Video: Irish Harping

The Gaelic or Irish harp is an enduring symbol of Ireland. You can find the harp on the Republic of Ireland’s coat of arms, its passports, and in the logo of famous brands such as Guinness. But why is the harp, and not the shamrock, the emblem of Ireland?

The Irish harp is an ancient symbol, found in Irish noble courts since at least 1000 CE. Numerous Gaelic Irish rulers controlled their own territories, even after the Anglo-Norman invasion, and each employed men and women to help run their small kingdoms. Harpists were among the most respected of these court positions. At this time, the Irish nobility prized music, poetry, and learning. Harpists were tied into the role of bards and fili poets; they acted not only as musicians, but as counselors and historians. They even helped march troops into battle.

Unfortunately for the harpists of Ireland, their sweet music came to represent a disappearing way of life. As the English monarchy tightened its grip on the island from the 1500s on, the Gaelic courts slowly faded, and their music with them. The harp lived on as a symbol of the Kingdom of Ireland, chosen by Kings Henry VII and VIII. But even as the instrument flew on flags, its players were persecuted by the English, who saw them as rallying points for rebellion. And indeed, the harp acted as a symbol of various Irish rebellions right up to the Republic’s War of Independence. By the mid-1700s, the ‘last great bard of Ireland,’ Turlough O’Carolan, had passed away.

But the Irish harp is far from extinct. A modern generation of skilled musicians have revived the instrument and are now both exploring its past and writing new songs of their own. This video, courtesy of UNESCO, takes us into the world of the Irish harp and its dedicated keepers.

TOTA

Traditions of the Ancestors

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