Harps Alive | An Chruit Bheo | Harps Leevin’

Presented in partnership with Cruit Éireann|Harp Ireland and Reclaim the Enlightenment, hosted by Dr Conor Caldwell and introduced by CÉHI Chair Aibhlín McCrann.

Marking the 230th anniversary of Edward Bunting’s A General Collection of the Ancient Irish Music (1796), Harps Alive | An Chruit Bheo | Harps Leevin’ is a landmark celebration of Irish harping, documenting the ancient tradition and highlighting current practise. This flagship concert brings together leading performers, tutors and composers for an evening of solo and ensemble performance, alongside new compositions and arrangements that reimagine historical repertoire for today’s audiences.

At its heart is the CÉHI All-Island Harp Ensemble, led by Síofra Ní Dhubhghaill, offering a powerful coming together of young harpers from across the island. Blending heritage and innovation, Harps Alive stands as a centrepiece of Belfast TradFest, celebrating the harp’s enduring voice and its evolving place in contemporary traditional music.

230 bliain ar aghaidh ó foilsíodh A General Collection of the Ancient Irish Music (1796) le hÉadbhard Bunting, is ceiliúradh mór suntasach é Harps Alive ar chruitireacht na hÉireann mar sheantraidisiún agus mar ealaín bheo chomhaimseartha. Tugann an mhórcheolchoirm seo cuid de na healantóirí, teagascóirí agus cumadóirí is iomráití le chéile d’oíche lán de cheol aonair agus comhcheoil, a athshamhlaíonn stór stairiúil ceoil do lucht éisteachta an lae inniu.

I gcroílár na hócáide, tá Ceolfhoireann Cruite Uile-Éireann Chruit Éireann le cruitirí ó cheann ceann na tíre, faoi stiúir Shíofra Ní Dhubhghaill, agus ceol cruite den scoth acu. Ag sníomh oidhreacht agus nuálaíocht le chéile, seasann An Chruit Bheo|Harps Alive|Harps Leevin’ mar cheann de phríomhimeachtaí na féile, ag ceiliúradh oidhreacht bheo na cruite agus an tionchar leanúnach atá aici ar cheol comhaimseartha na hÉireann i láthair na huaire

Michael Rooney 

Duine de na pearsaí is mó tionchair agus is nuálaí i gcruitireacht chomhaimseartha na hÉireann is ea Michael Rooney as An Bhoth, Co. Mhuineacháin. Tá cáil air as a chumas ceoil den scoth, a aireagán rithimeach agus a stíl shaibhir armónach, agus chuidigh sé go mór le ról na cruite a athshainiú laistigh den traidisiún beo. Cumadóir agus cóiritheoir iomráiteach é chomh maith, agus trína shaothair mhórscála do cheolfhoireann, thug sé ceoltóirí traidisiúnta agus clasaiceacha le chéile ar bhealach uaillmhianach nuálach.

Michael Rooney from Scotstown, Co. Monaghan is one of the most influential and innovative figures in contemporary Irish harping. Renowned for his virtuosic playing, rhythmic invention and rich harmonic style, he has helped redefine the harp’s role within the living tradition. A celebrated composer and arranger, his large-scale works for ensemble and orchestra have ambitiously brought traditional and classical musicians together.

Úna Monaghan 

Is cruitire, cumadóir agus ealaíontóir fuaime as Béal Feirste í Úna Monaghan, a dhéanann iniúchadh ar an cheangal idir ceol traidisiúnta na hÉireann, leictreonaic agus tobchumadóireacht. Bronnadh Gradam tionscnaimh Liam Uí Fhloinn uirthi agus tá sí i mbun taibhithe ar fud an domhain le cruit agus leictreonaic. Leanann a cuid cumadóireachta agus taifeadtaí nuálacha ag leathnú féidearthachtaí fuaime an traidisiúin.

Dr Úna Monaghan from Belfast, is a leading contemporary harper and composer whose work spans traditional music, experimental composition and electronic performance. Known for her bold artistic voice, she expands the sonic possibilities of the harp through technology and cross-genre collaboration. Her work combines strong traditional grounding with innovative approaches to sound and performance. 

Lauren Ní Néill 

Cruitire traidisiúnta, léachtóir agus taighdeoir mór le rá as Gleann an Iolar, Co. Dhoire, is ea an Dr Lauren Ní Néill. Tá sí tar éis seinm go fairsing ar fud na hÉireann agus na hEorpa, agus tá sí ina stiúrthóir ceoil ar Chruitirí Dhoire agus ar Chruitirí Inis Eoghain comh maith. Cuireadh spot sholas uirthí i léiriúcháin ar nós Sruth (TG4/BBC Alba), Folk Map of the British Isles agus Beart Bunting, agus léiríonn a cuid oibre ceangal domhain le traidisiúin stairiúla agus chomhaimseartha na cruite. Ina taighde PhD le déanaí, Bairdne, déanann sí iniúchadh ar chur chuige nua maidir le tionlacan cruite do fhilíocht bhairdice Ghaelach. Ba í Lauren an chéad CEO ar Chruit Éireann|Harp Ireland agus tá sí ag léachtóireacht faoi láthair i gceol traidisiúnta na hÉireann in Ollscoil Uladh.

