O'Carolan Harp Festival and Summer School

O'Carolan Harp Festival and Summer School http://www.ocarolanharpfestival.ie/ Traditional Irish Music, Sean Nos , Irish Harp Recital

The O'Carolan Harp Festival & Summer School runs from the last week of July to August Bank Holiday Monday (first Monday of August)
Summer School classes include Harp,Flute,Bodhrán,Button Accordion, Banjo, Tin Whistle,Fiddle, Traditional Singing, Set Dancing & Sean Nós Dancing. More Festival details will be updated regularly here & on our website

17/06/2026

In the scenic, prize-winning village of Keadue, County Roscommon, history is not merely preserved in books—it is played aloud. As the final resting place of the legendary blind harper and composer Turlough O’Carolan, Keadue carries a profound cultural responsibility. Every summer, this responsibility culminates in the prestigious O’Carolan Harp Festival and Summer School, www.ocarolanharpfestival.ie a cornerstone event for traditional music in Ireland. At the heart of the village's modern musical resurgence is local harper Aoife Guckian. Alongside a tight-knit cohort of North West musicians, Guckian represents the vital link between Keadue's historic roots and its thriving, contemporary folk scene. A Homegrown Talent and the Keadue Harp Ensemble Aoife Guckian’s relationship with the O’Carolan Harp Festival is deeply symbiotic. As a prominent member of the Keadue Harp Ensemble, Guckian has transitioned from the standard path of a student of traditional arts into a local cultural ambassador. Alongside frequent musical collaborators like Sophie Daly, Fiachra Guihen, and Emma Benson, Guckian has become a celebrated fixture of the region's musical landscape. Her performances during the festival events balance a profound respect for O’Carolan’s 17th- and 18th-century baroque-infused compositions with a vibrant modern traditional flair. Whether performing intimate reception recitals at the nearby luxurious Kilronan Castle or anchoring main-stage events, Guckian’s technical skill and expressive playing style showcase the high caliber of musicianship cultivated right in North Roscommon.Anchoring the Festival HighlightsThe O'Carolan Harp Festival has grown from a local commemoration into an international hub for traditional artists, and the festival schedule places local icons like Guckian alongside experimental masters. One of the defining moments of Guckian’s contributions to the festival occurs during the marquee Harp Showcase. Co-sponsored by Cruit Éireann (Harp Ireland), these showcases deliberately pair localized heritage with avant-garde Irish harping. Guckian and the Keadue Harp Ensemble frequently share the bill with groundbreaking new commissions—such as percussionist Mel Mercier’s contemporary suite Sonóir— for tickets go to https://www.ocarolanharpfestival.ie/tickets/
By standing comfortably on the same stage as boundary-pushing international acts, Guckian and her peers demonstrate that Keadue’s youth are not just passive keepers of a museum piece; they are active innovators of the instrument.Community, Heritage, and the Next GenerationBeyond the formal concert stages, Guckian’s relationship with the festival reflects the community-wide effort to keep the Irish harp accessible. The O'Carolan Festival is famous for its open sessions, community fun runs, and the "Try the Harp" initiatives hosted at the Keadue National School, designed to demystify the instrument for complete beginners. Through participating in events like national Harp Day recitals and summer school showcases, musicians like Aoife Guckian provide a visible, inspiring roadmap for the children of Roscommon. They prove that the ancient melodies of Turlough O'Carolan are safe in the hands of a new generation, ensuring that the strings of Keadue will resonate for centuries to come.
Video by David Knight
www.davidknightphotographer.com

15/06/2026

Maugherow native and former All Ireland Banjo Senior Champion Kerrie Herrity Lenehan was introduced to music and dancing by her parents at an early age in Luton, UK, where a thriving Irish scene nurtured and encouraged her progression on several instruments. In recent years, Kerrie has begun composing some of her own music which are included in the album ‘Box and Banjo’, with box player Kenny Donagher. Her composition are primarily inspired by the beautiful surroundings of Sligo where she is based. Kerrie completed her TTCT in 2017 and continues to teach and adjudicate at both national and international Fleadhanna along with being a regular tutor at Irelands leading Summer Schools. In 2015, Kerrie was instrumental in gathering support to establish the Benbulben Comhaltas Branch which now has an active following and hosts the Knocklane Traditional Festival. to Book banjo lessons with Kerrie got to our website https://www.ocarolanharpfestival.ie/summer-school-booking/

