Nobber gears up for O'Carolan Harp Festival

The life and legacy of poet, composer and harper Turlough O’Carolan will be celebrated in Nobber this weekend at the 29th annual O'Carolan Harp Festival.

The festiva will feature performances by Triona Marshall, Cormac de Barra, Martin Donohoe, Legends of the Celtic Harp and the Meath Harp Ensemble.

Over the course of the weekend, there will be  workshops and competitions on harp, attracting harpists from all over the country.

Last year more than 80 harpists descended on the village for the festival.

Tomorrow (Friday) night’s concert,  ‘A trio of Irish Delight’, will see performances by Triona Marshall, Cormac de Barra and Martin Donohoe.

On Saturday Night, the concert features performances by ‘The Legends of the Celtic Harp’ and the Meath Harp Ensemble. Both concerts take place in the George Eogan Cultural Centre.

On Saturday afternoon at 2pm,  there is an historical tour and on Sunday at 3pm, there will be a talk entitled ‘Ireland’s Harp, The Shaping of Irish Identity c 1770 to 1880’ by Dr Mary Louise O’Donnell.

The festival was launched by Ann Finnegan, Comhaltas Ceoltóirí Eireann President on Friday, 23rd September in the George Eogan Cultural Centre. The  'Chronicles of Meath' CD written by composer Vincent Kennedy and performed by Meath Harp Ensemble was also launched on the night by Meath County Council Cathaoirleach Cllr Maria Murphy.

Further details and online booking are available on www.nobberharpfestival.com.