Harp Ireland

Music on the Farm Concerts - Harp Ensemble Extravaganza
2025-07-06 15:00 (Europe/Dublin) | Cornstown House Farm, Cornstown, Ashbourne, Meath, A84 N512
Harp Ensemble Extravaganza
Join us for a fun afternoon of harp ensemble music performing a variety of Irish traditional, folk and classical repertoire!
Our concert series features performances of classical, traditional and jazz music in a unique, old world setting. Each concert features talented musicians who bring their unique sounds and styles to our stage. From classical to trad and lots in between, the ‘Music on the Farm’ series offers a diverse line-up that showcases each musician’s individual style and skill. They have performed for presidents and kings and now perform for you!
Set against the background of a diverse farm in the country, these concerts are a wonderful way to spend a Sunday afternoon. Our barn, now known as ‘The Long House’, once a bustling hub of farm activity, has been lovingly transformed into a quaint and inviting space that retains its original character and charm. Why not come and say hello to the menagerie of friendly alpacas and their friends after the concert and enjoy a stroll in nature around the farm?
Join us at “Music on the Farm” and let the music of internationally acclaimed musicians transport you to a world where you can relax and unwind and live in the moment. It’s an afternoon of music, community, and celebration that you won’t want to miss. We look forward to sharing this magical experience with you.

Janet Harbison Donegal Ireland Harp Summer School Week 3
2025-07-13 - 2025-07-19 | Dungloe, Co. Donegal, Dungloe, Co. Donegal, Ireland
June 1 – 7 & July 6 -12: ADULTS ONLY
The Adult Only weeks are for players over the age of 18, of all levels and abilities – featuring a week of training, fun and friendship on the magnificent Donegall coast and town of Dungloe. The focus is on ‘social playing’ where everybody is included without pressure or stress. The more novice players just play less notes (!) and the detail is added as you advance your skills. Daily tuition is given in large and small groups, workshops, lectures, concerts, sessions and local trips out – in a full programme of group oral training with exceptional interaction with local musicians.
What’s included

5 days of Summer School training from 9.30am to 3.30pm (9.30am – 12.45pm Wednesday, and 10am-5pm on Friday)
All evening activities, concerts, lectures, sessions
Lunches (for all foody needs – vegans and vegetarians included) and supper on arrival Sunday evening (June 8 or July 13). Other evenings we eat out or cook in (this cost not included)
A book of tunes covered on the course and a music shop to explore for more
A mid-week trip out to Glenveigh National Park, Arranmore Island or Mount Errigal
Accommodation for 6 nights (from Sunday to Saturday) in twin or double ensuite bedrooms in homely, fully equipped adjacent holiday cottages. Kitchens are set up with breakfast supplies, and all-day teas and coffees. (For participants taking 2 consecutive weeks, the in-between night is free)

Course Price (per person)
€1,300

July 13 – 19: ADULTS, TEENS & TEACHERS
ADULTS and TEENS
This course is for adults and teenagers (from age 12 upwards), of all standards and musical backgrounds. Tuition is in large and small group classes (there’s a max of 8 players on any course) – and in ‘practice periods’ there is lots of individual assistance from the teachers on the teacher’s course (which runs alongside the summer-school).
The course content embraces all you need to flourish as a performer and social player – from ‘technical workshops’ to warm-up for improved agility and chord-skills, and a brace of tunes at all player-levels so all can participate in social play (in ‘the session’). There are activities, concerts or sessions every evening and a half day on Wednesday (or Thursday if the weather is poor) when we take a half day trip out to the island of Arannmore, the magnificent Glenveigh National Park and Nature Reserve or a walk up Mount Errigal, Donegal’s legendary mountain.
Teens are fully supervised at all times both at the Summer School Centre and ‘out and about’. In the evenings they will join Janet and her assistant for dinner (and in advance of the course, Janet will discuss with the parents/guardians about ‘dinner accounts’ if preferred to the teen’s financial independence). Janet is fully qualified in Child Safeguarding and Protection and will act ‘in loco parentis’ assuring parents of fully responsible management.
Classes run 9.30 – 3pm daily except for Friday when we start at 10am and finish at 5pm.
Accommodated participants
Arrive Sunday from 2pm – Depart Saturday after breakfast
Join us for supper on Sunday evening at 8.30pm or on Monday Morning at 9.30
ADULTS course and inclusions

