Harp Ireland

HARPS ALIVE 2023 | An Chruit Bheo | Harps Leevin
2023-09-30 | Belfast
Harps Alive Festival 2023
An all-island celebration of Irish harping

Some 231 years on, harp music resounds…..Harpers and historians join forces in Belfast and Dublin to celebrate the Irish harping tradition.
Now in its second year Harps Alive (Harps Alive│An Chruit Bheo│Harps Leevin) is a cross border collaborative festival, which brings together the finest harpers from across the island to celebrate the significance of the landmark event of the Belfast Harp Festival 1792. An event, that through the work of Armagh-born Edward Bunting, resulted in the collection of the music and techniques of the Irish harping tradition; a collection which is central to the continuity of the Irish harping tradition today.
Cruit Éireann | Harp Ireland, working in partnership with Reclaim the Enlightenment, present the Harps Alive | An Chruit Bheo | Harps Leevin festival in Belfast, on September 30th and in Dublin on October 21st – 22nd, 2023.
The festival will bring together harpers from all over Ireland to assess Edward Bunting’s legacy, showcase the harpers’ music, and bring a contemporary spotlight to bear on current developments to safeguard harping as a living tradition in Ireland.
A dynamic series of cross-community and cross-border events featuring two major concerts, a series of recitals, talks and workshops remembering the contribution of Edward Bunting 180 years after his death, is planned in the two cities.
Chair of Cruit Éireann | Harp Ireland Aibhlín McCrann, stated, ‘It is very satisfying to see our collaboration with our northern colleagues coming to fruition, and to gain such understanding of the important role that the Belfast Harpers’ Assembly played in the safeguarding of the harpers’ music. Our work together has been a true partnership, epitomised by collegiality, enthusiasm and positivity”.
John Gray, Chair of Reclaim the Enlightenment, considers this event to be “a major musical festival rooted in history. A celebration of the heritage of the harp and the contemporary revival of harp playing”. He considers that it will continue to “create more awareness of the harp tradition with the public and leave a lasting legacy”.
The success of last year’s Harps Alive festival has inspired harpers to further explore the music of the Irish harp. This year the festival commissioned County Antrim harper Gráinne Meyer, to arrange music for the newly established Harps Alive Ensemble. The commission will be premièred at a concert on 30 September in Rosemary Street Church, Belfast at 5.30pm which also features early Irish harper, Eibhlís Ní Ríordáin, the Northern Stars Trio, and harp and pipes duo, Laoise Kelly and Tiarnán Ó Duinnchinn.
“We are looking forward to celebrating this work and to welcoming audiences across the cities of Belfast and Dublin this autumn”, said Lauren Ní Néill, Cruit Éireann|Harp Ireland’s CEO. “Our exciting line-up of harpers shows that the harping tradition in Ireland is vibrant, dynamic and constantly evolving. It is part of our living cultural heritage, and we are intent on celebrating Edward Bunting’s achievement and safeguarding it for future generations of harpers”.
Festival Events
Saturday 30th September

Time
Event
Venue

25-29th September
Primary School Harp Series
Various

11.00-13.00
Hands on Harps Workshop Series
Workshop 1: Try your hand at the early Irish harp with Eibhlís Ní Ríordáin
Workshop 2: Irish Harp Workshop with Gráinne Hambly
Workshop 3: A Masterclass with Richard Allen

First Prebyterian Church

Shankill Road Library

St. Joseph’s, Sailortown

11.45-12.45

Film Screening – Beart Bunting

Linenhall Library

13:00 – 14:00
Ceol agus Cruitireacht le hÚna Ní Fhlannagáin | Harping Fun with Sharon Carroll
Harp, storytelling, drama and singing workshops for children in English and Irish with Sharon Carroll and Úna Ní Fhlannagáin

An Cultúrlann | Turas

13:00 – 14:00

Illustrated Lecture with Mary Louise O’Donnell & Teresa O’Donnell: Edward Bunting: Illuminating his Legacy
Linenhall Library

14:30 – 15:30

Citizen’s Manifestation

Assembly Rooms

17:30

Harps Together
Featuring the Harps Alive Ensemble’s specially commissioned work, Northern Stars Trio, Early Irish Harper Eibhlis Ní Riordáin, Harper Laoise Kelly & Piper, Tiarnán Ó Duinnchinn

Followed by:
Harping Late: Harp session and get together.

