O’Carolan Harp Festival ‘one of the most significant cultural events in Ireland’

The O’Carolan Harp Festival has grown to become one of the most significant cultural events in Ireland. Its impact has reached beyond the shores of Ireland to many countries worldwide. That’s according to Dr. Labhrás Ó Murchú, Ardstiúrthóir of Comhaltas Ceoltóirí Éireann, who officially opened the 45th annual O’ Carolan Harp Festival and Summer School in Keadue on Monday evening.

The festival and summer school, which officially opened on Monday and runs until August 4th,  features classes, Sean-Nos dancing, music session, lectures, concerts and drama.

At the official opening chairperson of the festival committee Declan Noone explained that the festival, which has being running since 1978, was started to commemorate the famous harper Turlough O’Carolan who is remembered as the 'last of the Irish bards' and his music is known and revered throughout the world.

“We have a packed programme of events for the week ahead commencing with our summer school running through the week. Highlights include our special concert remembering Josie McDermott, céilithe featuring the O’Carolan Country Céilí band & Pipers Cross Céili Band, harp recital with our local harpers performing and the “Harps Together” concert on Friday night featuring Laoise Kelly, Anne-Marie Farrell and Cormac DeBarra," said Mr Noone.

"One of our key signature events takes place on Saturday morning with the O’Carolan International Harp Competition. Seamus O’Rourke is with us on Saturday night performing Padraig Pott’s and our big concert on Sunday night features Sean Keane and his band. We also have live street entertainment on the Sunday and Monday with SEOID and Olivia Douglas and the festival will come to a close on the Monday night with the international door dancing competition.

“We would like to thank our main sponsors of the O’Carolan Harp competition Arigna Fuels Ltd, Kilronan Castle Hotel and Spa and Harp Ireland for their support and all the local businesses who again who have supported the festival and summer school this year.

“To Roscommon County Council, Comhaltas Ceoltóirí Eireann, the Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media and the Department of Culture, Communications and Sport, we thank you for your continued support and funding,” he stated.

Mr Noone added: “I would also like to thank our hard-working committee members, all the volunteers, our stewards who help out during the week, our local media, national media and local radio stations.” 

Introducing Mr Ó Murchú, Mr Noone stated that his vision and leadership developed Comhaltas Ceoltóirí Éireann into a worldwide brand with branches and cultural centres all around the world. "Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann has grown to be the premier traditional Irish music and cultural festival on the world stage under Labhras’s Stewardship," he remarked.

“It is important to point out that our festival is run under the auspices of Comhaltas Ceoltóirí Éireann. Only for this support our festival and many other festivals would not simply exist.” 

Mr Ó Murchú told the gathering that the “O’ Carolan Harp Festival has grown to become one of the most significant cultural events in Ireland. Its impact has reached beyond the shores of Ireland to many countries worldwide. This has been achieved through the vision, dedication and creativity of the organising committee, which is a prime example of community fervour and volunteerism.

“Comhaltas is proud and inspired by its association with the O’ Carolan Harp Festival from its inception. We saw the dream become a reality. Roscommon has played an important role in the fortunes of Comhaltas down through the years with a number of people from the county holding high office in our cultural movement including a former editor of the Roscommon Herald.

“Next year, 2026, will be a very special year for Comhaltas as the movement celebrates 75 years since it was founded in Mullingar in 1951. The year will also see Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann going to Belfast for the first time where, no doubt, there will be an echo of the famous Belfast Harp Festival.” 

He noted that Comhaltas had diminished barriers and successfully promoted cross-community initiatives. “When in 2013 the All-Ireland Fleadh Cheoil was held in Northern Ireland for the first time in its 60 year history, it embraced all communities and traditions and was an outstanding example of friendship, reconciliation and co-operation.

“The heroes who make the O’ Carolan Harp Festival possible year after year are making a contribution to community solidarity and also to tourism. They appreciate the power of music to bring people together in a positive mission for all, without exception.

“In the words of Uachtarán na hÉireann Michael D. Higgins: ‘from its ability to affect our emotions and memories to the way it has no borders, unites people, music is perhaps the universal language, communicating emotions and memories that words often cannot.’ 

“Our cultural assets belong to the community as they express the personality and identity of the community over time. They are a heritage grounded in stability rather than in frenetic, market-driven changes of fashion, and they encompass key concepts like community, participation, apprenticeship, responsibility and the development of identity. Such a heritage draws us closer to former generations but its future depends on the constant forging of links between old and young, a constant bridging of generations through an unbroken thread from ancient times. That heritage is a proud resource that belongs to Irish people everywhere, young and old alike.

“For me, it is an honour and a privilege to officially open the O’ Carolan Harp Festival. I am keenly aware that those who put a shoulder to the wheel for the good of all are contributing to a better world which to-day is in a state of turbulence and uncertainty,” he concluded.