How playing the Irish harp became my lifelong love

As Belfast’s Irish Harp Society prepares to commemorate 200 years today, Stephanie Bell finds out about the role of the historic instrument here and talks to two harpists about their craft

Admired for its grandeur and beauty, the harp has played a huge part in Irish culture for centuries and today it will take centre stage in Belfast for a special celebration. A select group of international and local harpists and scholars are set to converge on the Linen Hall Library this afternoon to mark the bicentennial of the Irish Harp Society of Belfast.

The Linen Hall Library has played a significant role in the preservation of traditional Irish harp music. Early members of the library organised a festival of harp music in July 1792 with the intention of “having the music taken down and recorded for the first time”.

The library has played a part in the subsequent publishing of this music.

Today’s event will focus on the Linen Hall’s Beath Collection, which was donated in 1974 by Mrs Norah Beath — the granddaughter of architect and noted music collector Robert Young.

The collection contains a wealth of material from the 18th and 19th centuries tied to music.

The library is also home to a number of papers relating to history of the Irish Harp Society of Belfast which, interestingly, was funded almost entirely by a group of men and women in India.

This group — the Bengal Subscription — were Irish, Indian, and of various backgrounds and religions, who came together to support a future for the Irish harp. Linen Hall Library director Julie Andrews says: “The celebration of the Beath Collection and the bicentennial of the Irish Harp Society of Belfast has been a monumental collaboration of musicians and Irish harp experts from various locations.

“To bring them all together for one afternoon is a phenomenal achievement and an event not to be missed.

“Not many people know that the Linen Hall Library played a vital role in the preservation of traditional Irish harp music. The story behind the archive is fascinating.”

Two harpists who will be playing at today’s event explain their love of this great instrument and what it means to take part in the celebration.