'Unique' music celebration to take place in historical Clare venue

THE IRISH emblem, the harp, is being celebrated at a ‘unique festival’ in Clare soon.

Bunratty Castle and Folk Park is hosting ‘A Celebration of the Irish Harp’ on Saturday, September 2 and Sunday, September 3. The two-day festival coincides with the  60th anniversary of the Bunratty Castle Medieval Banquet.

The inaugural event will feature harpists and harp music experts from across Ireland with a series of exhibitions, talks and performances.

The celebration is hosted in collaboration with internationally renowned harpist, Deirdre O’Brien Vaughan, Director of the Irish Traditional Music Institute. According to Ms. O’Brien Vaughan, “the celebration will bring the story of the Irish harp to life”. 

“Ireland's heraldic emblem is the harp, and we are the only nation to have a musical instrument as our national emblem,” Ms O’Brien Vaughan said.

More than three million people have attended the banquets in Bunratty since the 1960s. 

Marie Brennan, Events Manager at Bunratty Castle & Folk Park said: “The Irish harp is the one musical instrument that people associate with this long-running event and, therefore, we are delighted to be able to celebrate its status as a symbol of Irish culture at the visitor attraction next week.”

Author, historian and founding CEO of Shannon Heritage, Cian O’Carroll officially opens the festival in the banquet hall at 1pm on September 2.

Internationally celebrated harpists Aine Sheridan and Kim Fleming will be joined by an ensemble of young harpists for a recital in the Main Guard of Bunratty Castle at 2pm, while recitals will take place from midday to 4pm at Ardcroney Church, which is located within the Folk Park having been moved to Bunratty from County Tipperary in 1988.

On Sunday September 3, renowned harp maker restorer Gerard Doheny hosts a talk on Harp Restoration and an exhibition on harp maintenance and care from 1pm to 2pm in the castle. 

Ardcroney Church once again hosts Harp Recitals from midday to 4pm, while Dunguaire Castle's resident harpist, Patty Gibbons presents “From Dunmore to Bunratty – A Dream Fulfilled” at Bunratty Castle at 2pm.