Mayo harpers to shine at international harp festival

Established in 1986, An Chúirt Chruitireachta is an annual international harp festival run by Cairde na Cruite (Friends of the Harp). The festival sees harpers of every standard from Mayo, Ireland and all over the world come together for an immersive week of harping.

Participants have the opportunity to engage with other harpers, gain a better understanding of Irish music, song and dance, and learn more about the harp and its music.

This year’s festival takes place from June 25 to 30 (Sunday to Friday) at An Grianán, Termonfeckin, Co. Louth, and features a panel of exceptional tutors and talented artists set to deliver an outstanding celebration of harp music.

Residential students will stay onsite in An Grianán, where they will engage in daily classes, workshops and concerts. They will learn about historical and contemporary aspects of the harp tradition and explore the harp in its many forms through performances and demonstrations on Irish, early Irish and pedal harps.

The festival will kick off at 3 p.m. on Sunday, June 25, in the picturesque surroundings of An Grianán, Termonfeckin, Co. Louth, with a pop-up concert featuring local musicians from the Music Generation Louth Harp Ensemble. A harp-makers’ exhibition will also run throughout the afternoon, with leading Irish harp makers on hand to discuss their work. Entry to both the afternoon pop-up concert and the exhibition is free and all are welcome.

Members of the public are also invited to attend an exciting line-up of concerts taking place each evening for the duration of the festival (8 p.m. daily at An Grianán from Sunday to Thursday). Renowned harpist Clíona Doris (pedal harp) and sisters Deirdre and Aoife Granville (Irish harp and flute) will open proceedings on Sunday, while Gerry Cullen and the Drogheda Singers, early-music trio Nobody’s Jig and Mayo harper Gráinne Hambly will take to the stage on Monday to celebrate the 250th anniversary of collector Edward Bunting’s birth. On Tuesday, Jean Kelly (pedal harp) and Trio Táin (pedal harp, flute, viola) perform in ‘Stars Align’, while the festival gala concert on Thursday will feature two acclaimed duos Anne-Marie O’Farrell and Cormac de Barra (harps) and Scottish musicians Rachel Hair and Ron Jappy (harp and guitar).

The mid-point of the week sees harp ensembles from all across Ireland joining the fun. Artist-in-residence Rachel Hair will lead seven visiting ensembles from Wicklow, Mayo, Antrim, Donegal, Clare, Louth and Dublin in a day of workshops, culminating in an evening performance on Wednesday (June 28) at 8 p.m.

Tickets for all evening concerts (€15) can be purchased through Eventbrite. See www.harpfestival.ie for further details.

Mayo harper Gráinne Hambly, no stranger to the festival, returns as a tutor this year and will perform in 'Ceiliúradh 250], a celebration of the legacy of collector Edward Bunting.

Many of Gráinne’s pupils from Music Generation Mayo will also be in attendance. The Music Generation Mayo Harp Ensemble will attend the Wednesday ensemble workshops with artist-in-residence Rachel Hair. They will also perform in an evening concert on Wednesday in An Grianán alongside a host of other ensembles.

Meanwhile, festival fringe events will take place in Drogheda town throughout the week. The continuation of the festival's popular Rising Stars of the Harp series highlights up-and-coming performers in lunchtime concerts at The Tholsel, Drogheda, on Monday and Tuesday at 1 p.m. Admission is free and all are welcome, with no booking required.

A new feature of this year’s festival sees the introduction of events for babies and toddlers. As part of a new ‘Goltraí agus Geantraí’ series, leading harpers Jean Kelly and Aisling Ennis will introduce toddlers and their parents to the magic of the harp through interactive workshops at Drogheda Library on Wednesday and Thursday at 11 a.m. Admission is free but booking is essential – contact Drogheda Library on (041) 9876162.

An Chúirt Chruitireachta is proudly supported by The Arts Council, Louth County Council, Create Louth, and Harp Ireland.