Tuamgraney Harp Festival

There’s something quietly magical about an Irish music session. It’s not a performance in the traditional sense, nor is it a rehearsal. Instead, it’s a living, breathing conversation—one carried through fiddles, flutes, pipes, harp and song. Musicians gather, often in the corner of a pub, and without much ceremony, a tune begins. Others join in, each adding their own voice while respecting the shared rhythm and tradition.

Sessions are as much about community as they are about music. Regulars and newcomers sit side by side, bound by a shared understanding of the tunes and an unspoken etiquette. There’s no strict setlist, no spotlight—just a flow of reels, jigs, and slow airs that can last for hours. For listeners, it offers an authentic window into Irish culture; for players, it’s a way to keep the tradition alive, evolving with every note.

This year the Tuamgraney Harp Festival has a number of open sessions that welcomes participants on every instrument. Whether you’re a seasoned musician or simply curious, stepping into a session is an invitation to experience Irish music at its most natural and welcoming.

Festival Sessions

Friday 17th April @ 9.30pm
Fiana Ni Chonaill & Denise Kennedy

Saturday 18th @ 9.30pm
Eva Carroll & Friends

Sunday 19th @ 4.00pm
Clíodhna Donnellan, Siobhan Kelly & Donal Watson

A Weekend of Music, Art, and Community

There’s something special about Tuamgraney in April. Maybe it’s the sense of community, the heritage in the air, or simply the unmistakable sound of harp music drifting through the village. Whatever it is, it’s back again this year—and 2026 is a little extra special.

From April 17th to 19th, the Tuamgraney Harp Festival celebrates its 10th anniversary, marking a decade of music, creativity, and connection. What started as a vision by Lizzie Affolter has grown into a much-loved event on the traditional music calendar. Now, under the direction of Dr Fiana Ní Chonaill, the festival continues to evolve while staying true to its roots.

This year’s programme feels both celebratory and welcoming—whether you’re a seasoned musician or just curious to experience something new. Friday night brings the official opening at Nuala’s Bar & Restaurant, but in truth, it’s the kind of night that unfolds naturally. Musicians gather, tunes are shared, and before long the whole place is alive with an open session led by Denise Kennedy and Fiana Ní Chonaill. It’s informal, welcoming, and a perfect introduction to the days ahead.

Saturday is where things really come into full swing. The day begins with workshops in St Cronan’s Church, offering a chance to learn from exceptional musicians from Ireland and across Europe. Whether it’s harp, fiddle, or concertina, there’s a real sense of openness—spaces where people can learn, try something new, or simply enjoy being part of the music.

There are a couple of lovely additions this year too. A mixed instrument workshop encourages players to come together, while the “Try the Harp” session invites complete beginners to sit down and give it a go—no experience needed.

As the day unfolds, the energy builds through competitions and conversations before giving way to the evening’s Gala Concert. And like any good festival, the night doesn’t end there—it circles back to Nuala’s for another session, where the music carries on late into the evening.

By Sunday, while the harpers are taking the Ensemble workshop, things slow down for everyone else in the best possible way. A guided walk through Tuamgraney offers a chance to take in the local history and scenery, followed by more music and a talk exploring the folklore of the harp and Ireland’s bardic traditions. One of the quieter highlights is the free recital performance—a simple, beautiful moment that captures the spirit of the weekend.

The festival wraps up with a final session on Sunday afternoon, bringing musicians and listeners together one last time before everyone heads their separate ways.

Ten years on, the Tuamgraney Harp Festival hasn’t lost what makes it special. It’s still about people coming together—sharing music, stories, and time. If you’ve never been, this might be the year to go. And if you have, you’ll already know—there’s nothing quite like it.

As part of the celebrations marking a decade of the Tuamgraney Harp Festival, a series of special fringe events have been announced to enhance this milestone year. Taking place from April 16–19, 2026, these free events add an extra layer of creativity and community spirit to the festival, offering visitors even more ways to experience the magic of Tuamgraney.

Celebrating 10 Years with Something Extra

This year the festival is expanding beyond its core programme with a carefully curated selection of fringe events. These additions highlight local talent, creativity, and heritage, giving festival goers unique opportunities to engage with the cultural life of the village in new and meaningful ways.