Dr Lauren Ní Néill is a highly regarded traditional harper, teacher and researcher from Glenullin, Co. Derry. She has performed and taught widely across Ireland and Europe and is musical director of both the Derry Harp Ensemble and the Inishowen Harp Ensemble. A featured performer on productions including Sruth (TG4/BBC Alba), Folk Map of the British Isles and Beart Bunting, her work reflects a deep engagement with both historical and contemporary harp traditions. Her recent PhD research, Bairdne, explores new approaches to harp accompaniment of Gaelic bardic poetry. Lauren was the first CEO of Cruit Éireann | Harp Ireland and currently lectures in Irish traditional music at Ulster University. 

Colm McGonigle

Is as Béal Feirste ó dhúchas é Colm McGonigle, cruitire agus iluirliseoir iomráiteach a bhfuil cáil air as a stíl cheolmhar léiritheach agus a thuiscint dhomhain ar an traidisiún. Tá sé gníomhach ar fud na hÉireann agus go hidirnáisiúnta mar thaibheoir, mar chóiritheoir agus mar theagascóir, ag tabhairt cruthaitheachta agus íogaireachta nua do cheol aonair agus comhcheoil araon.

Originally from Belfast, Colm McGonigle was immersed in traditional music from a young age, first learning concertina from his father before taking up piano and Irish harp. He became a central figure in the Cambridge traditional music scene during his studies, performing widely and travelling regularly to London for sessions and teaching. Now based in Dublin, Colm remains an active performer across Ireland and internationally, appearing at major festivals and on national television and radio. 

Muireann Nic Amhlaoibh

Amhránaí traidisiúnta iomráiteach as Corca Dhuibhne, Co. Chiarraí, is ea Muireann Nic Amhlaoibh, a bhfuil gradaim buaite aici dá glór saibhir agus dá dlúthcheangal le traidisiún amhránaíochta na Gaeilge. Tá sí tar éis bheith ag seinm go fairsing ar ardáin idirnáisiúnta agus tá ardmheas uirthi as a stíl léiritheach mhionchúiseach. Is craoltóir í Muireann chomh maith, agus í mar láithreoir ar Folk on One ar RTÉ Raidió 1, áit a ndéanann sí iniúchadh ar cheol na hÉireann agus ar cheol idirnáisiúnta. Ina tionscadal ceannródaíoch le déanaí, Róisín ReImagined, i gcomhar le Ceolfhoireann Aireagail na hÉireann, rinne sí athléamh ar an amhránaíocht sean-nóis trí lionsa na cumadóireachta agus coiriúcháin comhaimseartha. Leanann sí uirthi ag cothú ceangail idir an traidisiún agus an nuálaíocht, agus tá sí faoi láthair ag forbairt saothair nua ar mhórscála le Dónal O’Connor atá spreagtha ag focail Pheig Sayers.

Muireann Nic Amhlaoibh is an award-winning traditional singer from Corca Dhuibhne, Co. Kerry, known for her rich voice and deep connection to the Irish language song tradition. She has performed extensively on international stages and is widely respected for her expressive and nuanced style. Muireann is also a broadcaster, presenting RTÉ Radio 1’s Folk on One, where she explores music from Ireland and beyond. Her recent landmark project Róisín ReImagined, with the Irish Chamber Orchestra, reinterprets sean-nós song through a contemporary composition and arrangement lens. She continues to bridge tradition and innovation and is currently developing a new large-scale body of work with Dónal O’Connor inspired by the words of Peg Sayers. 

Harp Ireland All-Island Harp Ensemble (Directed by Síofra Ní Dhubhghaill)

Cruitire, oideachasóir agus stiúrthóir ensemble le Cruit Éireann|Harp Ireland is ea Síofra Ní Dhubhghaill, a bhfuil cáil uirthi as a cuid oibre i bhforbairt an oideachais agus an léirithe chruitireachta ar fud an oileáin. Tá sí i gceannas ar iliomad ensembleanna agus tionscadal cruite ar mhórscála, ag tabhairt le chéile seinnteoirí de gach aois agus cumais. Faoina stiúir, léiríonn Ensemble Cruite Uile-Oileáin Chruit Éireann guth cumhachtach comhchoiteann do chruitireacht chomhaimseartha na hÉireann.

Síofra Ní Dhubhghaill is a harpist, educator and ensemble director with Harp Ireland, known for her work in developing harp education and performance across the island. She has led numerous large-scale harp ensembles and projects, bringing together players of all ages and levels. Under her direction, the Harp Ireland All-Island Harp Ensemble represents a powerful collective voice for contemporary Irish harping. 

Conor Caldwell — MC

Ceoltóir, scoláire agus craoltóir as Béal Feirste is ea an Dr Conor Caldwell, a bhfuil cáil air as a shaothar i réimsí an léirithe, an taighde agus chur i láthair na n-ealaíon. Is guth mór le rá é laistigh de phobal an cheoil thraidisiúnta, agus tá méid suntasach curtha aige le díospóireacht na meán agus an léinn acadúil maidir le ceol traidisiúnta. Beidh sé mar fhear an tí don cheolchoirm speisialta seo, ag treorú an lucht féachana tríd an gclár agus a chomhthéacs stairiúil.

Dr Conor Caldwell is a musician, scholar and broadcaster from Belfast, known for his work across performance, research and arts presentation. A respected voice within the traditional music community, he has contributed extensively to media and academic discourse on traditional music. He will host this special concert, guiding audiences through the programme and its historical context.