Kerrie has performed with many groups and artists to date including a performance on Broadway with the dance group ‘Shaylyn’, and various Comhaltas Tours in the UK, and United States. Kerrie has recently formed a new Sligo based group, ‘Seoid’, with well-known Trad multi-instrumentalists, Kenny Donagher, John Dwyer & Fiachra Guihen performing a lively and vibrant mix of traditional sets and newly composed music.https://www.ocarolanharpfestival.ie/tutor/kerrie-herrity/

Video by David Knight www.davidknightphotographer.com

14/06/2026

Fiachra is from between Keadue and Arigna in north Co. Roscommon, an area rich in Irish music heritage with flute players John McKenna and Josie McDermott. His family is steeped in musical tradition, the best known of whom is his uncle, flute player Tommy Guihen. Fiachra plays whistle, flute, harp and guitar and completed the Masters in Music Performance in the World Music Centre, University of Limerick. He has been successful in many All-Ireland Fleadh competitions, has featured on many radio and television programs and has performed in many of the best venues in Ireland including the National Concert Hall. In 2019, Fiachra won the Senior International Harp competition in the O’Carolan Harp Festival, Keadue and he has performed with several orchestras including Michael Rooney’s ‘Macalla’ and ‘Famine’ suites.
Growing up in North Roscommon—an area deeply intertwined with the history of the Irish harp—Guihen has emerged as a key contemporary custodian of the region's musical heritage. He is best known for his mastery of the Irish harp and his dedicated work in preserving and performing the compositions of the legendary 17th-century blind harper and composer, Turlough O'Carolan.
Guihen’s musical style is deeply rooted in the North West traditional idiom, yet it carries the distinct, fluid lyricism required to interpret baroque-influenced harp music.
• Regional Custodianship: As a local musician from Keadue—the final resting place of Turlough O'Carolan—Guihen bridges the historical weight of the ancient harping tradition with contemporary audiences.
• Collaborative Spirit: Beyond solo work, he is a frequent collaborator with other high-caliber traditional musicians and plays with groups such as Harpello, Seoid, Rough & Ready and the Carolan Trio. Performing alongside fiddle players like Mossie Martin, cellist Ellen Godley and local concertina player Rachel Noone.
The O’Carolan Harp Festival and Summer School is held annually in Keadue, Co. Roscommon, it is one of Ireland's most prestigious cultural gatherings celebrating the instrument. Fiachra Guihen is a central figure in the festival, serving as a vital representative of the local community's living musical culture.
His involvement spans several core areas of the festival's annual programming:
• The Keadue Harp Ensemble: Guihen is a core member of this prominent local ensemble alongside fellow harpers Emma Benson, Sophie Daly, and Aoife Guckian. Described as "legendary throughout the North West," the ensemble performs as a showcase feature at major festival events, ensuring the local community directly champions O'Carolan's musical legacy.
• The Kilronan Castle Recitals: A major highlight of the festival week is the intimate evening harp recital hosted at the historic Kilronan Castle. Guihen is a regular headline performer for these events, delivering focused sets of O’Carolan’s classic pieces.
• Festival Promotion and Media: Recognized as an aesthetic and cultural face of the festival, Guihen frequently collaborates with videographer and photographer David Knight and organizers to record promotional performances in scenic regional locations, such as Oakport Woods, to showcase the festival's connection to the Roscommon landscape.
• National Collaborations (Harp Ireland): Guihen acts as a local anchor when national organizations like Cruit Éireann (Harp Ireland) collaborate with the Keadue festival. He frequently shares the stage with internationally acclaimed traditional musicians, avant-garde composers, and national showcase ensembles, representing the continuity of Roscommon’s string tradition. This year he will perform for the Harp Ireland night at the O’Carolan Harp Festival and Summer School on Friday 29th July as part of the Mel Mercier’s Sonóir and Harp Showcase evening.https://www.tickettailor.com/events/ocarolanharpfestival
Through his active performance schedule, ensemble leadership, and deep community roots, Fiachra Guihen remains an indispensable voice in keeping the ancient music of Ireland's most famous harper alive in the very place he is laid to rest.
Photos by David Knight www.davidknightphotographer.com

Téada are playing at the O'Carolan Harp Festival and Summer School on Sunday 2nd August .www.ocarolanharpfestival.ieTéad...
13/06/2026

