Lá na Cruite | National Harp Day - Cathair na Mart, Maigh Eo

Lá na Cruite | National Harp Day - Cathair na Mart, Maigh Eo

Saturday, 20 October 2018, 3.00pm

Saturday October 20th marks Ireland’s second Lá na Cruite – National Harp Day, where Harp Ireland, Cruit Éireann, once again, invites harpers and people interested in the harp to join in celebrating all facets of the harp in Ireland. Venues from Donegal to Dingle, from Belfast to Bandon, will resound to the wonderful sound of harp-playing at concerts, sessions, harpathons, pop-up sessions, talks and demonstrations of harp-making.

National Harp Day is Cruit Éireann’s second major initiative to promote Ireland’s national instrument, encourage more people to learn the harp, attract new audiences and recognise the harp’s unique place in Irish musical and cultural life. Harp events will take place at a number of key venues in cities and towns nationwide including Armagh, Belfast, Dublin, Mayo, Galway, Limerick, Laois, Louth, Meath, Cork, Wexford, as well as associated harp events around the globe.

Following on the success of last year’s event, Lá na Cruite – National Harp Day, will be celebrated once again in Westport’s Town Hall Theatre. All are invited for a FREE afternoon of harp-filled entertainment, starting at 1.30pm. Have you always wanted to try out the harp? Well now’s your chance! On Saturday, 20th October, as part of this national celebration, you will able to attend the FREE Hands on Harps workshop with Caoimhe Kilkenny, 1.30-2.30pm. No previous playing experience needed and harps will be provided.

This workshop will be followed by a concert featuring performances from Music Generation Mayo Harp Ensemble, directed by Gráinne Hambly and William Jackson, and well-known local harpers, Laoise Kelly, Freda Hatton and Caoimhe Kilkenny. Local harp maker, Graham Wright, will also be displaying his harps for the afternoon.

Music Generation Mayo launched their Harp Ensemble, for young harpers aged 10-18 yrs. in Co. Mayo, in June 2017. The Harp Ensemble operates under the musical direction of Gráinne Hambly and William Jackson, acclaimed musicians and composers with many years of experience performing worldwide. The ensemble provides an opportunity for harp students from throughout the county, to work together on collective pieces and partake in performance opportunities. It also allows them to experience ensemble playing and provides a social opportunity to meet fellow harpers. Their debut performance took place in November 2017 at the Music Generation Tionól for harps and pipes in Portlaoise, followed by a performance at the Town Hall Westport for National Harp Day 2017. The ensemble is excited to be playing again as part of the 2018 Harp Day celebrations!

The National Harp Day Celebrations in Westport Town Hall will finish with performances by Laoise Kelly, Gráinne Hambly, William Jackson, Freda Hatton and Caoimhe Kilkenny.

Laoise Kelly, a born and bred, and proud Westport girl, now living on Achill Island, is regarded as “the most significant harper of her generation”. She has pioneered a new style of driving instrumental harping, showcased in her three critically acclaimed solo albums Just Harp, Ceis and Fáilte Uí Cheallaigh. She is director of the Achill International Harp Festival.

Gráinne Hambly is an internationally recognised exponent of the Irish harp and is in great demand as a performer and teacher, both at home and abroad. She studied music at Queen’s University Belfast and also plays concertina. She has attracted glowing praise for her live performances and recorded material, which brilliantly showcase what has been described as her ‘absolute mastery of the Irish harp’. Gráinne has toured and recorded with various artists and has released a number of CDs, including Music from Ireland and Scotland with William Jackson, as well as books of arrangements for solo harp and harp ensemble.

Originally from Glasgow and now living in Mayo, William Jackson has been at the forefront of Scottish traditional music for many years. In 1976 he was a founding member of the band Ossian, with whom he toured extensively in Europe and North America. Ossian also produced a series of acclaimed recordings which remain a benchmark for Scottish music. In addition to being a renowned harper, multi-instrumentalist, and recording artist, he has gained an international reputation as a composer of music combining traditional and classical elements. William is also a trained Music Therapist.

Freda Hatton is originally from near Athlone, Co. Westmeath, but after spending years living in Galway, moved to Westport five years ago. She is a graduate of Music and Irish from University College Cork and has post-graduate qualifications in Arts Administration and Translation Studies from NUI Galway. She has toured extensively all over the world, representing Ireland on several occasions in countries all over Europe, North America, Canada, Brazil and Argentina. She won the Senior All-Ireland Harp Competitions at Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann and at the O’Carolan Harp Festival in Keadue and was selected as the harpist on the Comhaltas tours of Britain and North America.

Playing since she was 4 years old, Caoimhe Kilkenny is a multi-instrumentalist proficient on harp, whistle, fiddle, piano and bodhrán. She is All-Ireland Champion and medalist on harp and tin whistle, along with grupaí ceoil and trio. Caoimhe was a member of Glór Mhaigh Eo who won Siansa Gael Linn in 2015. Caoimhe comes from a very musical background. As the daughter of John Kilkenny, music and teaching is in her DNA.

All details of this event are available via Town Hall Westport: www.westporttheatre.com | 098 28459

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Published by Westport Music on 16 October 2018

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