Siobhan joins the chorus of ‘Harps For Hope’

HARPS FOR HOPE IS A SERIES OF ONLINE CONCERTS FROM MORE THAN 50 OF IRELAND’S LEADING HARPERS

Photo: Sheila Fitzgerald

RATHCOOLE native Siobhan Buckley is included in the list of illustrious musicians participating in Harps for Hope.

She performs ‘An Crúitire’, a piece of music that was composed for her by Michael Rooney.

Harp Ireland presents Harps for Hope, a series of online Harp concerts from more than 50 of Ireland’s leading Harpers who express their togetherness and lend their voices to the fight against Covid19. Never was the saying ‘Ar scáth a chéile a mhairimid, we live in each other’s shadows’ more relevant than it is now.

To date the series which features music from a selection of our leading Harpers including Laoise Kelly, Cormac de Barra, Tríona Marshall, Máire Ní Chathasigh and Siobhán Armstrong among others, will culminate with a 240 strong harp ensemble performance in June.

Speaking about her involvement, Siobhan Buckley said, “I’m delighted to be part of such an incredible initiative, both as a soloist and as director of the Music Generaton Laois Harp Ensemble. While the series features some of Irelands leading Harpers, it’s great that the younger generation get the opportunity to be included in a harp ensemble performance of 240 young musicians from across the country, this is due for release in early June”

Aibhlín McCrann, Chair of Cruit Éireann/Harp Ireland explained, “Over the past year, people have highlighted to us how connected they feel to the sound of the harp; how it calms them, comforts them and enhances their sense of national identity. We were struck by the depth of emotion and resonance that the Irish harp holds for so many people when it was inscribed on the UNESCO Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity last year”.

Undoubtedly, Ireland’s national instrument enjoys a unique place in Irish musical and cultural life and that is a tribute to the steadfast dedication of harpers, teachers, harp students and supporters nationally and internationally.

The full series of videos are available at www.harpireland.ie/ showevent/harps-forhope/2020-04-03

The introductory track on each of these videos is An Crúitire from the Spirit of Laois suite composed by harper-composer Michael Rooney and performed by Siobhán Buckley.