Report on the Harping Tradition in Ireland

Scoil na gCláirseach--Summer School
of Early Irish Harp 2015
Photo by Pat Moore
the qualities of the early Irish harp, and researching and contextualising this music. Its
summer school and concert series are rich musical experiences.
There is much more that the HHSI could achieve. The society has ambitious plans, but
this development is not possible on their current level of funding. Core annual funding
for this organisation is also essential for its future progress.
This will be addressed further in the Recommendations section.
HHSI’s future plans can be summarised as follows:
• To increase its network of teachers from four to six and extend early Irish harp
tuition around the country;
• increase the number of concert performances annually;
• develop a plan of action towards establishing a HHSI premises, which would
have an office, paid administrator, storage room for harps, library space and
space for lessons and lectures;
• found an annual Journal of the Historical Harp Society of Ireland, to provide
a forum for the latest international research in the field;
• develop an HHSI tuition syllabus and a graded exam structure;
• develop parameters for historical harp-building;
• purchase further student harp models (HHSI has already copied five of the existing
18 historic harps);
• establish international branches of the HHSI.
66