Ulster Harpers Gather at Ancient Grianán Fort
Harpers from across Ulster as well as County Louth gathered at the ancient Celtic hill fort of Grianán of Aileach in Inishowen to promote this year’s Irish Harp Day.
by Seamus McKinney, Irish News
03 August, 2023
Pictures by Margaret McLaughlin
The young harpers also performed a specially commissioned piece in preparation for Irish Harp Day in October this year. Picture by Margaret McLaughlin
More than 60 of Ireland’s leading young harp players have gathered at the ancient Grianán of Aileach fort in Co Donegal for an unprecedented assembly of harpists. Harpists from all over Ulster as well as Co Louth played at the fort which overlooks the Derry-Donegal border on Thursday to promote Irish harp day later this year. All 60 musicians also performed a special commission by Donegal harper Joleen McLaughlin at a recital at St Pius X’s church in Moville on Thursday evening.
The Cruinniú na gCruitirí (Harpers’ Gathering) was brought together by Cruit Éireann (Harp Ireland) along with renowned Inishowen musician, Clodagh Warnock. The recitals also featured guest performances from Triona Marshall, harper with the legendary The Chieftains as well as Donegal musician and composer, Martin Tourish. One of the royal sites of Gaelic Ireland, Grianán of Aileach is a ringfort overlooking Lough Swilly and Lough Foyle.
The young harpers also performed a specially commissioned piece in preparation for Irish Harp Day in October this year. Picture by Margaret McLaughlin
Cruit Éireann chairwoman, Aibhlín McCrann said the event – billed as the greatest gathering of harpers in Donegal – was being used to promote Irish Harp Day on October 21. Ms McCrann said: “Our theme for harp day is meanma which means courage and spirit and we thought that Grianán Ailigh which is here for more than 2,000 years personified that idea and we wanted to reflect that in the harp playing. We wanted to show people what it’s like to be sitting on a 2,000-year-old site while performing on our national symbol which is also more than 1,000 years old.”
A “melody” of harpers arrived at Grianán of Aileach hill fort for Wednesday’s performance. Picture by Margaret McLaughlin
The musicians taking part in the event were drawn from: the Inishowen Harp Ensemble; Scoil Ruaidhrí Dall; Colmcille Harp Ensemble; Elver Harp Ensemble; Music Generation, Lough Harp Ensemble and the Derry Harp Ensemble.
