It’s St Patrick’s Day tomorrow! Whilst the lockdowns mean there’s not a lot of celebrating to be done, there’s still lots of great Irish harp music to listen to!

Back in 2005 I studied for an MA in Irish Music performance at the Irish World Academy of Music and Dance in Limerick, and during that time I absolutely fell in love with Irish harp. Here are some of my very favourite harpists:

1) Michael Rooney

Michael Rooney is a prolific composer and is widely regarded as one of the foremost players of the traditional Irish harp. He was awarded the TG4 Composer of the Year in 2017.

2) Laoise Kelly

Laoise Kelly, one of Ireland's leading traditional harpers, was awarded TG4 Gradam Ceoil Musician of the Year 2020. She has pioneered a new style of driving instrumental harping.
She has 3 critically acclaimed solo albums, many collaborations & recorded with Ireland’s foremost artists from The Chieftains to Kate Bush.

3) Grainne Hambly

Gráinne Hambly from County Mayo in the west of Ireland is an internationally recognised exponent of the Irish harp, and is in great demand as a performer and teacher, both at home and abroad.

4) Anne-Marie O’Farrell

Anne-Marie is a leading harpist of her generation, who has significantly extended the boundaries of what was considered possible on the Irish or lever harp, broadening its repertoire and chromatic range.

5) Michelle Mulcahy

Michelle Mulcahy is one of Ireland's most talented and gifted multi-instrumentalists in Irish traditional music today. Her array of instrumental mastery spans the harp, concertina, piano, fiddle and accordion.