Heaney’s Irish language translations through the lens of the Irish music tradition. From Buile Shuibhne (Sweeney Astray), the medieval tale of the mad bird-king of Antrim’s Dál nAraidhe, to his favourite song An Bonnán Buí (The Yellow Bittern), Heaney found fertile soil for his imagination in the songs and stories of his ancestors.
Aoibheann Devlin, Déaglán Ó Doibhlin and Sorcha Uí Chuireáin present lore, song, poetry and music on fiddle and medieval wire-strung Gaelic harp. All three are members of the group Lí Ban and hail from the shores of Heaney’s beloved Lough Beg. Expect insights into the poet’s relationship with his native tongue.

Harpers Lauren Ní Néill, Colm McGonigle and Sabina McCague and the Music Generation Cavan/Monaghan, Harp Ensemble play support at the Ed Reavy Traditional Music Festival Saturday night concert featuring Ryan Sheridan, Andrew Caden, Conor McDonagh and Conor Connolly. 

Tickets at ticketsolve.com

Join Causeway Harp School and Hamsey Harp School for a day of workshops for all levels, followed by performances in The Pantry at Garvagh Community Buildings. Booking is essential.

10am – From Jigs to Reels with Lucy Kerr (Intermediate to Advanced players)
10am A Taste of Carolan with Katy Bustard (Intermediate players)
Hands on Harps Taster Session with Dubhla Mullan (no experience)
Beginner Harp Yunes with Sinéad Close

12pm – Music in the Pantry harp perforamnce

Venue: Garvagh Community Building, 85 Main Street, Garvagh, BT51 5AB

Free admission

Booking: Contact Claire 07810204976 or Katy 07400991270

Lá na Cruite|Harp Day Inishowen

Harp Day will feature workshops led by Lauren Ní Néill and Joleen McLaughlin, a Hands on Harps session open to the public and a free harp recital featuring the Inishowen harp ensemble in Moville town.

The Carroll School of Harp Ensemble, Clanbrassil Comhaltas & FastTrad (Portadown) will perform, followed by a Hands on Harps session for shoppers.

Síle Denvir and Barry Kerr at glór Theatre, Ennis 8.30pm

Síle Denvir is a sean-nós singer and harpist from Connemara who has performed with The Chieftains and the RTÉ National Symphony Orchestra. Barry Kerr is a multi-instrumentalist, singer and composer. Together, they combine voice, harp, pipes, flute and original compositions rooted in Irish tradition.

Tickets at glór.ie

In partnership with Clare County Council

Harp Yoga

Morning time Harp Yoga, with Aisling Lyons and yoga teacher Sue Redmond.

Evening Recital with Paul Dooley, Kseniia Rusnak, and Aisling Lyons

Harp Day 2025 events at Kinsale Library
11.00-12.30
Sean Nós Airs Workshop with Muireann Nic Amhlaoibh
For Intermediate-Advanced Harpers.
Places are limited. Please book your place with Damhnait Nic Suibhne at 086 602 2727 or email damhnait.sweeney@gmail.com.
Music available in advance on request from Damhnait.

1.30pm – 2.30.pm
Open Session with Muireann Nic Amhlaoibh, Damhnait Nic Suibhne & Glissando
Open session for harpers at all levels.  Fáilte roimh cách. Everybody can join in. All listeners are welcome.

2.30 to 3pm
Hands on Harps
Have you ever wanted to try the harp? This is your chance. Harp-teacher Damhnait Nic Suibhne and members of Glissando will show you how. All are welcome.

Free Admission. In partnership with Cork County Council

UCC TradSoc  presents Harpers in the Honan on Tuesday 14th October at 7.30pm.

Featuring the harp/box duo of Oisín Morrison & Tommie Cunniffe, alongside harper and vocalist Aisling Urwin.

Free Admission. Register at ticketsource.eu

Early-Irish Harp Discovery Day

Historical Harp Society of Ireland’s ‘Discovery Day’ at Doneraile Court on 18th October, Harp Day as part of the East Cork Festival of Early Music.
Talk on the early Irish harp by Dr Siobhan Armstrong at 11 am;
early Irish harp Beginners Workshop with Eibhlís Ní Ríordáin at 11.45am;
Concert at 5.30pm with the Earls of Ormond featuring countertenor Mark Chambers. Booking required.

Book Here

Charity Concert for The Blasket Centre

Musical concert to raise funds for The Blasket Centre. Spindrift will perform 3 traditional pieces on harp and cello, plus one original. Other acts include singers, poetry and musicians.

A fun and informal harp session.

You are invited to bring your harp and play tunes together. Beginners to Advanced players welcome, as well as family and friends

New Connections Harp Concert is a presentation of newly composed music written by Dr Fiana Ní Chonaill in collaboration with Gráinne Fitzgibbon and Nora Casey.

