Summer Harps in Donegal

On 22nd-23rd June 2024, CÉHI presented the Summer Harps series in Moville, Co. Donegal, a partnership with Ceolan Music School to support and develop harping in the area. 

Local harpers from Inishowen and Derry learned polkas, hornpipes and harpers’ tunes from master harpers Deirdre Granville and Kathleen Loughnane on the banks of Lough Foyle across the weekend. Kathleen introduced harpers to the music of seventeenth-century harper, Thomas Connellan and told them more about our almost 1000-year old tradition of harping in Ireland.

This celebration of harping in Inishowen concludes with a concert on Sunday evening to around 100 locals. The concert featured music from Honoria Galway’s collection performed by the Inishowen Harp Ensemble, a taste of the Dingle traditions from Aoife and Deirdre Granville and masters of the tradition, Kathleen Loughnane, Mary Bergin and Dearbhaill Standún. 

Many thanks to the Arts Council, the Heritage Council, Ceolán Music Studio and St. Pius X Church for their support.