Donegal Harp Summer School

Book a date

Donegal Harp Summer School

All Ages, All Stages; Classes, Concerts, Sessions

This course is for harp players of all standards and musical backgrounds.

Adults: 9.30am–3.30 pm, Monday to Friday (Classes, workshops & evening events)
Teens (13-18 yrs): 9.30am–3.30 pm, Monday to Friday (Classes, workshops & evening events)
Pre-teens (10–13 yrs): 10am–12.30pm, Monday to Friday (Morning classes
and evening events)

Workshops 5–6pm: Monday: Illustrated lecture - The history of the Irish harp: the icon and its music. Tuesday: Lecture-recital: Exploring the Magic of Carolan. Thursday: Masterclass: Ornamentation, Variation and ‘Dressing the Music’.

Evening events (8.30pm)
Monday: Concert - Recital with Janet: ‘4 centuries of Irish harp’
Tuesday: Workshop - Introduction to ‘The Session’ with guest musician
Wednesday: Concert - Local ‘Seisiún’ concert in in the Old Library €5
Thursday: Concert - Templecrone Church featuring ‘Janet and Friends’
Friday: Session - Dinner at Danny Minnie’s (famous local restaurant) with a great session afterwards

Tuition is in large and small group classes – and in ‘practice periods’ there is lots of individual assistance from the teachers on the teacher’s course (which runs alongside the summer school).

Teacher’s Week

Residential and Non-Residential

This course starts on Sunday morning at 11 am August 8th. Arrive Saturday evening (August 7th) or before 11am on Sunday morning (August 8th). This course runs alongside the Dungloe Open Harp Week with:

What's included

• 14 hours of Teacher Training, 10 hours of Teaching Practise with inclusion in the regular summer-school classes

• Training materials and sample books

• All evening activities, concerts, lectures, sessions

• Lunches (for all dietary options) and supper on Sunday evening (July 18). All other evenings we eat out or cook in (this cost not included)

• An optional mid-week trip out to Aranmore Island/Glenveigh National Park/Dunlewey. (max cost €30)

• 7 days of accommodation (from Saturday to Saturday) in twin or double ensuite bedrooms in homely, fully equipped adjacent holiday cottages. Kitchens are set up with breakfast supplies, and all-day teas and coffees.

Harp Summer School fee

Adults (over 18): €600 (Full days; all workshops and concerts)
Teens (13–18): €290 (Full days; all workshops and concerts)
Pre-Teen (10-13): €140 (Mornings: Monday – Friday and concerts)

Teacher Course: €1,100 (A harp will be provided for if you can't bring your own.)

Bring your own harp or Harp Hire (at the venue during classes and practice periods, and elsewhere by special arrangement) €80

Lunches x5 (soup/salads : booked for the week, available to residents and non residents) €80

Residential Option

ROOM (6 nights) Twin or Double bedroom + breakfast supplies (self-serve) €650

PLUS ONES sharing your room + starting breakfast supplies  (Or, partners may share at €500 each).  May join us for lunches as above €350

SHARED Twin Room (with self-serve breakfasts) recommended for teens * €400

*Rooms are not en-suite : but 2 rooms share 1 bathroom.    

More information

The Course Venue

Maghery Beach Cottages are a little village complex of six traditional cottages, just a few steps from the magnificent beach of Maghery with a village pub, coffee shop, ice-cream parlour, camping ground and community centre (with a café and fish‘n’chip shop in the summer months). 

Dungloe

Our local town just 5 miles east, is Dungloe (Na Clochán Liath in Irish) offering superb shopping, pub culture, historic buildings and the ‘mystical riverside walk’.  In the background sits the magestic Mount Errigal, Donegal's most spectacular mountain that is a favourite for climbers (mid level).  At its foot is the Glenveigh National Park which comprises a vast area of magnificently beautiful bog wilderness, wonderful for walkers - and Glenveigh Castle and Gardens for those interested in the history of the area.  The Wednesday afternoon trip out offers the choice of a sea-trip to Arranmore Island, Glenveagh Castle and Park, or beautiful Dunlewey by Mount Errigal with the ‘lost town of Glentorin’

Residential Course Afternoon Options

For walks, swims, exploring, shopping, relaxing, practising - Dungloe is a wonderful Donegal town with lots to offer. Closely located to Glenveagh National Park and Mount Errigal, Donegal’s most spectacular mountain surrounded by an exceptional area of natural beauty and nature conservation, and there is a superb range of walks for everyone from seasoned hikers to leisurely wanderers. On Wednesday, we have an afternoon off to take a trip to the park, or the mountain, or a boat trip to the island of Arranmore with dolphin and whale spotting with seabirds and sandy beaches.

Travel Arrangements

By Plane:
Fly into Dublin Airport, take an Aer Lingus flight from Dublin Airport to Donegal Airport. This takes 35 minutes and costs €40 and there are just 2 flights every day at 11.40 and 18.50hrs. The airport is close to our Centre and we will arrange your pick up (a small charge is made).

By Bus:
Bus with Bus Eireann from Busarus (Dublin central) or Dublin Airport to Donegal town. Change here to the Dungloe bus in Donegal town (5 hours journey in all)

By Car:
Take your time to explore more of our wonderful country along the Wild Atlantic Way!  
Your destination is the Maghery Beach Cottages, Maghery, Donegal, Ireland. F94F883.