Supported by Limerick Arts Office and Limerick City & County Council through the Dolores O’Riordan Music Bursary as well as by Music Generation Limerick County and Harp Ireland.

Tickets €20 including fee at friarsgate.ie

Ancient Harp Discovery Day

Would you like to hear, learn more about, and play on a copy of an ancient Irish harp? Come to an HHSI Discovery Day to hear these rare instruments played in concert, have your questions answered at an illustrated talk, and—if you sign up early enough!—take one of up to seven places in a hands-on workshop. Try an ancient Irish harp; maybe even learn a tune! All levels welcomed, beginners included.

In association with H.I.P.S.T.E.R.
Join the Historical Harp Society of Ireland and H.I.P.S.T.E.R. on 25 October for a day of Discovery events to celebrate Ireland’s illustrious, ancient harp.

1:00 p.m. LISTEN to this rare instrument being played in a concert with Siobhán Armstrong (harp) and Eibhlís Ní Ríordáin (harp and voice)
2:00 p.m. LEARN all about the early Irish harp’s fascinating history in an illustrated talk — Dr Siobhán Armstrong
3:00 p.m. HAVE A GO yourself in a hands-on workshop (limited places) — Eibhlís Ní Ríordáin
Location: Irish Chamber Orchestra Studio, University of Limerick, Castletroy, Co. Limerick V94 T9PX

TICKETS: 1pm Concert: €15/€10. 2pm Talk: FREE. 3pm Workshop (for adults and children over the ages of 10, all levels welcomed, beginners included): €15/€10

Harps copied from medieval to 18th-century originals will be available on a first-come, first-served basis for the Have-a-Go workshop. No harp experience required.

Cairde na Cruite celebrate Lá na Cruite|Harp Day

Aspiring harpers will perform an eclectic mix of music followed by a performance by the award winning harper, Emer Ní Scolaí who celebrates the recent launch of her debut album.

Booking at 01 4934208 or pearsemuseum@opw.ie

Gráinne Yeats: A Renaissance Woman.

A lecture on one fo the leading harpers of her generation with Mary Louise O’Donnell and Tersa O’Donnell. Admission Free.

Book Here

Bray CCÉ Harp Ensemble will open the annual charity trad marathon at Cultúrlann na hÉireann, playing from 9.00am-9.30am. There will be music in the venue all day and fundraising in aid of the Irish Cancer Society.

Harp Workshop

Award winning harper, Emer Ní Scolaí, who has recently launch her debut solo album will lead a workshop aimed at aspiring harpers with traditional tunes and music of the harpers. The session will also include a presentation on harp techniques by Áine Ní Dhubhghaill and will conclude with a short recital.

Harper Luke Webb’s students perform in an evening of harp music for Lá na Cruite|Harp Day 2025 in Hope Centre, St. Mary’s Church, Crumlin.

Award-winning harper and composer Alannah Thornburgh will perform as a part of ITMA’s Drawing from the Well series in the National Concert Hall.

Tickets Here.

Harper Sophie Ní Riain performs a recital in Ballyroan Library.

Lá na Cruite – Lunchtime Recital

A lunchtime concert celebrating the Harp in Fingal. Featuring the emerging talents of the IIMS Harp Ensemble and IIMS Music Academy Students, alongside leading harp players Dr Helen Lawlor and Aoibheann Galvin.

Book Here

Concert

Harper Ruth O’Hara and students play classical, traditional Irish, pop and film music in Naas Library to celebrate Lá na Cruite|Harp Day.

Mamó with Lisa Lambe & Steve Cooney
Songs my Grandmother gave me

Lisa Lambe and Steve Cooney in Dunamaise Arts Centre, with support from Music Generation Laois Senior Harp Ensemble

Fiona Gryson and the Inetola Harp Ensemble will do a pop-up performance in Ashbourne Library, Meath.

Sharon and the Music Generation Meath Harp Ensemble: pop-up performances at Nobber Heritage Centre.

An File, An tAmhránaí agus An Cruitire

Bígí le hÉire le haghaidh léiriú filíochta agus amhránaíochta le tionlacan ar an gcruit i dTeach na Seanscoile, Ráth an Chuilinn, Loch Garman ar an 18ú lá de mhí Dheireadh Fómhair ag 12 meán lae do Lá na Cruite. Beidh cruiteanna ag Éire ar an lá ionas gur féidir libh triail a bhaint as an uirlis.

Early Irish Harp and Voice with Eibhlís Ní Riordáin at Greystones Library.

