Some of the finest harpers in Ireland and Scotland will gather in Belfast next week to mark the anniversary of the legendary great Belfast Harp Festival of 1792.
The sound of the harp will echo through St George’s church in High Street on June 14 as Éadaoin Ní Mhaicín and William Jackson are joined by Scotland’s Catriona McKay and Chris Stout for a special commemorative concert.
Organised by Cruit Éireann (Harp Ireland) and Belfast’s Reclaim the Enlightenment, the harpers are taking part in the first stage of a cross border celebration of Irish harp music. Events will take place in Belfast over the weekend of June 14/15 before moving to Drogheda in September to mark the town’s “grand harp concert” of 1844.
Harp Ireland chairwoman Aibhlín McCrann said the Harps Alive festival would explore the close harping connections between Ireland and Scotland.
“It is very satisfying to see our collaboration with our northern colleagues continuing to flourish and to highlight the important role that the Belfast Harpers’ Assembly (1792) played in the safeguarding of the harpers’ music,” Ms McCrann said.
Reclaim the Enlightenment was established in Belfast to re-engage and rediscover the period in the north’s history.
Chairman John Gray said next week’s festival would create more awareness of the harp tradition.
As well as the concert, harpers will take their music into primary schools. Lectures, recitals and other events are also planned for Cultúrlann McAdam Ó Fiaich, the Shankill Road library and a pop-up Harp Ensemble at 2 Royal Avenue on June 15. Anyone wishing to try their hand at the harp can also do so at the Linenhall Library, also on June 15.
On June 22, Reclaim the Enlightenment will conduct a United Irishmen trail at Cave Hill (10am to 1pm). Mr Gray will talk the trek from Belfast Castle, outlining Cave Hill’s place in the activities of Henry Joy McCracken and the United Irishmen and culminating in their rebellion of 1798.
Full details of all events in the harp festival are available at harpireland.ie while the Cave Hill United Irishmen Trail can be booked at https://reclaimtheenlightenment.net/
