As part of Harps Alive/ An Cruit Bheo Festival 2022, Turmennan Harps delivered a Workshop on harpmaking at the Shankill Road Library in Belfast. Photo Credit: Michael Knan, Harps Alive Festival 2022 Photo Credit: Michael Knan, Harps Alive Festival 2022 Almost all of my pupils and I play harps made by Belfast’s Brian Waugh andContinueContinue reading “Harpmaker’s Workshop at Shankill Rd Library”
Author Archives: causewayharpschool
Harp Summer School, Portballintrae
Harp Summer School, Portballintrae 2022 Harp pupils from Dunseverick Primary School took time out this summer to gather together, learn some new tunes, play some old ones and have fun together in sunny Portballintrae. Practising outside with a sea view The fine weather enticed us outside and many visitors to the area were treated toContinueContinue reading “Harp Summer School, Portballintrae”
Harps Alive/ An Cruit Bheo Festival 2022
230 years ago, the last of the great harpers in Ireland gathered in Belfast for the Belfast Harp Assembly; a bid to preserve and revive the dying aural tradition of Irish harping. Only eleven harpers turned up. Seven were blind. The eldest was Denis Hempson, 97, from County Derry. A young Edward Bunting, aged justContinueContinue reading “Harps Alive/ An Cruit Bheo Festival 2022”
My Harp Journey
Learning to play the harp was, for a long time, an unfulfilled dream for me. Growing up in Northern Ireland and coming from a Protestant background, I didn’t have the opportunity to learn Irish harp. The harp held a mythical quality for me. I was a reader and was aware of its special properties throughContinueContinue reading “My Harp Journey”
National Harp Day 2021
Harpists playing at the beach for National Harp Day 2021 This year for National Harp Day, seventeen harpers from Causeway Harp School gathered together at the beautiful East Strand in Portrush, County Antrim to play in ensemble together. Whilst this was a wonderful experience, it was difficult to capture the sound as the sea wasContinueContinue reading “National Harp Day 2021”
Cambrian Harp Festival
Harp Workshops in the sun ☀️ What a treat for me to travel to beautiful Wales to teach an Irish Harp Workshop as part of the very first Cambrian Harp Festival, in association with the wonderful Derwent Harp School. Participants of all ages and abilities leaned to play Planxty Irwin, by 17th century composer andContinueContinue reading “Cambrian Harp Festival”
Dunseverick P.S. Summer Harp Concert
Dunseverick P.S. Pupils performing together I teach harp at Dunseverick Primary School to pupils in P3 and above. Irish harping has been thriving in this wee school since 2017 when I first introduced harp lessons to the school. These young pupils perform regularly for school and community events and in their local church communities. InContinueContinue reading “Dunseverick P.S. Summer Harp Concert”
Colmcille 1500, ‘Strings of Heaven’
Harpists representing Harp Schools from the Causeway Coast and Glens area at Downhill Demesne. Photo Credit: http://www.causewaycoastandglens.gov.uk I was delighted to take part in this wonderful project by Nodlaig Ní Bhrollaigh of Scoil Ruaidhrí Dall which celebrates 1500 years since the birth of Colmcille. Comcille, also known as St Columba, is linked with the CausewayContinueContinue reading “Colmcille 1500, ‘Strings of Heaven’”
New Christmas tune for Irish Harp
The last time my parents visited the stunning Glenveagh National Park in Donegal (somewhere we used to visit as children), they brought me back this wonderful CD by Manus Lunny. By the time I got to track 4, Nollag sa Gleann, I didn’t get any further! I just had to learn this tune on theContinueContinue reading “New Christmas tune for Irish Harp”
New Book: Traditional Irish Music for Small Harps
I am delighted to announce the publication of my first book of Traditional Irish Music for harp. This is a book of arrangements for small harps of 20 and 26 strings (or 19, 22, 27 or 29 strings and anything in between!). It is the culmination of my work teaching harp to beginners, many ofContinueContinue reading “New Book: Traditional Irish Music for Small Harps”
Causeway Harp School 