Harps Together: Lá na Cruite │ Harp Day 2022 Gala Concert
Harps Together: Lá na Cruite │ Harp Day 2022 Gala Concert
Sunday 16th October, 7.30pm
Liberty Hall Theatre, Dublin 1
We celebrated Lá na Cruite │ Harp Day 2022 on Sunday 16th October with a Gala concert at Liberty Hall with Eibhlís Ní Ríordáin on early harp, Derry harper Lauren O’Neill with Eugene McKenna (fiddle), Rosie Murphy (Pedal Harp), harper composer, Michael Rooney with The Music Generation Harp Collective and Cormac de Barra with Zoe Conway, John McIntyre and The Friel Sisters.
GALA CONCERT
Harper Lauren O’Neill was joined by fiddle player Eugene McKenna to play some of the harpers’ tunes from the Bunting collection, as we celebrated the 230th anniversary of the 1792 Belfast Harpers’ Assembly in 2022.
More than 60 young harpers from the Music Generation Harp Collective took to the stage with harper/composer Michael Rooney and their Music Generation tutors Gráinne Hambly, Deirdre Ní Bhuachalla and Siobhán Buckley. The young harpers from Laois, Louth and Mayo performed Michael’s work Cláirseoireacht.
Pedal harpist Rosie Murphy performed a programme that included an exciting new work for harp, violin and French horn with Samuel Kane (violin) and Joe Clarkson (French Horn).
Moya Brennan and band were due to headline our Gala Concert. However with the sad news that Noel Duggan, Moya Brennan’s uncle and colleague in Clannad, had passed away suddenly, Moya and her band were unable to perform on the night. Cormac de Barra gathered together the finest musicians at the 11th hour – fiddle player Zoë Conway with John McIntyre (guitar) and the multi-talented Friel Sisters from Donegal.
Edward Bunting: The Dublin Connection | Harp Day 2022
Lecture/Recital with Dr. Mary Louise O’Donnell and harper Dr. Teresa O’Donnell in celebration of Lá na Cruite | Harp Day 2022
National Library of Ireland, 7-8 Kildare Street, Dublin 2
Admission free
This special Lá na Cruite | Harp Day lecture by Dr. Mary Louise O‘Donnell was interspersed with harp music from harper Dr. Teresa O’Donnell and set the scene for musical life in Dublin, and the role that Edward Bunting played in it, between 1818-43. Living in Baggot Street, he held posts as organist at St Stephen’s Church/The Pepper Cannister in Mount Street Crescent and, later at St George’s in Hardwicke Place. He was also involved in the Dublin Harmonic Institution, all the time working and advocating for his harpers’ music to be published.
Lá na Cruite at Russborough House | Harp Day 2022
Labhraidh Loingseach: Musical Storytelling Sessions
Russborough House Cinema Room
at 12pm, 1pm & 2pm
King Labhraidh Loingseach has a terrible secret. A secret kept hidden by his long hair and countless unlucky hairdressers…
The “foot-tappingly hilarious” storyteller and fiddle player Aindrias de Staic and brilliant harper Aisling Ennis performed a brand new bilingual telling of an ancient Irish fable that will made you smile from ear to ear!
Rarely has storytelling been so foot-tappingly funny.”
– Theatre Guide, London
Suitable for all the family
Tickets €5 (ages 0-2 free entry)
Bray CCÉ Harp Ensemble Pop-up Performances
Russborough House @ 12.30pm-2pm
We enjoyed beautiful harp music from members of the Bray CCÉ Harp Ensemble as they celebrated Lá na Cruite | Harp Day 2022 at Russborough. The ensemble popped up in various indoor and outdoor locations around Russborough during the early afternoon, including in the Russborough Café.
Led by their musical director Rachel Duffy, the Bray CCÉ Harp Ensemble are a group of young musicians from Wicklow who have performed at An Chúirt Chruitireachta International Harp Festival, at various concerts organised by Cairde na Cruite and Cruit Éireann, and at Cornstown House’s ‘Music on the Farm‘ Series. In July they had their first international performance at the World Harp Congress in Wales in July 2022.
