Mayo musicians to feature at international harp festival in Louth
Established in 1986, An Chúirt Chruitireachta is an annual international harp festival run by Cairde na Cruite (Friends of the Harp). It sees harpers from all over the world come together in Co. Louth 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 Sunday, June 30, to Friday, July 5, at An Grianán, Termonfeckin, 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.
Mayo musicians will be among those performing at the festival. Gráinne Hambly, a popular tutor at the festival, returns this year to work with participants for the week. Alannah Thornburgh will lead ‘Goltraí agus Geantraí’ workshops for toddlers on Wednesday, July 3, while Hannah Lyons features as part of the festival’s Rising Stars concert series on Thursday, July 4.
The Music Generation Harp Ensemble also return to the festival. They will perform alongside harpers from across the country in a gala concert on Wednesday, July 3, at An Grianán.
The festival will kick off at 3 p.m. on Sunday, June 30, 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 of charge and all are welcome.
Members of the public are also invited to attend an exciting line-up of ticketed concerts taking place at 8 p.m. each evening from Sunday, June 30, to Thursday, July 4, at An Grianán. Artist-in-residence Gráinne Meyer and harp duo Aisling Urwin and Niamh O’Brien will open proceedings on June 30 with a dynamic display of Irish harping. On July 1, expert exponents of traditional music take to the stage in the form of two duos, Eilís Lavelle and Robert Harvey (harp and flute) and Zoë Conway and John McIntyre (fiddle and guitar).
Audiences will be treated to an exciting array of approaches to song on July 2 in Roots and Resonance, a concert which features artists Méabh McKenna, Gerry Cullen and the Drogheda Singers, and Séamus and Caoimhe Uí Fhlatharta.
On July 4, acclaimed musicians Cormac de Barra (harp), Seosaimhín Ní Bheaglaoich (voice) and Suntou Susso (kora) will perform in a captivating finale concert showcasing their rich knowledge of song and harping traditions.
The mid-point of the week sees harp ensembles from all across Ireland joining the festival. Artist-in-residence Gráinne Meyer will lead visiting ensembles from Louth, Dublin, Meath, Wicklow, Clare, Cavan, Monaghan, Mayo, Laois and Down in a day of workshops, culminating in an evening performance on Wednesday, July 3, at 8 p.m.
Tickets for all evening concerts (€15 plus booking fees) can be purchased through Eventbrite (An Chúirt Chruitireachta International Festival for Harp 2024 at https://bit.ly/harpfestivaltickets2024). See www.harpfestival.ie for further details.
As part of the festival, a series of fringe events will be held in Drogheda town throughout the week. Rising Stars of the Harp highlights up-and-coming performers in lunchtime concerts at the Highlanes Gallery, Drogheda, on July 2 and 4 (Tuesday and Thursday) at 1 p.m. This year’s performers are Rachael Dooley, Jaymee Martin, Hannah Lyons and Moya Ridley. Admission is free and all are welcome, with no booking required.
Younger audiences are welcome at Goltraí agus Geantraí performances. Led by harper Alannah Thornburgh, these sessions are designed to introduce toddlers and their accompanying adults to the magic of the harp. They take place at Drogheda Library on Wednesday, July 3, at 11 a.m. and 12.30 p.m. Admission is free but booking is essential. To book a place, contact Drogheda Library at (041) 9876162.
For a full line-up of festival events, see www.harpfestival.ie.