Opening Evening – Thursday, April 16

The fringe programme begins with an Art Exhibition Opening at 7pm, setting the tone for a weekend of artistic celebration. This exhibition features works inspired by music, tradition, and the harp’s enduring legacy.

Following the opening, the evening continues at 8pm with Cabaret Voltaire at Nuala’s Barn—an entertaining and atmospheric performance that promises to delight audiences.

Sunday Highlights – April 19

The fringe events continue on Sunday with two engaging and accessible experiences:

• 10:30am – Tuamgraney Guided Walk
  Meet at the Parish House (V94 YT96) for a relaxed walk exploring the history and charm of the local area.
• 12 noon – Folklore of the Harp & Bards
  Taking place in the Memorial Park, this session delves into the rich storytelling traditions surrounding the harp and Ireland’s bardic heritage.

Ongoing Exhibition

The art exhibition remains open throughout the weekend at Nuala’s Barn, giving visitors plenty of chances to experience it:

• Friday & Saturday: 1pm – 6pm
• Sunday: 1pm – 4pm

Be Part of the Celebration

These fringe events are a special addition to the Tuamgraney Harp Festival’s 10th anniversary celebrations, offering something a little different while staying true to the festival’s spirit of music, culture, and community.

All events are free to attend, so whether you’re a returning visitor or discovering the festival for the first time, this is the perfect year to get involved and celebrate ten years of tradition and creativity in Tuamgraney.

There is lots of excitement as the committee is in the final stages of preparation for the 9th Tuamgraney Harp Festival (4th-6th April 2025). Our Artistic Director & Chair, Dr Fiana Ni Chonaill has been working hard to promote the festival all over the county. On the 19th of March she featured on Clare FM’s ‘The West Wind’ with Paula Carroll live in studio and was interviewed on Scariff Bay’s Community Radio by Geraldine Colleran on the 29th of March.

The festival also received a lovely write up in The Living section of the Clare Champion titled ‘Tuning up for this years harp festival’, written by Dan Danaher.

Due to the pandemic the 2021 Blossom Harp Festival took place online on the 27^th March 2021.  Participants were welcomed by Manus McGuire an international renowned fiddle player living in Tuamgraney and Mary Coffey, currently Mayor of Tuamgraney. 

An exciting programme followed with renowned harpists Janet Harbison and Michelle Mulcahy leading workshops attended by an international audience.  A lively Q and A session introduced the two harpists who shared their own experiences and answered questions posed by the participants. 

An innovative interview with our harp maker sponsors was facilitated by Fiana Ni Chonnaill and added a successful new dimension to the programme.   Fiana and Elizabeth Afolter together with their ensembles provided a series of beautiful musical interludes.  

A series of short videos presenting the village ran consecutively during the breaks and the day ended with a gala concert with all the musicians from the day joining a number of local harpists and fiddle players to conclude a very successful festival.

Sadly the festival saw the retirement of our founder Elizabeth Afolter and we take this opportunity to wish her well in her new home in Ballinasloe. 

We will transition to the Tuamgraney Harp Festival to be held on 14^th and 15^th May 2022 and will comprise both face-to-face and online components.  A new committee chaired by our new artistic director Fiana Ní Chonaill, has been established and we look forward to welcoming you all to Tuamgraney in May.

We are delighted to announce the Blossom Harp Festival Tune Challenge 2021. You are invited to learn and share your recording of Tuamgraney Castle (see picture and link for notes). The festival would like to start by nominating committee members Elisabeth Affolter, Fiana Ní Chonaill (Fiana Harp Music) and Manus McGuire. Upload your video , tag the friends you wish to nominate and don’t forget to tag Blossom Harp Festival for the chance to have your video shared. This challenge is open to all instruments. Harp Players: To be in with a chance to win a free ticket to this years harp workshop make sure to include #BHFTuneChallenge2021 in your video post. Recordings will be reviewed by an independent judge who will pick the winner, so have fun and get creative!*adjudicators decision will be final and no feedback will be given.