Music Generation harp ensembles to perform at Cairde na Cruite’s International Harp Festival

Harpers from across the globe will come together in a celebration of Irish harping in Termonfechin, County Louth, for Cairde na Cruite’s 34th Annual International Harp Festival taking place this year from Sunday 30 June – Thursday 5 July. This exciting residential festival will be filled with daily workshops and evening concerts, involving young and professional harpers from Ireland and further afield and including performances by Music Generation harp ensembles.

Music Generation Laois, Louth and Mayo harp ensembles are set to perform at the festival’s popular ‘Harps a-Humming’ Harp Ensemble Gala Concert in An Grianán on Wednesday 3 July at 8pm. Other ensembles from Northern Ireland, Dublin, Mayo, Meath, Louth, Limerick, Wexford, Laois and Wicklow are also set to perform on the night.

The Music Generation Mayo Harp Ensemble will play ‘Rebecca’s Waltz,’ composed and arranged by Rebecca McCarthy Kent. Máire Ní Chathasaigh has arranged two pieces for the Music Generation Louth Harp Ensemble, ‘Katherine O More’ and ‘Reel for a Water Diviner.’ The Music Generation Laois Harp Ensemble will perform three pieces, ‘Planxty St James’ and ‘The Blue Chair Jig’, composed and arranged by tutor Siobhán Buckley, and ‘Jig for Joan,’ composed and arranged by Ensemble member Aoife Buckley.

Tickets for ‘Harp a-Humming’ are on sale now from Eventbrite.

The Music Generation Louth Harp Ensemble will also perform as part of the ‘Rising Harp Stars’ concert series on Monday 1 July, while one of its members Donnchadh Hughes will perform on Thursday 4 July.

Opening the festival will be Nós Nua: Louth Youth Folk Orchestra, a joint initiative of Music Generation Louth and The Oriel Centre Dundalk Gaol, which will perform as part of a pop-up concert series in An Grianán. Going from strength to strength, Nós Nua made its debut performance only last year at Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann, and earlier in 2019 they wowed audiences at the 24th Annual Festival of Youth Orchestras.

Cairde na Cruite was established in 1960 and has played a central role in the revival and development of interest in the Irish harp since that time. Its International Harp Festival is a unique opportunity for performers and audiences alike to become immersed in all aspects of traditional music for Irish harp. Together with world-class festival mentors, participants will collaborate and share their knowledge in a relaxed, no-stress environment.

To find out more about the Festival visit www.cairdenacruite.com