Harps for Heritage: Macalla na Mara

Explore the connections between harp music, our landscape and shared heritage in an afternoon of music, conversation and craft.

Join Cruit Éireann|Harp Ireland in the beautiful surroundings of Muckross Schoolhouse for an afternoon with harpers, harpmakers and friends as we explore the deep connections between our music and our natural environment. Sit with our master harpers and try your hand at playing an Irish harp, listen to harpmaker Tim O’Carroll as he shares the secrets and ancient craft of harp building and his efforts to safeguard it.

Experience the sounds, stories and traditions that connect people, places and generations. Inspired by Macalla na Mara |Sea Echoes, acclaimed singer Lisa Lambe, master harpers Cormac De Barra and Deirdre Granville, flute player Aoife Granville, and dancer Niamh O'Brien explore the enduring relationship between Ireland's landscapes, its coastal communities and its cultural traditions through harp music, song, dance and storytelling.

Discover how local rivers, lakes, coastlines and the natural world have inspired artists; shaping their music and sense of place, the traditions they have inherited, and why passing these skills on to future generations matters more than ever.

Programmme
12.30-1.30pm Hands on Harps – Try your Hand!
1.45-2.30pm Crafting a Harp with harpmaker Tim O’Carroll
2.45-3.30pm Turning the Tide: Safeguarding our Natural Heritage
3.45pm-5pm Harps for Heritage 2026 Concert: Macalla na Mara|Sea Echoes

Cormac De Barra is a third-generation Irish harper, broadcaster and composer. He has toured and recorded with artists across traditional, folk and contemporary music.

Lisa Lambe is singer, actor and folklorist whose work spans music, theatre and storytelling, widely recognised for her work with Celtic Woman, the RTÉ Concert Orchestra and her folklore inspired projects,

Deirdre Granville is a harper, singer and multi-instrumentalist from Dingle. A graduate of UCC and UL, she has performed internationally and is the founder and director of Dingle Tradfest.

Aoife Granville is a flute player, singer and folklorist from Dingle. A lecturer in Folklore and Ethnomusicology at UCC, she researches traditional culture, music and oral heritage in Ireland and beyond.

Tim O’Carroll, one of Ireland’s foremost harp makers, is the founder of Killarney Harps. Drawing on decades of experience in furniture design and woodworking, he creates handcrafted instruments inspired by the landscapes of Kerry.

CÉHI was established in 2016 by harpers in collaboration with An Chomhairle Ealaíon, The Arts Council, to support the continuing development of Irish harping. It is the national resource organisation for the harp, its organisations, harp players and harp makers in Ireland. Its vision includes the establishment of a World Centre for Irish Harping in Dublin.

This project received funding through a joint initiative by the Department of Culture, Communications and Sport and the National Monuments Service to support practices inscribed on Ireland’s National Inventory of Intangible Cultural Heritage.

For further information about this event at Muckross Schoolhouse, please contact traditionalfarms@muckross-house.ie or telephone 064 6670165.