National Harp Day 2018
Highlights - GalwayThe Galway team, comprising Úna Ní Fhlannagain, Áine Ní Shioradáin and Máire Uí Chróinín, and led by Kathleen Loughnane delivered a busy series of events for National Harp Day. Galway City Museum was a key location for harp day events and showcased a number of events throughout the day finishing up with a concert in the spellbinding surroundings of the medieval St Nicholas’s Church.
Exhibition
Harp makers Brian Callan and Natalie Surina mounted an exhibition of harps which was a very big, dramatic, visual cue that something was happening in the building. Passer-bys’ attention was drawn to the exhibition, and then they had the opportunity to hear about other events.
Telling the Early Harp story
Early harper Paul Dooley gave a wonderful lecture, perfectly aimed towards a broad audience of wide age-groups, clearly illustrated, accessible, and immaculately researched.
Students join the fun
This was followed by a student concert presented by Úna Ní Fhlannagáin, Kathleen Loughnane and Áine Ní Shioradáin, who brought their students along to perform. The students enthralled a large audience and it was undoubtedly a good opportunity to share all that is happening with the harp in Galway. Our thanks to all of the staff at the Museum.
An unusual slant
An unusual opportunity arose for harpers at ‘Architecture at the Edge’: which was running concurrently to NHD. Úna Ní Fhlannagáin and a senior student, Áine Parslow, performed at two house viewings. This worked very well – audience members were very receptive and positive about the performance.
Harp spectacular
We owe a major debt of gratitude to Áine Ní Shioradáin for organising the St. Nicholas’s Church venue. Natalie Surina and Maura Uí Chróinín, Floriane Blancke, Kathleen Loughnane and Catríona Cannon, Catríona Cannon and Cian Finn, Áine Sheridan, Úna Ní Fhlannagáin, Séamus Ó Flatharta, Aoife Blake performed to an enthusiastic audience of locals and tourists at a two-hour afternoon concert in the cathedral. St. Nicholas’ is a visually impressive venue, and added prestige to the event.
Watching from afar
Our social media coverage was managed by social media volunteer, Rusty Weise, who took charge of our media for the day and there were more than 1.9k views.