Téada are playing at the O'Carolan Harp Festival and Summer School on Sunday 2nd August .www.ocarolanharpfestival.ie
Téada, a band with a truly global reach, celebrates 25 years on the road in 2026. Acclaimed for its dynamic and deeply rooted approach to Irish traditional music, Téada has performed as a headliner at major festivals across North America, Europe, Africa, the Middle East, and Australia. Career highlights include a 30,000-capacity concert in Brittany, alongside performances at the Penang World Music Festival (Malaysia), Edmonton Folk Festival (Canada), Harare International Festival of the Arts (Zimbabwe), and the Rainforest World Music Festival(Borneo). In 2014, the band performed to over 40,000 people during a landmark seven-week tour of Japan and Taiwan. The band has performed with orchestras such as theWürttembergische Philharmoniein Germany and continues to maintain a strong touring presence in the United States, where Téada has performed actively since 2001. Their latest release on Gael Linn features special guest appearances by Hollywood actor and singer John C. Reilly and the late Seamus Begley, one of Ireland’s most beloved traditional singers and accordionists. Recent highlights include performances at the Dublin Irish Festival, Savannah Music Festival, and Montana Folk Festival (USA), as well as Festival Interceltique de Lorient (France)and the Irish Festival of Oulu (Finland)—underscoring Téada’s continuing role as a vibrant ambassador for Irish culture worldwide.
Please like , share, and support live music. See less

The Keadue Harp Ensemble will be playing on the Friday 31st July in the O’Carolan Centre in Keadue as part of the Mel Me...
11/06/2026

The Keadue Harp Ensemble will be playing on the Friday 31st July in the O’Carolan Centre in Keadue as part of the Mel Mercier concert night in conjunction with Harp Ireland. Please share, like and supportl live music. For tickets book here https://www.tickettailor.com/events/ocarolanharpfestival
The O’Carolan Harp Festival, in conjunction with Cruit Éireann | Harp Ireland, is thrilled to announce a spectacular headline concert taking place on 31st July 2026, in the St.Ronan’s Hall, Keadue. The evening promises an unforgettable celebration of harping, spanning from baroque traditions to boundary-breaking contemporary works.
At the heart of the night is a performance of Sonóir, a groundbreaking Harp Ireland commission by renowned percussionist and composer Mel Mercier. Originally premiered to critical acclaim at the Royal Irish Academy of Music last November, the piece brings together a highly unusual and evocative blend of two Irish harps, bassoon, viola da gamba, and traditional percussion.
The performance of Sonóir will feature the musicians both collectively and individually, showcasing a masterclass of talent:
• Niamh O’Brien (Harp): A 2025-2026 Fulbright Scholar and doctor of sonic arts, Niamh brings deep academic and experimental rigor, bridging the gap between traditional melodies and modern soundscapes.
• Alannah Thornburgh (Harp): Fresh off her win as Best Folk Instrumentalist at the 2025 RTÉ Folk Awards, Alannah is one of the most exciting voices in the harp world, known for weaving folklore into complex, multi-genre arrangements.
• Malachy Robinson (Viola da Gamba) a multi-talented musician and double bassist across many genres from early music to classical repertoire in his regular appearances as a member of the Irish Chamber Orchestra.
• John Leonard (Bassoon): who has just stepped down as principal bassoonist of the RTÉ Concert Orchestra and is a highly respected figure in the Irish classical music scene. Renowned for his encyclopedic knowledge of orchestral repertoire and his versatile musicality, John has performed extensively across a wide range of genres on both the concert platform and in studio recordings.
• Mel Mercier (Percussion/Composer): World-renowned percussionist composer explores the harp’s timbres and ensures the heartbeat of Sonóir remains authentic to his vision — a captivating blend of found sound, traditional rhythm, and contemporary pulse.
Speaking on the work, Mel Mercier said: “The composition, Sonóir (Sonar) brings together, for the first time, the rich sonorities of two harps, bassoon, viola da gamba, and traditional percussion. I am delighted to have been commissioned by Harp Ireland to write this new piece of music for the Irish Harp, contributing to 21st-century innovation in the repertoire.”
The concert will also feature The Keadue Harp Ensemble ensuring the legacy of Turlough O’Carolan is celebrated by the community that champions it best, featuring Fiachra Guihen, Emma Benson, Sophie Daly, and Aoife Guckian.
(Admission €25)
Book Now

The Sand Park play by Seamus O'Rourke is being performed at the festival in St.Ronan's Hall, Keadue on Saturday night 1s...
11/05/2026

The Sand Park play by Seamus O'Rourke is being performed at the festival in St.Ronan's Hall, Keadue on Saturday night 1st August at 9.00pm.Tickets from our website www.ocarolanharpfestival.ie.
The Sand Park.
James Anthony Lowry is a big-hearted Offaly farmer who is simply getting on with his life after the death of his beloved wife Rose. Through his musings on life and death, which are often hilarious. James gradually comes to terms with his lot.

