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 by Edward Bunting atContinue reading “Music of the Harpers at Mussenden Temple”
Tag Archives: causeway coast
Harp Summer School, Portballintrae
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. The fine weather enticed us outside and many visitors to the area were treated to the sound of 9 harps playing as they began their coastalContinue reading “Harp Summer School, Portballintrae”
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 throughContinue reading “My Harp Journey”
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 was so rough that day! Following on from this, two pupilsContinue reading “National Harp Day 2021”
Cambrian Harp Festival
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 and harper, Turlough O’Carolan, followed by aContinue reading “Cambrian Harp Festival”
Group Lessons at North Coast Trad
I am delighted to be teaching the harp classes at North Coast Trad on a Tuesday evening during term time in Portrush. We currently have a kids’ class and an adults’ class running. This is a wonderful opportunity for pupils to enjoy the social aspect of learning music. Traditional music is inherently social, so learningContinue reading “Group Lessons at North Coast Trad”
NEW Bespoke Irish Harp Workshops for Groups and Families on the Causeway Coast
I am delighted to now be in a position to offer bespoke group workshop experiences to groups, families and visitors to the Causeway Coast, offering an ‘Introduction to the Irish Harp’. We are located just a short walk away from the UNESCO World Heritage Site, the Giants’ Causeway. We are blessed to have such aContinue reading “NEW Bespoke Irish Harp Workshops for Groups and Families on the Causeway Coast”
Christmas and New Year at Causeway Harp School
Christmas is always a super busy time for harpists! This year pupils played at Dunseverick Primary School’s annual carol service at Ballintoy Parish Church. A group of 5 harpists played a selection of pieces as guests arrived and also did a special group performance of ‘In the Bleak Midwinter’ and ‘Carol of the Bells’. WeContinue reading “Christmas and New Year at Causeway Harp School”
Build a Harp Workshop, Portballintrae
On Saturday 2nd November, 2019, a group of harpers gathered in Portballintrae Village Hall to build their very own harps, using a ‘Build a Harp’ kit, developed by Brian Waugh of Turmennan Learner Harps and Build a Harp, Ireland. Renowned harpmaker, Mervyn Waugh (Turmennan Harps, Ireland) and his son Brian, expertly guided us through theContinue reading “Build a Harp Workshop, Portballintrae”
Harp Tuition in Schools
I really look forward to my days in school teaching harp. Pupils as young as 7 have begun their harp adventures with me in school, some of whom, by age 9, are already working towards Grade IV in Irish Traditional Harp Performance through the London College of Music. To date, all of my pupils haveContinue reading “Harp Tuition in Schools”
Causeway Harp School 