Have you always wanted to play the harp? Would you like to hear, learn more about – and even play – the ancient instrument of Ireland and the Scottish Highlands? If so, now’s your chance! Join us at one of our 2020 Discovery Days. Scroll below for details of where and when.
HHSI Discovery Days are suitable for adults and children over the ages of ten. They have three components:
LISTEN
A 45-min. lunchtime concert of solo harp music and harp songs with Ireland’s foremost historical harpist, Siobhán Armstrong, and one of the following two prize-winning singers, Róisín Elsafty or Eibhlís Ní Riordáin.
LEARN
A 45-min. illustrated talk on the fascinating history of the old Irish harp, given by a world expert in the field, Simon Chadwick.
HAVE A GO!
A 60-min. beginners’ workshop under the gentle guidance of Sylvia Crawford. The HHSI has a unique collection of student early Irish harps copied from originals in the National Museum of Ireland. These are available on a first-come, first-served basis to the workshop participants who sign up soonest.
DISCOVERY DAYS 2020
DUBLIN Sat. 17 Oct. (National Harp Day)
Venue: to be confirmed
KILKENNY Sun. 16 Aug.
Venue: Coláiste Pobail Osraí, Ormonde Rd, Kilkenny. [Through Ormond College car park] In association with Scoil na gCláírseach–Festival of Early Irish Harp.
3.30 p.m. HAVE A GO!
A 60-min. beginners’ workshop under the gentle guidance of Sylvia Crawford. The HHSI has a unique collection of student early Irish harps copied from originals in the National Museum of Ireland. These are available on a first-come, first-served basis to the workshop participants who sign up soonest.
CARRICKMACROSS Sat. 4 Apr. 2020
Venue: The Workhouse, Shercock Road, Carrickmacross, Co. Monaghan A81 E372 Tel: (0)42 966 4540. In association with Comhaltas’s Féile Patrick Byrne festival.
2.00 p.m. LISTEN
A 45-min. lunchtime concert of solo harp music and harp songs with Ireland’s foremost historical harpist, Siobhán Armstrong, and Róisín Elsafty
3.00 p.m. LEARN
A 45-min. illustrated talk on the fascinating history of the old Irish harp, given by a world expert in the field, Simon Chadwick.
4.00 p.m. HAVE A GO!
A 75-min. beginners’ workshop under the gentle guidance of Sylvia Crawford. The HHSI has a unique collection of student early Irish harps copied from originals in the National Museum of Ireland. These are available on a first-come, first-served basis to the workshop participants who sign up soonest.
TICKETS & BOOKING INFORMATION
Free admission to LISTEN and LEARN events. HAVE A GO! workshop places are ticketed and limited; to avoid any disappointment, please book ahead by contacting Finian McCluskey at carrickmacross@comhaltas.net
BELFAST Sat. 22 Feb. 2020
Venue: Cultúrlann McAdam Ó Fiach, 216 Falls Rd, Belfast BT12 6AH +44 (0)28 9096 4180. In association with Comhaltas Ceoltóirí Éireann’s Remembering Bunting Festival.
1.00 p.m. LISTEN
Harp songs from the Bunting manuscripts with Ireland’s foremost historical harpist, Siobhán Armstrong, and prize-winning singer, Róisín Elsafty
2.30 p.m. LEARN
A 45-min. illustrated talk on the fascinating history of the old Irish harp, given by a world expert in the field, Simon Chadwick.
3.30 p.m. HAVE A GO!
A 75-min. beginners’ workshop under the gentle guidance of Sylvia Crawford. The HHSI has a unique collection of student early Irish harps copied from originals in the National Museum of Ireland. These are available on a first-come, first-served basis to the workshop participants who sign up soonest.
TICKETS & BOOKING INFORMATION
Free admission to all three events. N.B. HAVE A GO! workshop places are ticketed and limited; to avoid any disappointment, please book ahead by contacting Bunting Festival Artistic Director, Karen D’Aoust, on +44 (0)28 82242777 or outreach@dunuladh.ie
QUESTIONS?
Contact us by email: info@irishharp.org or by phone: +353 (0)86 8623430
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
HHSI Discovery Days are made possible with funding from An Chomhairle Ealaíon (The Arts Council). Our wonderful bank of HHSI Student harps has been funded by The Music Capital Scheme, supported by the Department of Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht and managed by Music Network.
