Harpers present Mayo celebration of tradition, creativity and connection
JOIN Cruit Éireann | Harp Ireland for an evening of music that brings together some of Ireland’s finest harpers in a celebration of tradition, creativity and connection.
Harps Alive | An Chruit Bheo takes place at the Linenhall in Castlebar on Sunday, September 14, at 5 p.m., when you can experience the artistry of Mayo’s own Gráinne Hambly alongside Aisling Lyons, Gráinne Meyer, Cormac de Barra and Michael Rooney, joined by Castlebar favourites, the Music Generation Harp Collective. Together they will create a vibrant blend of sound, tradition, and creative exchange, highlighting the harp as our national instrument.
Tickets can be booked here.
Gráinne Hambly, from County Mayo, is an internationally recognised exponent of the Irish harp, and is in great demand as a performer and teacher, both at home and abroad.
She studied music at Queen’s University Belfast and also plays concertina. Gráinne has toured and recorded with various artists, including performances as far afield as Japan, Brazil, Colombia and South Korea as well as frequent tours to the USA.
She has attracted glowing praise for her live performances and recorded material, which brilliantly showcase what has been described as her ‘absolute mastery of the Irish harp’.
Known for the sensitivity and expressive quality of her air-playing, as well as her dynamic performance of dance tunes, Gráinne’s playing illustrates the full range and scope of this instrument. She has released three critically acclaimed solo CDs and a duo CD with Scottish harper William Jackson.
Michael Rooney is recognised as one of the most influential and innovative stylists on the harp, and his virtuosic technique as well as his approach to rhythm and harmony have helped to reposition it as a popular and integral part of the living tradition. He is also established as a significant composer of music for small and large-scale ensembles and orchestras.
He has recorded three CDs with flute player June McCormack; ‘Tobar an Cheoil,’ ‘Draíocht’ and ‘Land’s End’.
Cormac de Barra is a third generation harper in a family of Irish-speaking singers and musicians raised in Dublin, but with roots in County Cork. He has recorded and toured with many of Ireland's foremost artists including Hazel O'Connor, Julie Feeney, Brian Kennedy, Moya Brennan 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.
County Antrim based composer, harpist and pianist Grainne Meyer draws from a background in both traditional Irish and concert harp. Her music combines both approaches to create a distinctive sound characterised by ‘an evolved and multidimensional approach to melody’ - Pwyll ap Siôn.
A respected performer and teacher, Gráinne serves as guest principal harpist with the Ulster Orchestra and engages in solo performance at various international festivals.
Gráinne was commissioned to compose a new work for harp ensemble by Harp Ireland for the Harps Alive Festival 2023 and in 2024 was commissioned to create a new work in collaboration with Music Generation.
Aisling Lyons, multi-award winning musician and composer from Clare, has been described as ‘one of traditional music’s finest musicians’ by Hot Press Magazine & 'the finest Irish harper at work today' by Songlines Magazine after the release of her debut album ‘Aistear’.
She is the holder of eight All-Ireland titles and has performed all around the world, from Europe to the US, Australia and China. She is a sought after harp and concertina teacher at various festivals around Ireland and around the world.
Aisling has worked with many groups, bands as well as solo artists, poets, dancers and musicians.
The Music Generation Harp Collective comprises harp ensembles from Music Generations Laois, Louth, Mayo and Waterford who perform together as a large-scale ensemble for special events. Past performances include World Harp Congress in Cardiff, Edinburgh Harp Festival, Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann in Mullingar, Tionól for Harps and Pipes in Portlaoise, St. Patrick’s Festival Dublin and Waterford and Harping Together Gala Harp Day performance in Dublin for Harp Ireland.