Harp Day Wexford with Séamus Ó Flatharta, Aisling Ennis and Aileen Kennedy with the Wexford Harp Ensemble
Cruit Éireann | Harp Ireland present a Musical Celebration on Lá na Cruite │ Harp Day 2022
Featuring Séamus Ó Flatharta, Aisling Ennis and Aileen Kennedy with the Wexford Harp Ensemble
St. Iberius Church, Wexford, Saturday 15 October, 7:30pm
Séamus Ó Flatharta
A talented vocalist, multi-instrumentalist and dancer, Gaeilge, is often at the heart of his performances. He has performed with Ireland’s finest musicians at prestigious festivals across the globe – recently guesting on the 25th Anniversary Tour of Riverdance at Radio City Music Hall, NYC. He has made numerous TV appearances in Ireland including Other Voices, The Late Late Show, and TG4’s Fleadh TV. Accumulating a total of 23 All-Ireland Titles from the age of 7, Séamus has performed alongside the finest ambassadors of Irish Music and has contributed to numerous albums to date.
Aisling Ennis
Aisling Ennis is highly regarded as a harpist both at home in Ireland and internationally. A passionate performer, arranger and educator, she enjoys a varied career as a solo, chamber, orchestral harpist and educator. Aisling is known for her evocative playing across a broad spectrum of genres, her ongoing experimental collaborations and innovative approaches to programming.
Recent work includes her new adaptation of Mozart’s Magic Flute, collaborating with Peter Power of Sparsile Collective on his new work After Light: These Dark Citizens for Cork’s Midsummer Festival, solo appearances with Muireann Nic Amhlaoibh and Irish Chamber Orchestra for Kilkenny Arts Festival, the release of her debut solo album of compositions and ongoing recitals with Trio Tain.
Aisling performs on a Salvi Minerva concert harp, Tomás Mac Uileagóid ‘Eala’ Irish harps and Camac electric harps. Aisling’s work is supported by Arts Council Ireland and Wicklow County Council.
Harp Day at glór with Aisling Lyons and Elaine Hogan
Cruit Éireann | Harp Ireland and glór present
A Celebration of Harping on the eve of Harp Day. With Aisling Lyons (harp), Dale McKay (handpan), Elaine Hogan (harp), Sheila Garry (fiddle) and members of Music Generation Laois and Music Generation Clare Harp Ensembles.
Glór Theatre, Ennis, Friday 14 October
Described as ‘one of traditional music’s finest musicians‘ by Hot Press Magazine, Aisling Lyons is a multi award-winning harper and composer from County Clare who has performed all around the globe. Aisling will perform with Co. Laois musician Dale McKay, with whom she founded the band Harpanno. Together they’ll share a blissful selection of music for harp, handpan (a new instrument which draws inspiration from Caribbean Steal Drums) and piano. Aisling and Dale will be joined on the night by members of the Music Generation Laois and Music Generation Clare harp ensembles.
The second half of this celebration featured long-standing collaborators, harper Elaine Hogan and fiddler player Sheila Garry. Known for their sensitive and soulful performances, Elaine and Sheila’s album of Paddy O’Donoghue compositions, The Shores of Lough Breda, has received widespread acclaim.
Aideen Barry's Oblivion / Seachmalltacht / ᖃᐅᔨᒪᔭᐅᔪᓐᓃᖅᑐᑦ at Living Canvas
Aideen Barry’s Oblivion / Seachmalltacht / ᖃᐅᔨᒪᔭᐅᔪᓐᓃᖅᑐᑦ
Living Canvas, Wilton Park, Dublin 2
Lá na Cruite | Harp Day, Saturday 15 October, 12-4pm & 10-11pm
A video iteration of Aideen Barry’s multimedia performance, moving image and sound installation Oblivion / Seachmalltacht / ᖃᐅᔨᒪᔭᐅᔪᓐᓃᖅᑐᑦ inspired by the Bunting Harp Collection was on view on the Living Canvas, Wilton Park.
Oblivion / Seachmalltacht / ᖃᐅᔨᒪᔭᐅᔪᓐᓃᖅᑐᑦ was commissioned by Music Network and the Irish Traditional Music Archive under the Bunting Commission award. Living Canvas is a Cultural Initiative of IPUT Real Estate, and was presented in partnership with Dublin City Council.
