Harping on from Boru to Seán Ó Riada

Harpists from the USA, Canada, and Italy will travel to Co Limerick for next week’s Harp Festival to commemorate the Brian Boru Millennium.

The festival at the Irish Harp Centre in Castleconnell is a celebration of Ireland’s most dynamic high king, and of the harp, our national emblem.

As part of the festival, ‘Brian Boru: Lion of Ireland’, a new work by Dr Janet Harbison, director of the centre, will premiere on Thursday, August 21 in St Mary’s Cathedral. Concerts (including a Saturday matinee for children) will feature 100 harpers, 80 voices and 100 bagpipers; there will be a recreation of Brian Boru’s march, festive Bunratty banquets, late gigs, tours, day trips, etc.