Harps Alive / An Chruit Bheo / Harps Leevin Celebrating 230 Years of Bunting’s Legacy 

Presented by Belfast TradFest in partnership with Harp Ireland and Reclaim the Enlightenment 

Marking the 230th anniversary of Edward Bunting’s A General Collection of the Ancient Irish Music (1796), Harps Alive is a landmark celebration of Irish harping as both ancient tradition and living art form. 

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 Harp Ireland All-Island Harp Ensemble, led by Síofra Ní Dhubhghaill, offering a powerful coming together of 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 Irish music. 

Michael Rooney  

Michael Rooney (Monaghan) is one of Ireland’s most respected composers and arrangers working across traditional and contemporary music. Renowned for his ability to bridge tradition and innovation, he has been widely commissioned for orchestral and large-scale ensemble projects. His teaching focuses on composition, arrangement and developing new repertoire within traditional contexts. 

Úna Monaghan  

Dr Úna Monaghan (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  

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 — Harp Tutor / Arranger 

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 — Singer / Broadcaster 

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) 

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 — Host 

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. 

Ag ceiliúradh 230 bliain ó foilsíodh A General Collection of the Ancient Irish Music le hÉadbhard Bunting (1796), 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, chomh maith le cumadóireachtaí agus cóirithe úra a athshamhlaíonn stór stairiúil do lucht éisteachta an lae inniu. I gcroílár na hócáide tá Ceolfhoireann Cruite Uile-Éireann Chruit Éireann faoi stiúir Shíofra Ní Dhubhghaill, ag tabhairt cláirseoirí ó gach cearn den oileán le chéile i gcomhar cumhachtach ceoil. 

Ag fite fuaite oidhreacht agus nuálaíocht, seasann Harps Alive mar cheann de phríomhimeachtaí na féile, ag ceiliúradh oidhreacht bheo na cruite agus an tionchar leanúnach atá aici ar cheol comhaimseartha na hÉireann.