Seamus O'Rourke
Seamus O’Rourke has become widely known for his simple storytelling – capturing rural Irish life in a way that both amuses and the affects in equal measure. His writing takes a rare approach - his acting oozes with an energy and passion that comes from his love of the land and his art. Recently nominated for an Irish Times Theatre Award for Best Actor in Mark Doherty’s play TRAD by Livin' Dread Theatre Company.

Tickets from our website www.ocarolanharpfestival.ie

10/05/2026

Keadue Welcomes the World: O’Carolan Harp Festival and Summer School Returns for 2026
KEADUE, CO. ROSCOMMON — The picturesque village of Keadue is proud to announce the return of the O’Carolan Harp Festival and Summer School, running from Monday, July 27th to Monday, August 3rd, 2026.

This annual celebration honors the enduring legacy of Turlough O’Carolan, the legendary blind harper and composer who is interred at nearby Kilronan Cemetery. For nearly half a century, the festival has served as a cornerstone of the Irish cultural calendar, blending world-class performance with community-led heritage.

2026 Highlights
The 2026 program features a diverse array of events designed for musicians, students, and culture enthusiasts alike:

Summer School (July 27–31): Expert tuition in Harp, Bodhrán, Tin Whistle, Banjo, and Set Dancing, Button accordion,Traditional singing,Fiddle, Guitar, Concertina, Flute, Sean -nós Dancing .

Headline Concerts: Featuring the internationally acclaimed group Téada, celebrating 25 years on the road, and a performance of Sonóir—a contemporary harp showcase commissioned by Harp Ireland featuring Niamh O’Brien and Alannah Thornburgh.

Traditional Competitions: The prestigious Harp Competitions and the fan-favorite International Door Dancing Competition.

Community Events: Street music, ceilithe, lectures, and a festival parade.

"At its heart, this festival remains a celebration rooted in the local community and its connection to one of Ireland’s most distinctive musical figures," says the festival committee.

Set against the backdrop of the award-winning "Tidy Town" of Keadue, the festival offers an immersive experience in Ireland's Hidden Heartlands. Whether you are a seasoned harper or a lover of traditional music, the 2026 festival promises an unforgettable atmosphere of song, dance, and history.

Media Contact & Information
For the full programme, ticket bookings, and enrolment details, please visit:
Website: www.ocarolanharpfestival.ie

08/05/2026

Tutors from the O'Carolan Harp Festival and Summer School took part in a promotional video in Kilronan Castle today Sean Nós Dancer Eiméar Mulvey,Flute player Lorraine Sweeney , Junior Davey Bodhran ,Pádraig Sweeney Whistle to book for classes or tickets for the Festival go to www.ocarolanharpfestival.ie Please share ,like and support a great festival. Video by David Knight www.davidknightphotographer.com See less

05/05/2026

Sean Nós Dancer Eiméar Mulvey hails from Geevagh, County Sligo. Eiméar is the All Ireland Senior Champion and the 2018 Senior Oireachtas medallist. She is the sole force behind ‘Bróga Bríomhar Dance School’, running her own dance school successfully over the past 10 years, teaching weekly in 7 venues: Keadue and Kilbride in County Roscommon and Rathcormac, Ballintogher, Riverstown, Collooney, Tubberycurry in Country Sligo.

Eiméar is Riverstown CCÉ and the Sligo County Board Public Relations Officer.

She is being kept busy teaching her steps all around the country at workshops, festivals and summer camps as well as sharing the stage with some of Ireland’s most incredible traditional acts.
Eiméar will be teaching her dance classes again in Keadue at our festival this year to book workshops go to https://www.ocarolanharpfestival.ie/summer-school-booking/

Video by David Knight www.davidknightphotographer.com

Address

Keadue
Keadew

Website

Alerts

Be the first to know and let us send you an email when O'Carolan Harp Festival and Summer School posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.

Contact The Organisation

Send a message to O'Carolan Harp Festival and Summer School:

Shortcuts

Share

Category