| Get into the harp THE
FIRST-ever Harp Festival in Granard, Co. Longford took place in 1781.
The premiums were generous in monetary terms with the first prize being
10 guineas, second prize eight and third prize five guineas.
The Market House built some time before 1691 was the scene of the festival
which was initiated and funded by John Dungan a native of Granard and
wealthy businessman living in Copenhagen.
The aim was to revive public interest in the Irish harp and Irish harp
music.
Some 200 years later in 1981 the people of Granard hosted a commemorative
bi-centennial festival.
One of the ambitions of the committee responsible for its revival was
that harp music be brought into the modern world and the ancient tradition
preserved and developed.
In 1981 the first winner of the top prize, the Canon’s Cup, was
Ms Anne Heyman and in 2006 the winner was Lynsey Moynagh from Dublin.
The present committee have re-established the harp school employing top-class
and well-known teachers.
The aims are the same as those of John Dungan back in 1781 to promote
the Irish harp and harp music.
The 2007 Harp Festival runs from April 12-15.
Thursday and Friday April 12 and 13 sees workshops in traditional singing,
junior, intermediate and senior harp, tin whistle, fiddle, poetry and
storytelling in the Sacred Heart School.
Competitions will be held at the school on Saturday.
For more information tel:
00 353 43 86643 or e-mail: granard_harp@hotmail.com |
