A central tenet of Causeway Harp School is to make learning the harp more accessible. Sadly, the cost of purchasing a harp is often a major barrier to learning. However, with smaller harps and lyres becoming more widely available and affordable, learning the harp is within the reach of many more people. A few yearsContinueContinue reading “Traditional Irish Music for Small Harps and Lyres”
Category Archives: traditional irish harp
Causeway Harp Community News
It’s been such a long time since I’ve posted here, but needless to say, our harp community here on the north coast of Ireland is truly thriving. In April, a group of young pupils had the wonderful opportunity to perform at the iconic Mussenden Temple. What an unforgettable experience for everyone.. just stunning … MussendenContinueContinue reading “Causeway Harp Community News”
Music of the Harpers at Mussenden Temple
Mussenden Temple, Downhill When Claire O’Kane from Mussenden Sea Salt invited me to provide harp music for bespoke dining experiences at A Taste of Mussenden, I couldn’t resist the opportunity to visit the breathtaking Mussenden Temple with my harp. My particular area of interest is the music of the old Irish harpers, as collected byContinueContinue reading “Music of the Harpers at Mussenden Temple”
Harpmaker’s Workshop at Shankill Rd Library
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”
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”
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’”
Causeway Harp School 