The biggest ever gathering of harpers will take place in Donegal to mark La Na Cruite/Harp Day on October 22nd/23rd next.
Harp Ireland, will share a cross-border celebration of our harping heritage in a video recording filmed at the iconic Grianán an Aileach site in Burt.
More than 50 harpers, the largest ever gathering of harpers in Donegal, will perform a specially commissioned piece of music, The Grianán an Aileach Suite by the Henry Girls harper, Joleen McLaughlin.
The piece will be released at 9am at www.harpireland.ie and on social media.
It is one of another events over that weekend to celebrating the harps and the musicians who play this wonderful instrument.
This is the seventh annual LÁ NA CRUITE│HARP DAY. Once again, Irish harpers extend a warm invitation to harpers globally to join them in person and online to celebrate the 1000-year-old Irish harping tradition, a tradition recognised on UNESCO’s List of Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanities.
With interest in the event growing year on year, this year’s celebration incorporates over 70 individual live and online events taking place in Ireland, and as far away as Brazil, Japan, Europe, the US and the United Kingdom. The success of the event in previous years has meant that this year’s events span the entire week, from Monday 16th October through Sunday 22 October and we look forward to a plethora of free harp events in towns and cities around the country and farther afield.
Lá na Cruite │Harp Day 2023 shines a spotlight on harp music’s special ability to unite cultures and celebrate difference. Some 231 years on from the renowned 1792 Belfast Harpers’ Assembly, this enduring tradition continues to flourish and evolve. In 2023, we mark the contribution of collector Edward Bunting and his important legacy to Irish harpers.
Speaking at the recent Harps Alive Festival 2023 in Belfast, Aibhlín McCrann, Chair, Cruit Éireann | Harp Ireland stated, “This year, Lá na Cruite | Harp Day speaks to the theme of Meanma in celebrating the strength and spirit of harpers all over the world. The range of events shows the versatility of the harp, particularly amongst younger generations of emerging harpers. We look forward to welcoming and connecting harpers, teachers, makers and enthusiasts with new audiences on Saturday 21st October, to celebrate the thriving and enduring tradition of harping in Ireland.”
More than 70 live and online events will take place in a variety of spaces and places, where harpers will perform and collaborate in a series of harp-led initiatives partnering with other artists and artforms, and delivering an exciting mix of poetry, song and story-telling with other traditional musicians, as they continue to expand the possibilities of the instrument, creating memorable and engaging musical experiences.
Tickets for the Harps Alive Concert are available at Eventbrite Harp Day 2023
