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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

The Image of Ireland

This plate appeared in John Derricke's anti Irish work "The Image of Ireland" published in 1581. It shows a traditional Irish feast with a harper playing for the host. Despite the strings of the harp being wrongly drawn, it does show the status of the harper in Irish society at the time.

The Harp That Once

Thomas Moore's Melodies were very popular in the nineteenth and twentieth centuries. Many of his songs incorporate the theme of the harp as a symbol for Ireland. This one called "The Harp that once through Tara's Halls" is especially resonant for county Meath.

The Irish Harp Emblem

The harp is one of the oldest and most distinctive national emblems in the world. It holds a unique place in the cultural identity of Ireland and its evolution as an Irish icon is traceable from the thirteenth century to the present day. Wolfhound Press have kindly given permission to use material from this publication.

Courtesy of Merlin/Wolfhound Press

Commemoration of Turlough O'Carolan, 1988

The harp festival at Nobber started in 1988 to commemorate the 250th anniversary of the death of Turlough O Carolan. O Carolan was born in 1670 in the townland of Spiddal near Nobber. He contracted smallpox resulting in blindness in his teens and following training to play the harp he embarked on an itinerant career composing and playing for his patrons. O Carolan died in 1738.

Courtesy of 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

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

William Larkin's Map of Meath 1812

This is William Larkin's map of Meath drawn for the Grand Jury in 1812. Places particularly associated with O Carolan and other places with Gaelic literature relevance are highlighted.

O'Carolan Harp Weekend, Nobber, 1989

Following on the success of the first harp festival the second festival took place in early October 1989. A harp school, instrumental workshops and competitions featured for the weekend. Visiting musicians entertained festival goers in the evenings.

Courtesy of Nobber Harp Festival Committee

Programme of Events 1991 Festival

The programme of events for the 1991 festival lists all the competitions, workshops, lectures and entertainments that took place from the 2nd to the 6th of October 1991.

Courtesy of Nobber Harp Festival Committee