Granard's Harp Festival -
History
Granard's Harp Festival - History
1781 saw the first ever Harp Festival in Granard, County Longford. The premiums were generous in terms of money. The first prize was 10 Guineas, second prize 8 Guineas and third prize 5 Guineas. "The Market House" built some time before 1691 was the scene of the old Festivals which were initiated and funded by John Dungan, a native of Granard, a wealthy businessman living in Copenhagen. The aim of the festival was to revive public interest in the Irish Harp and Irish Harp Music.
Two hundred years later in 1981 the people of Granard hoted a commemorative bi-centennial Harp Festival. One of the ambitions of the committee responsible for the revival of the Granard Harp Festival was that Harp music be brought into the modern world and the ancient tradition would not only be preserved, but would become the basis for further development. Granard may once again rekindle a new flame of interest in the Irish Harp.
'The Canon's Cup' refers to the perpetual trophy and prize for the 1981 bi-centenary festival sponsored by the Very Reverend Canon Francis Gilfillan. In 1981 the first winner of the top prize was Ms Anne Heyman, USA.
The present committee have re-established the Harp School, employing top class and well known teachers. The aims are the same as those of John Dungan back in 1781 - to promote the Irish Harp and Harp music.
O'Carolan
During his travels O'Carolan stayed as a guest with Lord and Lady Nugent at 'The Lodge', Castlenugent (now Smiths) from 1720 to 1721. While there he composed several tunes including one for the yougest daughter of the house (Grace) hence the Grace Nugent cup. Another tune composed by O'Carolan was 'Miss Fetherston' who was visiting in the Granard area at the same time. O'Carolan encountered Miss Fetherston while on his way to Mass in Granardkille. She was on her way to St Patrick's Church of Ireland service in Granard. There are many other tunes composed by O'Carolan while he was in Granard which the committee hope to obtain for use in the Harp School.
