Summer School Programme

Monday 27th of July 2026

9:00 AM

Beginners can enrol in Set Dancing, Tin whistle, Singing, Harp & Sean-Nós dancing.

Please note that the following classes will take place in the afternoon slots – Button Accordian, Fiddle, Banjo, Flute, Traditional Singing and Sean-Nós Dancing.

Please note that registration is available in advance online. Click here.

10:00 AM

See list of tutors here.

2:00 PM

See list of tutors here. /

3:30 PM

Tutor
Eiméar Mulvey

Please note this class is an hour and a half.

6:00 PM

8:30 PM

9:00 PM

Join us for a night of great music, song, and dance performed by our wonderful summer school tutors with special guests.

Admission €10.

Tuesday 28th of July 2026

10:00 AM

See list of tutors here.

2:00 PM

See list of tutors here.

3:30 PM

Tutor
Eiméar Mulvey

Advanced Sean-Nós Dancing with tutor Eimear Mulvey. Please note this class is an hour and a half.

6:00 PM

Junior Music Session in St. Ronan’s Hall.

9:00 PM

Admission €10.

10:00 PM

Wednesday 29th of July 2026

10:00 AM

See list of tutors here.

2:00 PM

See list of tutors here.

3:30 PM

Tutor
Eiméar Mulvey

Advanced Sean-Nós Dancing with tutor Eimear Mulvey. Please note this class is an hour and a half.

7:00 PM

8:30 PM

Featuring Fiachra Guihen, Emma Benson, and Sophie Daly performing a selection of O’Carolan’s pieces.

Admission €10.

10:00 PM

Thursday 30th of July 2026

10:00 AM

See list of tutors here.

2:00 PM

See list of tutors here.

3:30 PM

Tutor
Eiméar Mulvey

Advanced Sean-Nós Dancing with tutor Eimear Mulvey. Please note this class is an hour and a half.

6:00 PM

9:00 PM

Admission €10.

10:00 PM

Friday 31st of July 2026

10:00 AM

See list of tutors here.

2:00 PM

See list of tutors here.

3:30 PM

Tutor
Eiméar Mulvey

Advanced Sean-Nós Dancing with tutor Eimear Mulvey. Please note this class is an hour and a half.

7:00 PM

Insurance covered by Keadue Development Association.

7:00 PM

9:00 PM

The O’Carolan Harp Festival, in conjunction with Cruit Éireann | Harp Ireland, is thrilled to announce a spectacular headline concert taking place in St.Ronan’s Hall, Keadue. The evening promises an unforgettable celebration of harping, spanning from baroque traditions to boundary-breaking contemporary works.

At the heart of the night is a performance of Sonóir, a groundbreaking Harp Ireland commission by renowned percussionist and composer Mel Mercier. Originally premiered to critical acclaim at the Royal Irish Academy of Music last November, the piece brings together a highly unusual and evocative blend of two Irish harps, bassoon, viola da gamba, and traditional percussion.

The performance of Sonóir will feature the musicians both collectively and individually, showcasing a masterclass of talent:

• Niamh O’Brien (Harp): A 2025-2026 Fulbright Scholar and doctor of sonic arts, Niamh brings deep academic and experimental rigor, bridging the gap between traditional melodies and modern soundscapes.

• Alannah Thornburgh (Harp): Fresh off her win as Best Folk Instrumentalist at the 2025 RTÉ Folk Awards, Alannah is one of the most exciting voices in the harp world, known for weaving folklore into complex, multi-genre arrangements.

• Malachy Robinson (Viola da Gamba) a multi-talented musician and double bassist across many genres from early music to classical repertoire in his regular appearances as a member of the Irish Chamber Orchestra.

• John Leonard (Bassoon): who has just stepped down as principal bassoonist of the RTÉ Concert Orchestra and is a highly respected figure in the Irish classical music scene. Renowned for his encyclopedic knowledge of orchestral repertoire and his versatile musicality, John has performed extensively across a wide range of genres on both the concert platform and in studio recordings.

• Mel Mercier (Percussion/Composer): World-renowned percussionist composer explores the harp’s timbres and ensures the heartbeat of Sonóir remains authentic to his vision — a captivating blend of found sound, traditional rhythm, and contemporary pulse.

Speaking on the work, Mel Mercier said: “The composition, Sonóir (Sonar) brings together, for the first time, the rich sonorities of two harps, bassoon, viola da gamba, and traditional percussion. I am delighted to have been commissioned by Harp Ireland to write this new piece of music for the Irish Harp, contributing to 21st-century innovation in the repertoire.”

The concert will also feature The Keadue Harp Ensemble ensuring the legacy of Turlough O’Carolan is celebrated by the community that champions it best, featuring Fiachra Guihen, Emma Benson, Sophie Daly, and Aoife Guckian.

(Admission €25)