5 days of Summer School training
All evening activities, concerts, lectures etc
Training book of tunes covered
Supper on Sunday, lunches Monday-Friday, Coffee, Tea breaks (Evenings we eat out or self-cater. This cost not included)
6 nights accommodation in Twin or Double ensuite bedrooms in homely, fully equipped holiday cottages with starter breakfast supplies

Course Price (for one)
€1,300 per person
Course Price (for two sharing accommodation)
€1,200 each
Plus-ones sharing (& not Harping)
€300
TEENS course and inclusions

5 days of Summer School training
All evening activities, concerts, lectures etc
Training book of tunes covered
Tea / coffee / juice breaks
Supper on Sunday, lunches Monday-Friday, Coffee, Tea breaks (Evenings we eat out or self-cater – this cost not included)
6 Nights accommodation in Twin or Double ensuite bedrooms in homely, fully equipped holiday cottages with breakfast
Full supervision by Janet and her assistant

Course Price (per person in shared or single room)
€850
TEACHERS
Arrive Saturday evening (June 7th or July 12th) or before 11am on Sunday morning early (June 8th or July 13th ). This course runs alongside the regular summer school for Adults and Teens (who start on Monday morning) so you have teaching to observe and students to practise with. Your training is intense but guaranteed to be enriching, informative and rewarding.
Whats included

14 hours of Teacher Training, 10 hours of Teaching Practise and inclusion in the 5-day summer-school classes
All training materials and sample books
All evening activities, concerts, lectures, sessions
Lunches (for all foody needs – vegans and vegetarians included) and supper on Sunday evening (June 8 or July 13). All other evenings we eat out or cook in (this cost not included)
A mid-week trip out to Glenveigh National Park, Arranmore Island or Mount Errigal
7 days of accommodation (from Saturday to Saturday) in twin or double ensuite bedrooms in homely, fully equipped adjacent holiday cottages. Kitchens are set up with breakfast supplies, and all-day teas and coffees. (For participants taking 2 consecutive weeks, the in-between night is free)

Course Price (per person)
€1,550

The Course Venue
On the Wild Atlantic Way (coast) and just 5 minutes walk from Dungloe town centre, our summer school venue is in the Fairgreen Holiday Cottages village. All rooms are ensuite with twin or double beds (which are also booked for single occupation). The cottages have sitting rooms and fully equipped kitchens (so people can choose how they wish to have their evening meals – cooking in or eating out!) Lunches are provided with the courses. (Local children on weeks 2 & 4 are invited to bring packed lunches.)
Afternoon Options
For walks, swims, exploring, shopping, relaxing, practising – Dungloe is a wonderful Donegal town with lots to offer. Closely located to Glenveagh National Park and Mount Errigal, Donegal’s most spectacular mountain surrounded by an exceptional area of natural beauty and nature conservation, and there is a superb range of walks for everyone from seasoned hikers to leisurely wanderers. On Wednesday, we have an afternoon off to take a trip to the park, or the mountain, or a boat trip to the island of Arranmore with dolphin and whale spotting with seabirds and sandy beaches.

Belfast Tradfest
2025-07-28 - 2025-08-01 | Belfast, Co Antrim
Belfast TradFest includes a variety of events for all ages including masterclasses, concerts, talks, lectures, sessions, céilís, solo highland piping competition, festival clubs & more

Regional concert Keadue: Laoise Kelly, Anne-Marie O'Farrell, Cormac De Barra and Lily O'Connor support
2025-08-01 | Community Centre Keadue, St Ronans Hall Community Centre, Keadue, Co Roscommon, F52 N928, Ireland
Details coming soon.

