Central to the forthcoming Fleadh Cheoil in Mohill, Co Leitrim from Friday April 28th to Monday May 1st is the O'Carolan Concert on Sunday, April 30th at 8.30pm, in which the National Harp Orchestra will perform works by Turlough O'Carolan.
The National Harp Orchestra, now an international touring company, began life as a junior orchestra in 1992 when harpist Janet Harbison founded the Belfast Harp Orchestra to celebrate the bicentenary of the Belfast Harpers' Assembly in 1782.
Originally from Co Kerry, Harbison had a classical training in Dublin and moved to Belfast, where she taught a generation of harpists. Among her musical mentors was the late Derek Bell of The Chieftains. The Belfast Harp Orchestra features with The Chieftains on The Celtic Harp, which won a Grammy award in 1993.
After 19 years based in Belfast, Harbison returned to the Republic and has established the Irish Harp Centre in Limerick. Last September, what had been a junior orchestra consisting of Harbison's students became the National Harp Orchestra engaging professional musicians. Having just returned from performances in Germany, the orchestra has also performed in France and Belgium. Its repertoire spans classical, traditional and contemporary music including Harbison's compositions. At Mohill, Harbison will lead her orchestra of 24 harpists arranged around the statue of the itinerant blind harpist who settled in the town.
