Achill International Harp Festival 27th – 30th October 2017

The second Achill International Harp Festival will take place on Achill Island from 27th – 30th October 2017 (a Bank Holiday weekend in Ireland). The event welcomes harpers from across the globe, provides workshops for harpists of all levels, a harp marking workshop, and nightly concerts.

For latest information, and to book tickets online, please visit achillharpfestival.ie.

The festival opens on Friday 27th with a collaborative concert of Breton and Irish Music with legendary flute player Jean-Michel Veillon and musical director Laoise Kelly on harp, along with harps and bagpipes from both traditions as well as songs with common themes and traditional ensemble. This follows the highly successful 2016 premiere of Sraith Oileán Acla / Achill Island Suite, a first to combine bagpipes, harps and traditional ensemble, paying homage to the historical and cultural connections with Achill and Scotland.

The festival also features wonderful opportunities to engage with the harp, both as a player and a maker. Various styles and levels of harp workshops, from complete beginners, through intermediate to advanced will be taught by the visiting international harpers. A unique opportunity for potential harp makers or those with a curiosity to try, a harp-making workshop led by master craftsmen Graham Wright (Ireland) and Charles Perpoil (France). You can go away with your very own harp!

Schools from all over the Island will be involved in the AIHF in various ways to ensure that harp and piping traditions are part of their contemporary experience of Island life. Last year the TY students of Coláiste Pobail Acla volunteered throughout the festival, painted signs and did music projects about the harp. All local school children will enjoy a special ‘command’ performance by the visiting artists to Achill.