Music on the Farm Concerts Scott Flanigan (piano) & Gráinne Meyer (harp)
2025-08-03 15:00 | Cornstown House Farm, Cornstown, Ashbourne, Meath, A84 N512
What happens when two different musical worlds collide? Jazz pianist Scott Flanigan and traditional harpist Gráinne Meyer come together to explore what happens when jazz meets trad!
Harpist and Pianist Gráinne Meyer has recently completed a postgraduate diploma in classical and Irish traditional music at the TU Dublin conservatoire of music, receiving tuition from Clíona Doris, Denise Kelly and Gráinne Hambly. She previously received an honours music degree from the University of York, where she was awarded the Thomas Beecham scholarship.
Scott Flanigan is one of the foremost keyboard players in Ireland. He performs regularly across the United Kingdom, Ireland, France and Germany, and has recently performed with Van Morrison, the Ulster Orchestra, Larry Coryell, Jean Toussaint, Jim Mullen and Linley Hamilton. As a leader, Scott successfully tours his own contemporary piano trio, as well as a hard-swinging organ quartet. He also runs the successful Scott’s Jazz Club in East Belfast, a weekly jazz club bringing the best in Irish jazz to local audiences.
Be prepared to be transported on a journey through time and culture, where Irish melodies meld with the spontaneity of jazz improvisation. Join us for an afternoon of unparalleled harmony as these two remarkable instruments intertwine, creating a unique and mesmerizing musical experience!
Our concert series features performances of classical, traditional and jazz music in a unique, old world setting. Each concert features talented musicians who bring their unique sounds and styles to our stage. From classical to trad and lots in between, the ‘Music on the Farm’ series offers a diverse line-up that showcases each musician’s individual style and skill. They have performed for presidents and kings and now perform for you!
Set against the background of a diverse farm in the country, these concerts are a wonderful way to spend a Sunday afternoon. Our barn, now known as ‘The Long House’, once a bustling hub of farm activity, has been lovingly transformed into a quaint and inviting space that retains its original character and charm. Why not come and say hello to the menagerie of friendly alpacas and their friends after the concert and enjoy a stroll in nature around the farm?
Join us at “Music on the Farm” and let the music of internationally acclaimed musicians transport you to a world where you can relax and unwind and live in the moment. It’s an afternoon of music, community, and celebration that you won’t want to miss. We look forward to sharing this magical experience with you.

Music on the Farm Concerts - Les Masques: Jacqueline Cordova-Arrington (flute), Arnaud Ghillebaert (viola), Rosanna Moore (harp)
2025-10-05 15:00 | Cornstown House Farm, Cornstown, Ashbourne, Meath, A84 N512
Les Masques: Jacqueline Cordova-Arrington (flute), Arnaud Ghillebaert (viola), Rosanna Moore (harp)
Internationally-renowned trio, Les Masques have prepared an exciting and uplifting programme of classical music for flute, viola and harp. Not to be missed.
Our concert series features performances of classical, traditional and jazz music in a unique, old world setting. Each concert features talented musicians who bring their unique sounds and styles to our stage. From classical to trad and lots in between, the ‘Music on the Farm’ series offers a diverse line-up that showcases each musician’s individual style and skill. They have performed for presidents and kings and now perform for you!
Set against the background of a diverse farm in the country, these concerts are a wonderful way to spend a Sunday afternoon. Our barn, now known as ‘The Long House’, once a bustling hub of farm activity, has been lovingly transformed into a quaint and inviting space that retains its original character and charm. Why not come and say hello to the menagerie of friendly alpacas and their friends after the concert and enjoy a stroll in nature around the farm?
Join us at “Music on the Farm” and let the music of internationally acclaimed musicians transport you to a world where you can relax and unwind and live in the moment. It’s an afternoon of music, community, and celebration that you won’t want to miss. We look forward to sharing this magical experience with you.