Free admission, Booking: 01 287 3548.
In partnership with Wicklow County Council

Amhráin, Cláirseach agus Dánta

Solo Recital ‘Amhráin, Cláirseach agus Dánta’ (‘Songs, Early Irish Harp and Poetry’), at Greystones library on Saturday 11th October at 3.30. Admission free.

Hands on Harp session with Aisling Ennis where members of the public are welcome to try their hand at the harp.

Bray Harp Ensemble Harp Day Recital

Bray CCÉ Harp Ensemble will present a short recital of traditional music at Bray Library to celebrate Lá na Cruite.

Blossom Harp present ‘Morning Harp’. This performance allows shoppers to listen and discover the harp.

Blossom Harp Ensemble will perform the Irish Harp in Ballinasloe Town Centre for all to hear.

Advanced Harp Workshop with Alannah Thornburgh, 10.00am-1.00pm (Free). Sponsored by Harp Ireland. Workshops are free. Advance registration is required.

Register Here.

Intermediate Harp Workshop with Laoise Kelly, 10.00am-1.00pm (Free). Sponsored by Music Generation Mayo. Workshops are free. Advance registration is required.

Register Here.

Lunchtime Recital at Foxford Woollen Mills with Music Generation Mayo Harp Ensemble (directed by Gráinne Hambly & William Jackson) and special guests. Admission Free, no booking required.

Hands on Harps

Free Event for complete beginners who would like to see and try out the harp. With Laoise Kelly. Advance registration required. Sponsored by Music Generation Mayo.

Register Here.

Harpers’ Escape Play-Along in-person & online.

Our Harpers’ Call programmes will be broadcast on our YouTube channel and on our Facebook, Instagram and X pages on Saturday 18th October 2025, with harpers everywhere joining us in marking this special day.

Harpers’ Call 2025 #1

Alannah Thornburgh (Ireland), Harpers Bizarre with Pete Gibson (Victoria, Australia), Amelia & Lauren Leonard (Co Mayo), Caoilfhionn Dempsey (Gorey), Anan Aoyama, (Tokyo), Casey Mai Dowd (Claremorris), Fernando López (Pontevedra, Spain), Alicia Griffiths Student Ensemble (Spain), Ciara Duffy and Ramona Sakalauskaite (Music Generation Sligo), Ria Adachi (Fukuoka, Japan), Forty Strings & Csorba Gergő (Hungary), Reidun Schlesinger (Co Kerry), Hollie French (Wexford), Anna Amigó (Catalonia, Spain), North Galway Harp Ensemble, Sheenagh Tighe (Westport), Janita Billingham (Brisbane, Australia), Sarah Nicholas (Adelaide, Australia)

Harpers’ Call 2025 #2

Sahoko and Hideshi Matsudo (Kumamoto, Japan), Soomee Han and Yoonjeong Nam (Seoul, South Korea), Angelika Schwarz (Ulm, Germany), Machiko Ooka & Hiroshima Harpers (Hiroshima, Japan), Ciara Duffy, Rachel Brennan and Ramona Sakalauskaite (Music Generation Sligo), Ann Tuite & students (Dublin), Samantha Jones (Riverstick, Co. Cork), Ruth O’Hara and Martina Rosaria (Kildare), Ruri Katoh (Koshi-city, Japan), Ingel Baaijens (Gasselternijveen, Netherlands), Raghnaid Ní Ghríofa (Co Clare), Peggy Mohr (Harrison, USA), Jude Bullard (Castlebar), Patricia Daly (Armagh), Maeve Coyle (Derry), Paul Crowley (Denver, USA), Fiona Birkett (Wirksworth, Derbyshire Dales), Aoibheann Galvin (Dublin), Aoibhe Nic Lochlainn (Doire), Aoife Guckian and Sophie Daly, Roscommon

Harpers’ Call 2025 #3

HHSI (Historical Harp Society of Ireland) compilation – Maura Walsh Uí Chróinín, Alex Golden, Jim Johnston, Chad McAnally, Valentina Conti, Jay Michaels, Barbara Karlik, Karen Loomis, Ann Heymann
Harpers’ Escape Play-along with Kathy DeAngelo (New Jersey, USA), Tracy Carcione (USA), Dennis and Austin Doyle (Montana, USA), Emma Petre (Evesham, USA), Harpers’ Escape, Somerset Harp Festival (NJ, USA), Heartland Harp Ensemble with Lorinda Jones (Elizabethtown, Kentucky, USA), Maria Wilson (Seattle, USA), Kathy de Angelo (Somerset, USA), Matthew Tran-Adams (Toronto, Canada), Peggy Mohr (Harrison, USA), Rachel Brennan, Ella McGowan and Ramona Sakalauskaite (Music Generation Sligo), Rebbeca Wertz (Colorado Springs, USA)