Clare musicians to feature at international harp festival

Harpers from Music Generation Clare will travel to Louth this weekend to take part in An Chúirt Chruitireachta festival.

Established in 1986, An Chúirt Chruitireachta is an annual international harp festival run by Cairde na Cruite (Friends of the Harp).

It sees harpers from all over the world come together for an immersive week of harping. Participants have the opportunity to engage with other harpers, gain a better understanding of Irish music, song and dance, and learn more about the harp and its music. 

This year’s festival takes place from Sunday, June 30 to Friday, July 5 at An Grianán, Termonfeckin, Co. Louth, and features a panel of exceptional tutors and talented artists set to deliver an outstanding celebration of harp music.  

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Residential students will stay onsite in An Grianán, where they will engage in daily classes, workshops and concerts. They will learn about historical and contemporary aspects of the harp tradition and explore the harp in its many forms through performances and demonstrations on Irish, early Irish and pedal harps.

Clare musicians will be among those performing at the festival. The Music Generation Clare Harp Ensemble will participate in the festival’s annual ensemble day which will see them perform alongside harpers from across the country in a Harp Ensemble Gala Concert on Wednesday July 3 at An Grianán.

The MGCE Harp ensemble is one of the most popular ensembles in Music Generation Clare with regular high profile performances both locally and nationally.

In the past the Harp Ensemble has performed at the All Ireland Fleadh’s, events in Laois, for Clare County Council and annually as part of national Harp day.

The festival will kick off at 3pm on Sunday, June 20 in the picturesque surroundings of An Grianán, Termonfeckin, Co. Louth with a pop-up concert featuring local musicians from the Music Generation Louth Harp Ensemble.

A harp-makers’ exhibition will also run throughout the afternoon with leading Irish harp makers on hand to discuss their work.

Entry to both the afternoon pop-up concert and the exhibition is free of charge and all are welcome. 

Members of the public are also invited to attend an exciting line-up of ticketed concerts taking place at 8pm each evening from Sunday June 30 to Thursday July 4 at an Grianán.

For a full line-up of festival events see www.harpfestival.ie.