Harps Alive | An Chruit Bheo | Harps Leevin’ returns to Belfast for its fifth year bringing together leading harpers, scholars and audiences from across the island in a landmark celebration of Irish harping.
Long-standing collaborators Cruit Éireann|Harp Ireland and Reclaim the Enlightenment are delighted to announce an exciting new partnership with Belfast TradFest in the presentation of a vibrant celebration of harping throughout the city. Taking place in Belfast in July/August, and supported by Belfast City Council, Harps Alive is complemented by a September programme in Antrim, Derry, Dublin, Kildare, Louth, Roscommon, Wicklow and Waterford, with workshops, taster sessions, school visits, concerts and lecture-recitals.
Harps Alive Belfast marks the 230th anniversary of Edward Bunting’s A General Collection of the Ancient Irish Music (1796), showcasing Irish harping as both ancient tradition and living art form. Bringing together leading performers, tutors and composers the festival presents a series of masterclasses and events with renowned harpers and historians. A highlight will be its flagship concert with solo and ensemble performance, alongside new compositions and arrangements that reimagine historical repertoire for today’s audiences.
“Our new partnership with Belfast TradFest strengthens our mission to create connections across communities and to celebrate our shared living heritage throughout the island” said CÉHI’s CEO Tríona Ní Dhuibhir. “We are thrilled that this new partnership, consolidating our work with Reclaim the Enlightenment, ensures that everybody can enjoy the music of our iconic instrument - the Irish harp”.
A central feature of this year’s programme is the flagship concert Harps Alive | An Chruit Bheo | Harps Leevin’: Celebrating 230 Years of Bunting’s Legacy at Redeemer Central on Wednesday 29 July at 7.30pm. The concert brings together some of Ireland’s leading harpers and traditional musicians, including Michael Rooney, Úna Monaghan, Lauren Ní Néill, Colm McGonigle and the Harp Ireland All-Island Ensemble together with renowned singer and flute player Muireann Nic Amhlaoibh.
The festival programme includes a walking tour with Belfast Historian Mark Doherty, recounting the story of the Irish Harp Society in Belfast, starting at City Hall on Saturday 1st August at 2pm. From the legacy of the Belfast Harp Festival to the city’s continuing role in developing and promoting harping, the tour offers audiences an understanding of how Belfast was the epicentre of the Irish harping legacy.
Belfast TradFest Artistic Director Dónal O'Connor said: "Few cities have shaped the story of the Irish harp as profoundly as Belfast. The Belfast Harp Festival of 1792 helped safeguard one of Ireland's greatest cultural treasures at a pivotal moment in history. More than two centuries later, we're honoured to continue that legacy by announcing this new partnership with Cruit Éireann | Harp Ireland and Reclaim the Enlightenment, celebrating the instrument that has become an enduring symbol of Ireland."
He continues: “Traditional music connects us across generations, communities and cultures, reminding us that our shared heritage is something to be celebrated and continually renewed. Belfast TradFest is about creating those moments of connection, honouring the past, welcoming everyone, and inspiring the next generation to carry our traditions forward.”
John Gray, Chairperson Reclaim the Enlightenment welcomed the tripartite relationship saying that
“The new partnership with Belfast TradFest can only strengthen the event. Together we can ensure that the harping tradition in Belfast and the North goes from strength to strength.”
Harps Alive details available here
