Irish Harping Recognised By UNESCO As Irish Living Heritage

Posted on 12 December 2019

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

IRISH HARPING RECOGNISED BY UNESCO AS IRISH LIVING HERITAGE

Is mór an onóir dúinn, thar cheann cruitirí na hÉireann, glacadh leis an aitheantas do chruitireacht na hÉireann ar Liosta Ionadaíoch UNESCO d’Oidhreacht Chultúir Dholáimhsithe an Duine. Táimid thar a bheith sásta glacadh leis dar ndóigh, agus is cinnte go bhfuil cruitirí ar fud na hÉireann ag léim in airde le háthas.

Cruit Éireann, Harp Ireland is delighted by the recent announcement from The Department of Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht confirming that Irish Harping has been inscribed on the UNESCO Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity in recognition of the harp, Ireland’s national instrument and its unique place in Irish musical and cultural life.

Commenting on the inscription, Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht, Josepha Madigan TD said: “I am delighted that Irish Harping has received this international recognition as it holds such a central place in our cultural heritage. The Harp is Ireland’s national symbol and has been played in Ireland for more than one thousand years. This recognition by UNESCO is a true tribute to the generation of harpers, who have ensured the transmission of Irish harp music for this and future generations. I am also grateful to Cruit Éireann/Harp Ireland for their work with my Department to achieve this UNESCO recognition”.

The UNESCO Representative List promotes the visibility, awareness and appreciation of the diversity of cultural heritage internationally. This special designation acknowledges Ireland’s unique harping tradition at an international level, while emphasising its importance at a national level and safeguarding it for future generations.

“Due to the efforts of a passionate and committed group of harpers, the living tradition of Irish harping is now thriving, with a rich and vibrant diversity of harping taking place all over Ireland and overseas.” said Aibhlín McCrann, Chair of Cruit Éireann, Harp Ireland. “The number of harp students continues to rise, and Irish-made harps are in big demand. Our third National Harp Day in October saw events take place the length and breadth of the country as well as farther afield. We are thrilled that Irish harping has gained the recognition it so richly deserves and that the harp clearly occupies pride of place at the heart of our national identity”.

Cruit Éireann, Harp Ireland is grateful to the Irish Government for its UNESCO nomination. We thank those officials of the Department of Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht for their commitment in helping us to achieve the distinguished inscription on the UNESCO Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.

We also acknowledge the Arts Council, An Chomhairle Ealaíon whose continued support has enhanced our ability to develop and promote many aspects of harping since 2016. We value RTÉ lyric fm’s consistent dedication to promoting Irish harping.

Finally, on this momentous day, we must remember those Irish harp pioneers, who during the fifties and sixties strived and succeeded in saving the harp and its music from extinction, and we pay tribute to their efforts. They would be very proud of our achievement. We also pay tribute to the steadfast dedication of harpers, teachers, harp students and our supporters nationally and internationally, who submitted heartfelt testimonials in recognition of Irish harping and its meaning in their lives.

PRESS COVERAGE

The Irish Times (12.12.19) https://www.irishtimes.com/news/ireland/irish-news/irish-harping-joins-hurling-uilleann-piping-on-unesco-living-heritage-list-1.4113634

Irish Examiner (12.12.19) https://www.rte.ie/player/series/rt%C3%A9-news-one-o-clock/SI0000001471?epguid=IH000374515

RTE One O’Clock News (13.12.19) https://www.rte.ie/player/series/rt%C3%A9-news-one-o-clock/SI0000001471?epguid=IH000374515 from 25:40

RTE Radio One Ryan Tubridy (13.12.19) https://www.rte.ie/radio/radioplayer/html5/#/radio1/11128617 from 7:05

Irish Times Image of the Day (14.12.19) https://www.irishtimes.com/news/ireland/irish-news/images-of-the-day-1.4114773#&gid=1&pid=3

Newstalk https://www.newstalk.com/news/irish-harping-recognised-unesco-part-worlds-intangible-cultural-heritage-937778

Merrion Street https://merrionstreet.ie/en/News-Room/News/Irish_Harping_Recognised_by_UNESCO_as_Irish_Living_Heritage.html

Breaking News https://www.breakingnews.ie/ireland/unesco-recognises-irish-harping-as-living-heritage-to-be-safeguarded-970085.html

The Journal https://www.thejournal.ie/an-e motional-day-irish-harping-receives-international-recognition-4931738-Dec2019/

UNESCO http://irishharp.org/unesco-status-for-irish-harping/

KFM Radio https://kfmradio.com/news/12122019-1652/irish-harping-recognised-unesco-living-heritage