Harp Day events in Meath
Harps Together 'Lá na Cruite' Harp Day 2022 takes place on Saturday, 15th October 15th with live and online events planned all over the world including three in Meath.
For the sixth year in a row, Irish harpers extend a warm invitation to harpers everywhere to join with them in celebrating the 1000-year-old Irish harping tradition.
Harps Together will feature harps sounding loudly from dawn to dusk in iconic locations throughout Ireland, north and south and from as far away as Sydney, across the US and Asia. Closer to home, harpers in Luxemburg, Italy, Germany and the UK join us to celebrate our vibrant harping tradition.
Fiona Gryson and her students from the Fingal Harp Ensemble have a trio of exciting performances planned in Meath.
They will start the day by performing in the church on the Hill of Tara from 11am where they will be joined by members of the Meath Harp Ensemble.
Then they will pack their harps and travel to the Solstice Arts Centre, Navan where they will be joining Jennifer Leahy and her students as well as harp maker Jan Muyllaert for a performance from 1pm until 2.30pm.
Their performances will culminate with a finale concert featuring members of the TU Dublin Harp Ensemble at the special venue of Cornstown House Farm, Ashbourne at 4pm.
Lá na Cruite │Harp Day 2022 puts a spotlight on harp music’s special ability to unite cultures and celebrate difference. This year also marks that 230th anniversary of the 1792 Belfast Harpers’ Assembly, and many of the events planned on Lá na Cruite | Harp Day will draw from and celebrate the invaluable legacy left by Edward Bunting and the Assembly on the Irish harping tradition.
“We are excited that our 2022 programme highlights the vibrance of the harping tradition, its extraordinary popularity and its great diversity," commented Aibhlín McCrann, Chair, Cruit Éireann Harp Ireland.
“The harp is a vibrant cultural presence across different genres; we are thrilled to be working with so many gifted harpers and artists to shine a spotlight on harping and welcome new audiences to enjoy it.”
More than 40 live events will take place across Ireland and abroad where harpers will unite, celebrate and collaborate in an exciting series of initiatives partnering with storytellers, visual artists, singers, film-makers and other traditional musicians as they push the harp to its limits, exploring new possibilities and creating unforgettable musical experiences.
The Lá na Cruite │ Harp Day 2022 celebrations will culminate with a Gala Concert at Dublin’s Liberty Hall Theatre on Sunday 16th October. Welcoming Moya Brennan (of Clannad) and her band, featuring harper Cormac de Barra, Eibhlís Ní Ríordáin on early harp, Derry harper Lauren O’Neill with Eugene McKenna (fiddle), Rosie Murphy (Pedal Harp), and harper composer, Michael Rooney with The Music Generation Harp Collective, this very special performance promises to be a fitting tribute to Ireland’s incredible harping tradition.