Report on the Harping Tradition in Ireland

The harp festival in Granard, Co. Longford (5%), has played an important role, but
ceased in 2011. The former festival committee still has four harps. Given the unique
historical background to the Granard harp competition (the Granard festival was an
attempt at reviving the early harp tradition in the 1780s), the re-establishment of this
event could have an important impact on the harp in that county.
Oireachtas na Gaeilge, the annual Irish-language festival, has three instrumental
competitions – uilleann pipes, fiddle and harp – but entry numbers for the harp
competition have been very low in recent years. Feis Shligigh in Sligo, which hosts the
Bunting Cup for harpers, has also received a very low number of entrants. It is important
that harp organisations collaborate with Oireachtas na Gaeilge and Feis Shligigh to
make sure that entry numbers increase and that these competitions remain a part of
these festivals.
60% of harpers regularly attend harping and other music events to support their
practice (Chart 18).
Regularly Attended Events
An Chuirt Chruitireachta (38)
Fleadhanna Cheoil (34)
14.1%
12.6%
Scoil Samhráidh Willie Clancy (17)
O’Carolan Festival, Nobber (11)
Scoil na gCláirseach, Kilkenny (11)
O’Carolan Festival, Keadue (10)
Concerts at NCH (7)
Galway Early Music Festival (4)
Joe Mooney Summer School (4)
Edinburgh Int. Harp Festival (4)
6.3%
4.1%
4.1%
3.7%
2.6%
1.5%
1.5%
1.5%
Other (81)
30.1%
None / N/A (108)
40.1%
Chart 18: (Sample: 269)
40