The Harp Festival at Nobber

The Chieftains at site of Carolan's birthplace

The Chieftains first came to the Harp Festival at Nobber in 1990. Professor George Eogan, a native of Nobber and professor of archaeology at UCD, brought the musicians to the site of Carolan's birthplace at Spiddal just outside nobber village.

Courtesy of the Nobber Harp Festival Committee

The Chieftains at site of Carolan's birthplace
Courtesy of the Nobber Harp Festival Committee

The Chieftains at site of Carolan's birthplace

The Chieftains first came to the Harp Festival at Nobber in 1990. Professor George Eogan, a native of Nobber and professor of archaeology at UCD, brought the musicians to the site of Carolan's birthplace at Spiddal just outside nobber village.

Courtesy of the Nobber Harp Festival Committee

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Annals of the Irish Harpers

In writing this book Charlotte Fox wished to pay tribute to the work of Edward Bunting. Bunting had attended the Belfast Harp Festival of 1792 and, most importantly, transcribed and saved for posterity the ancient harp music that the few remaining harpers played at the festival. The author had access to Bunting's papers when writing this book.

Annals of the Irish Harpers

Annals of the Irish Harpers

In writing this book Charlotte Fox wished to pay tribute to the work of Edward Bunting. Bunting had attended the Belfast Harp Festival of 1792 and, most importantly, transcribed and saved for posterity the ancient harp music that the few remaining harpers played at the festival. The author had access to Bunting's papers when writing this book.

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The O Carolan Harp, Cultural and Heritage Festival 1988-1992

The O Carolan harp festival at Nobber was inaugurated in 1988 to mark the 250th anniversary of the harpist's death. It was officially opened by Labhras O Murchu and celebrated O Carolan with a weekend of lectures, music, song and dance.

The following year, 1989, harpists Grainne Yeats, Helen Davies and Aileen McCrann attended again to conduct the harp school while experts in the fiddle, button accordion, whistle and flute held instrumental workshops.

By its third year, 1990, the harp festival was assured of the continuing support of Comhaltas Ceoltoiri Eireann and Cairde na Cruite, both of whom praised the important and inspirational commemoration of O Carolan's time and music in his native place.

Nobber native and well-known archaeologist Professor George Eogan opened the festival. Festival organisers were honoured and delighted to have the Chieftains perform in concert as the festival highlight that year.

In 1991 the chairman, Tony Finnegan, welcomed visitors and competitors from all over Ireland and from overseas to the festival. Nicholas Carolan, the administrator of the Irish Traditional Archives lectured on "Turlough O Carolan – an Archival View". Instrumental workshops, competitions and concerts featured over the five days of the festival.

In music circles 1992 was the year of the harp. The 200th anniversary of the 1792 Belfast Harpers Festival was commemorated. That festival had brought together most of the last remaining exponents of the ancient harping tradition of Ireland. The occasion was uniquely important because the music the harpers played was taken down by Edward Bunting and preserved for posterity. If this had not happened, much Irish ancient harp music, including tunes and poems by O Carolan, would have been lost forever.

Peter Gallegan Memorial Stone

The poet and scribe and scholar Peter Gallegan (1792-1860) from Ardamagh, near Nobber, was commemorated in 1992. A new stone was placed on his grave in old Kilmainhamwood graveyard and his descendants were invited to the unveiling ceremony.

Courtesy of Nobber Harp Festival Committee

Peter Gallegan Memorial Stone
Courtesy of Nobber Harp Festival Committee

Peter Gallegan Memorial Stone

The poet and scribe and scholar Peter Gallegan (1792-1860) from Ardamagh, near Nobber, was commemorated in 1992. A new stone was placed on his grave in old Kilmainhamwood graveyard and his descendants were invited to the unveiling ceremony.

Courtesy of Nobber Harp Festival Committee

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Bunting was celebrated in concert at the festival with a group of young harpers performing music from the Bunting collection.

The 1992 festival also commemorated the Kilmainhamwood poet, scribe, collector and hedge schoolmaster, Peter Gallegan (1792-1860).

Professor Seamus MacGabhann lectured on his life and work.

On the Sunday morning a new headstone was unveiled at his burial plot in the old Kilmainhamwood graveyard.