Bunratty Castle is poised to host “A Celebration of the Irish Harp” on 2-3 September. This event will bring the story of the Irish harp to life, shedding light on its historical and cultural significance through live performances, exhibitions and talks.
Bunratty’s first-ever festival celebrating the Irish harp is set to take place in the 15th-century castle and folk park in Co. Clare on the weekend of 2-3 September. This unique two-day celebration aims to highlight the exceptional role the harp has held in Irish history, folklore and culture.
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The festival programme features harpists, music experts and historians from across Ireland, presenting a range of talks, exhibitions and live performances.
The event is organized in collaboration with Deirdre O’Brien Vaughan, Director of the Irish Traditional Music Institute and an internationally renowned harpist and music teacher who has collaborated with world-famous names like the Chieftains, Liam O’Flynn and Comhaltas Ceoltóirí Éireann.
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With its iconic status as the emblem of Ireland, the harp symbolizes Irish identity and is a reminder of our vibrant musical traditions. Deirdre O’Brien Vaughan had this to say about its place in Irish history:
“We are the only nation to have a musical instrument as our national emblem. Its use as the arms of Ireland goes back to medieval times when the instrument was played in banquet halls across the country and, most notably, at Bunratty Castle where its melodic sounds have had a presence over the centuries.”
On Saturday afternoon, Cian O’Carroll – author, historian and CEO of Shannon Heritage – will officially open the festival in the main guard of the medieval castle with a discussion on the Irish Harp’s historical significance.
This will be followed by recitals by internationally acclaimed harpists Áine Sheridan and Kim Fleming, who will be joined by a group of young emerging harpists in the main guard.
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The main guard served as the general living and dining area for soldiers and retainers but today it operates as a banquet hall.
On both Saturday and Sunday, there will be recitals in Ardcroney Church. Built c.1824, this former Church of Ireland church was moved stone by stone from Ardcroney in Co. Tipperary to Bunratty’s 26-acre folk park in 1988 to prevent it from falling into further disrepair.
On Sunday afternoon, attendees will be treated to a talk and exhibition by Gerard Donaghy, expert harp maker and restorer.
Another talk will be hosted by Patty Gibbons, Dunguaire Castle’s resident harpist. Inspired by the harp music she encountered in Bunratty during her childhood in 1967, Patty joined the Bunratty Castle entertainers as a harpist a decade later.
The inaugural harp festival concludes with an ensemble of harpists, hailing from both near and far, which is sure to be an uplifting rendition of harp music within the iconic surrounds of Bunratty Castle.
>>> READ MORE: Sundials: telling the time in medieval Ireland
The festival coincides with the 60th anniversary of the Bunratty Castle medieval banquet, one of Ireland’s longest-running evening entertainment shows. It was in the early 1960s that the late Dr Brendan O’Regan first conceived the idea of a medieval feast in an old Irish castle and it quickly received international attention.
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Since then, over 3 million people from around the globe have enjoyed this magical evening of medieval music, mead and merriment. The Irish harp is the defining musical accompaniment to this enduring tradition.
To mark this important anniversary, a new exhibition charts the history, evolution and popularity of the Bunratty medieval banquet. The harp festival offers the opportunity to explore the recently opened Bunratty banquet exhibit.
For more details on the upcoming festival, visit Bunratty Castle’s website.
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