Rosemary Street Church

The Deer’s Head

Harps Alive│An Chruit Bheo│Harps Leevin continues in Dublin on Saturday 21st and Sunday 22nd October with a Gala Concert in the Pepper Canister Church, Dublin 2. This event features a newly commissioned poem remembering Edward Bunting by Aosdána poet Moya Cannon and harper Aisling Lyons, the Harps Alive Ensemble, Maria McNamee(pedal harp), early Irish harper Siobhán Armstrong, Triona Marshall (harp) and Martin Tourish (Accordion).

Date / Time
Event
Venue

16-20th October

Primary School Harp Series
Various

Saturday 21st October
13:00 – 14:00
Harping Fun with Aisling Ennis
A fairy-themed harp and storytelling workshop for children with Aisling Ennis

12.30-13.30

14:30 – 15:30

Film Screening: Beart Bunting

Lecture with Mark Doherty: Edward Bunting: Illuminating his Legacy

Sunday 22 October
11:00 – 12:00 noon
Remembering Edward Bunting
Aisling Lyons & Moya Cannon

Mount Jerome Cemetery, Harold’s Cross, Dublin 8

Sunday 22nd October

10:00 – 14:00

11: 00 – 13:00

13:30 -15:30

Hands on Harps Workshop Series in collaboration with the Royal Irish Academy of Music

Workshop 1:
Learn, Listen, Have a Go!
Try your hand at the early Irish harp with the Historical Harp Society of Ireland

Workshop 2: A Masterclass with Richard Allen

Workshop 3: Irish Harp Workshop with Aisling Lyons

The Royal Irish Academy of Music

Sunday 22nd October
6.30pm
Harps Together: Siobhán Armstrong, Moya Cannon & Aisling Lyons, Maria McNamee, the Harps Alive Ensemble, Martin Tourish & Tríona Marshall
Pepper Canister Church

HARPS ALIVE 2023 | BELFAST | Primary School Harp Recital Series
2023-09-25 09:00 - 2023-09-29 17:00 (Europe/Dublin) | Gaelscoil na bhFál, Belfast, Belfast
Harps Alive Belfast
Primary School Harp Recital Series
25th-29th September
Gaelscoil na bhFál, Braniel Primary School, Botanic Primary School and Hazelwood Integrated Primary School, Belfast

Harpers visit local primary schools to perform and tell them a little more about the harp, what it’s made from, how many strings it has and its history in ancient Ireland.

Clifden Arts Festival 2023 | 20 Sept 2023
2023-09-20 | Christ Church Clifden, Church Hill, Clifden, Ireland
Clifden Arts Festival and Cruit Éireann | Harp Ireland present an afternoon of Irish harping featuring renowned harpers Lisa Canny, Éadaoin Ní Mhaicín and Séamus Ó Flatharta at Christ Church, Clifden
Wednesday 20 September 2023, 4pm
Ticket €15 at www.clifdenartsfestival.ie
Lisa Canny, a seven-time All-Ireland champion on harp and banjo, brings a unique blend of RnB, pop, hip-hop, and traditional Irish music to her performances. She has toured extensively and is known for her high-energy and entertaining shows.
Éadaoin Ní Mhaicín, a multi-award-winning, multi-instrumentalist, achieved success with her bands EADAOIN and LÉDA, with a No. 1 in the iTunes world genre charts in Ireland. She has performed at prestigious venues and appeared on various radio and television stations.
Séamus Ó Flatharta, a talented sean-nós singer and multi-instrumentalist from Connemara, showcases his musical skills and keeps the Irish language and heritage at the forefront of his work. This afternoon of Irish harping promises to be a captivating and culturally rich experience.
Sponsored by Fáilte Ireland

Smithfield Fleadh
2023-08-26 - 2023-08-27 | Smithfield Square, Smithfield Dublin 7, Dublin, Ireland
Get to Smithfield, Dublin 7, this Saturday to hear the Harp Ireland recital in An Puball Éigse, Smithfield Square at 2pm. Hear performances by Méabh McKenna, Colm McGonigle and Rachel Duffy with the Bray Harp Ensemble. At 3pm you can take part in the TRY THE HARP WORKSHOP. Bígí linn!
See the full programme of Smithfield Fleadh events, from Saturday 26th to Sunday 27th August (from 12pm to 6pm) at https://cdn.dublin.ie/wp-content/uploads/Smithfield-Fleadh-2023.pdf