Music on the Farm Concerts - Alannah Thornburgh (harp)
2025-11-02 15:00 | Cornstown House Farm, Cornstown, Ashbourne, Meath, A84 N512
Alannah Thornburgh (harp)
Alannah Thornburgh is an award-winning instrumentalist and composer from the wild west of Ireland with a focus on traditional Irish harp. Alannah’s music explores her family heritage, reimagining melodies from the Irish harping and American folk & jazz traditions. This cross-genre interaction and juxtaposition of old melodies with contemporary harmonies and technique is interwoven throughout her music, described as being ‘unforced, fluid and utterly at home in her own sound’ (The Irish Times). In February 2025, Alannah released her debut album ‘Shapeshifter’ – a collection of compositions inspired by fairy folklore & mythology in rural Ireland, specifically her native Co. Mayo (“Sublime debut from Mayo composer” 9/10 – Hot Press).
Alannah is nominated for two awards in the 2025 RTÉ Folk Awards – ‘Best Folk Instrumentalist’ and ‘Best Original Folk Track’ for her composition on the shapeshifting quality of the hare – ‘Chasing the Hare’. She featured on an RTÉ 1 Documentary ‘A Note for Nature’ in collaboration with the RTÉ Concert Orchestra, performing her interpretation of a Conor Walsh composition ‘One Swallow’. Her compositions have featured on RTÉ Raidió na Gaeltachta podcast series ‘Scéalta’. Alannah is also a recipient of the Arts Council’s Next Generation Award 21/22.
Alannah is a founding member of Alfi, a trio who combine traditional Irish and Appalachian music and song, winners of the 2020 US Embassy Creative Minds Award. Alfi released their debut album ‘Say Old Man’ in July 2023 to great critical acclaim – ‘the album captures the organic, full-bodied spirit of their live shows, as well as the distinctive personalities of the players – and marks Alfi as a vital force in Ireland’s ever-diversifying folk scene’ (Hot Press). Alannah has performed, recorded & collaborated with many artists in the folk & traditional music scene including Anna Mieke, Brían Mac Gloinn (Ye Vagabonds), Lemoncello, Loah, Niamh Bury, Colm Mac Con Iomaire, Brigid Mae Power, Jiggy, David Keenan, Tristan Scroggins, Paddy McKeown, Conor Caldwell, Gareth Quinn Redmond and Varo.
Our concert series features performances of classical, traditional and jazz music in a unique, old world setting. Each concert features talented musicians who bring their unique sounds and styles to our stage. From classical to trad and lots in between, the ‘Music on the Farm’ series offers a diverse line-up that showcases each musician’s individual style and skill. They have performed for presidents and kings and now perform for you!
Set against the background of a diverse farm in the country, these concerts are a wonderful way to spend a Sunday afternoon. Our barn, now known as ‘The Long House’, once a bustling hub of farm activity, has been lovingly transformed into a quaint and inviting space that retains its original character and charm. Why not come and say hello to the menagerie of friendly alpacas and their friends after the concert and enjoy a stroll in nature around the farm?
Join us at “Music on the Farm” and let the music of internationally acclaimed musicians transport you to a world where you can relax and unwind and live in the moment. It’s an afternoon of music, community, and celebration that you won’t want to miss. We look forward to sharing this magical experience with you.

Harp Makers Symposium 2025
2025-11-23 | Irish Institute of Music and Song

Music on the Farm Concerts - Maria Matthews (soprano) and Fiona Gryson (harp)
2025-12-07 15:00 | Cornstown House Farm, Cornstown, Ashbourne, Meath, A84 N512
Maria Matthews (soprano) and Fiona Gryson (harp)
Maria Matthews is an Irish soprano and honours graduate of the TU Dublin Conservatoire of Music and Drama. She also holds a Master of Music from the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland. Maria performs regularly with Irish National Opera as chorus member, most recently in their productions of Gounod’s Faust and Puccini’s La bohème. In opera scenes Maria has portrayed roles including: Mimi (La bohème), Fiordiligi (Così fan tutte), Countess Almaviva (Le Nozze di Figaro) and Ellen Orford (Peter Grimes).
Maria took part in the 2021 “Raise Our Voices” and the 2023 “Celebrating the Voice” concert series, both curated by Irish Mezzo Soprano Tara Erraught. In 2021 she was the winner of the Birr Lyons Vocal Bursary in conjunction with the Trench Award, and in 2023 Maria was a Camerata Ireland Young Artist and a Voice Fellow at Opernfest Prague where she had the opportunity to sing with the Prague Philharmonic Orchestra in Smetana Hall.
Fiona Gryson enjoys a varied career as a professional, freelance harpist and teacher. A thoughtful and consummate curator, Fiona is a member of the Advisory Group for Cruit Éireann | Harp Ireland, director of the Fingal Harp Ensemble and co-director of the TU Dublin Conservatoire Harp Ensemble with Rachel Duffy and Clíona Doris. Fiona is in demand as a teacher of both Irish lever harp and concert pedal harp, running a private harp studio in Co. Dublin. A recipient of a Government of Ireland Postgraduate Scholarship awarded by Research Ireland, Fiona Gryson is pursuing PhD research with Prof. Clíona Doris and Dr. Helen Lawlor at TU Dublin Conservatoire. With clarinettist Berginald Rash, Fiona recently released their début album of clarinet and harp transcriptions entitled ‘Dathanna: Hues and Shades’ under the Orchid label. She has performed as Principal Harpist with the RTÉ National Symphony and Concert Orchestras, the Irish Chamber and the Ulster Orchestras. As a soloist and member of ensembles, she has performed extensively nationally and internationally, both live and on television and radio. With Rachel Duffy, she is delighted to co-direct Cairde na Cruite’s An Chúirt Chruitireachta International Harp Festival 2025.
