night: Ceol Ársa Cláirsí
2026-09-18 20:00 - 22:00 | The Courthouse Arts Centre, Dwyer Square, Tinahely, Leinster, Y14 X099, Ireland
A Celebration of Irish Harp Music from the 17th & 18th Centuries
Step into the rich and atmospheric world of early Irish harpers’ music with Ceol Ársa Cláirsí, a musical experience that brings the unique sound of the 17th and 18th centuries vividly to life. This performance showcases the music of legendary harper-composers such as Turlough Carolan, Thomas Connellan, and Ruairí Dall Ó Catháin, taken from original Irish and Scottish sources.
Featuring a remarkable ensemble of leading musicians – Cormac Breatnach, Steve Cooney, Aisling Ennis, Malachy Robinson, and Eamon Sweeney – the programme showcases the distinctive textures of gut-strung and wire-strung instruments alongside traditional instrumentation, anchored by the unmistakable voice of the modern Irish harp.
With a sound described by audiences as “unique and mesmerising,” Ceol Ársa Cláirsí offers a rare opportunity to experience Ireland’s harp tradition, and how it has permeated the repertoire, through a historically-informed and immersive performance.
Date: Friday 18th September, Culture Night
Time: 8pm (doors 7:30pm)
Venue: The Courthouse Arts Centre, Dwyer Square, Tinahely, County Wicklow, Y14 X099

Workshop with Alannah Thornburgh | Boyne TradFest
2026-09-19 11:00 - 14:00 | St. Oliver’s Community College, Drogheda, A92 D766, Drogheda, A92 D766, Ireland
Workshop with Alannah Thornburgh | Boyne TradFest
Instrumental Workshops take place on Saturday 19th September 2026
from 11:00am – 2:00pm in St. Oliver’s Community College, Drogheda (A92 D766).
Alannah Thornburgh is an award-winning instrumentalist and composer from the wild west of Ireland with a focus on traditional Irish harp. Alannah’s music explores her family heritage, reimagining melodies from the Irish harping and American folk & jazz traditions. This cross-genre interaction and juxtaposition of old melodies with contemporary harmonies and technique is interwoven throughout her music, described as being ‘unforced, fluid and utterly at home in her own sound’ (The Irish Times). In February 2025, Alannah released her debut album ‘Shapeshifter’ – a collection of compositions inspired by fairy folklore & mythology in rural Ireland (“Sublime debut from Mayo composer” 9/10 – Hot Press). Alannah was awarded ‘Best Folk Instrumentalist’ at the 2025 RTÉ Folk Awards and was also awarded Musician-In-Residence at Carnegie Library, Fingal County Council / Music Network where she composed a suite entitled ‘The Thinning Veil: Haunting Tales & Tunes of Fingal’. Alannah also received the Traditional Arts Bursary 2025 for her collaborative compositional project ‘An t-Alltar’, due for release in 2027.
Visit www.boynetradfest.ie for registration ✨
