Lá na Cruite | Harp Day at Foxford Traditional Weekend 

A harp-filled day with Music Generation Mayo at Foxford Traditional Weekend! Audiences were treated to pop-up performances, workshops and an evening concert featuring a newly commissioned work by harper Holly Geraghty. 

Lá na Cruite | Harp Day began in Foxford with intermediate and advanced harp workshops with renowned harpers Holly Geraghty and Caoimhe Kilkenny. Originally hailing from County Mayo, Holly is an internationally acclaimed harper, teacher and composer. Surrounded by a rich storehouse of Irish traditional music in both her home and locality, Holly began to play the concertina and piano at an early age before moving on to the harp. Caoimhe Kilkenny comes from a musical family in Mayo and has been playing music since the age of 4. She is a multi-instrumentalist proficient on Harp, whistle, fiddle and bodhrán. She is all-Ireland champion and medalist on various  instruments and is a member of the all-Ireland winning senior céilí band, the Piper’s Cross.

Large audiences gathered in the afternoon to hear the sounds of the Music Generation Mayo Harp Ensemble at their lunchtime recital. The Harp Ensemble operates under the musical direction of Gráinne Hambly and William Jackson, acclaimed musicians and composers with many years of experience performing worldwide. Harp maker Graham Wright was also on hand to offer guidance on harp repairs, general upkeep and purchasing harps. 

The lunchtime recital was immediately followed by a Hands on Harp Workshop with Gráinne Hambly, who offered the public an opportunity to try out the harp for the first time!

Finally, the Music Generation Mayo Senior Harp Ensemble performed a newly commissioned work from Holly Geraghty at the evening Féile Concert to round off a jam-packed Lá na Cruite | Harp Day in Mayo. 

Our thanks to Foxford Traditional Music Weekend and Music Generation Mayo for their support and participation in Lá na Cruite | Harp Day.