The Harp Festival 1998 - 2002

Paul O'Brien

Paul O'Brien(1763-1820) was an Irish scholar and priest from Moynalty in County Meath. He was the first professor of Irish in Maynooth college and was the author of A Practical Grammar of the Irish Language published in 1809. He was also a poet.

Paul O'Brien

Paul O'Brien

Paul O'Brien(1763-1820) was an Irish scholar and priest from Moynalty in County Meath. He was the first professor of Irish in Maynooth college and was the author of A Practical Grammar of the Irish Language published in 1809. He was also a poet.

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Brian Keenan with Tony and Anne Finnegan

Brian Keenan, the former Beirut hostage, visited the Festival for the first time in 1993. Here he talks with Tony Finnegan, Festival Chairman, and his wife, Anne. During his captivity he was sustained with thoughts of O Carolan and his life and music.

Courtesy of Nobber Harp Festival Committee

Brian Keenan with Tony and Anne Finnegan
Courtesy of Nobber Harp Festival Committee

Brian Keenan with Tony and Anne Finnegan

Brian Keenan, the former Beirut hostage, visited the Festival for the first time in 1993. Here he talks with Tony Finnegan, Festival Chairman, and his wife, Anne. During his captivity he was sustained with thoughts of O Carolan and his life and music.

Courtesy of Nobber Harp Festival Committee

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In 1998 the 11th annual festival featured Joe Burke, Anne Conroy Burke and the Ulster Musicians in concert with the Meath Harp School, singers and dancers. Seamus MacGabhann lectured on Father Paul O'Brien, the Irish scholar and poet born at Cormeen near Moynalty in 1763 and first professor of Irish at Maynooth. Diana Pollock's described a 1798 commemoration event on Arthur's Hill, Drakestown, Castletown-Kilpatrick, on 4 July 1998. There the unknown United Irishmen of Wexford, who had retreated northwards and were routed at Knightstown, and a priest, Father Murphy, were buried on Pollock family land.

The festival of 1999 featured the Angel Band from New Hampshire in the U.S.A. These accomplished award winning musicians delighted their audience with spirited renditions of traditional and contemporary Celtic music from O Carolan to modern compositions from Ireland, Scotland, Brittany and the Isles of Britain. Seamus MacGabhann lectured on Landmarks of the People: Meath and Cavan Places Prominent in Myth and Folklore. Harp workshops and competitions were held. A ceili

Tony Finnegan, Festival Chairman, welcomed visitors from all Ireland and overseas to the 13th annual Festival in 2000. As had become traditional an art exhibition by local artists formed the backdrop to Seamus MacGabhann's Friday night lecture. This year's lecture was called From the Fair of Tailteann to Rath Cairn: a Thousand Years of Poetry in Meath. Brian Keenan who launched his novel Turlough at the Festival performed the opening ceremony on the Saturday night . The festival concert followed featuring the Armagh Rhymers and the Meath Harp School.

In 2001 the festival committee were very pleased to announce a return visit by the Chieftains. They performed in a rousing concert on the Friday night and were joined by singers Padraigin Ni Uallachain and Len Graham, and by the Meath Harp School and the O'Shea School of Dancers. Seamus MacGabhann's lecture was called O Carolan's Legacy: from Jonathan Swift to Brian Keenan. Workshops and competitions took place and there was a historical tour of the local area on the Sunday. Notice was also given of the intention to erect a fitting monument to O Carolan in Nobber village.

The Chieftains at Carolan's monument site

When the decision was made to have a suitable monument erected to Carolan in his birthplace the Chieftains returned to perform in concert and to visit the site chosen for the monument.

Courtesy of the Nobber Harp Festival committee

The Chieftains at Carolan's monument site
Courtesy of the Nobber Harp Festival committee

The Chieftains at Carolan's monument site

When the decision was made to have a suitable monument erected to Carolan in his birthplace the Chieftains returned to perform in concert and to visit the site chosen for the monument.

Courtesy of the Nobber Harp Festival committee

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In 2002 Tony Finnegan, Festival Chairman, welcomed visitors and musicians from Ireland and overseas to the 15th annual festival. Ragús were the concert highlight. Described as the sound and spirit of the Aran Islands, their show was an exhilarating mix of traditional song, music and dance. Seamus MacGabhann lectured on O Carolan and Gaelic Ireland. A miniature of the proposed statue of O Carolan was on display for the festival and attracted much interest.