A celebration of music at O’Carolan Harp Festival and Summer School

The annual O’Carolan Harp Festival and Summer School will take place from July 28th to August 4th. It will bring together harpers, musicians, and music enthusiasts from around the world for a unique cultural experience, offering a rich blend of performances, workshops, and masterclasses led by renowned artists in traditional Irish music.

It will also feature concerts, céilithe, harp recitals, and international harp competitions. O'Carolan's Trail allows visitors to walk in the footsteps of the legendary harper, further connecting them to his history and the Roscommon landscape that inspired him.

Now in its 45th year, the O'Carolan Harp Festival and Summer School was established in 1978 in Keadue to commemorate O'Carolan's life and work. This annual event, traditionally held over the August Bank Holiday weekend, has grown into one of Ireland's longest running and leading festivals dedicated to harp and traditional Irish music.

Keadue takes great pride in its connection to O'Carolan, with the Turlough O'Carolan Heritage Park opened in 1993. This park features a bronze harp monument by sculptor Fred Conlon, a replica of O'Carolan's harp, and serves as a central point for many festival activities. The proximity of O'Carolan's burial place at Kilronan Abbey adds to the historical and cultural significance of the festival's location.

Born in 1670 near Nobber, County Meath, Turlough O’Carolan’s family moved to Ballyfarnon, County Roscommon when he was around 14 years old. It was here that he came under the patronage of the MacDermott Roe family of Alderford House. At the age of 18, O'Carolan was tragically blinded by smallpox. Despite this, his musical education continued, fostered by Mrs MacDermott Roe, who arranged for him to be apprenticed to a harper.

Upon completing his three years of training at the age of 21, O'Carolan embarked on a career as a wandering harper. Traveling throughout Ireland with a horse and a guide, he composed tunes and verse for wealthy patrons, often creating "planxties" – pieces written in tribute to his hosts. While not initially renowned as a performer, his exceptional talent for composition quickly gained him widespread acclaim. His unique style often blended traditional Irish melodies with influences from the Italian baroque music of his time. Notable among his works are pieces like "Sí Bheag, Sí Mhór" and the popular "O'Carolan's Concerto."

O'Carolan married Mary Maguire of County Fermanagh in 1720, and they had seven children. After his wife died in 1733, he eventually returned to Alderford House, the home of his lifelong patron, where he died on March 25, 1738. He is buried in the MacDermott Roe family crypt in Kilronan Burial Ground, just outside Keadue village.

This year's festival promises a vibrant celebration of Irish traditional music, with a strong emphasis on the harp, alongside a diverse range of classes, concerts, and cultural events for all ages and skill levels.

Along with the many summer schools there will be nightly concerts including "Remembering Josie McDermott, Musician, Composer and Playwright”; the staging of "Padraig Pott's Guide to Walking" by Seamus O'Rourke; Seán Keane & Big Band in concert in St. Ronan's Hall; and a lecture entitled "O'Carolan and Irish Culture: The making of a reputation" by Professor Luke Gibbons.

Throughout the week, there will also be numerous music sessions in the Harp & Shamrock.

For full details, including registration and competition entry forms, and tickets for events visit www.ocarolanharpfestival.ie. You can also contact the festival organisers at ocarolan.harpfestival@gmail.com or by telephone at 087 7745 878 / 087 3155 880.