Donegal Ireland Harp Summer Schools 2026

The Adult Only weeks are for players over the age of 18, at all levels and abilities. Held by celebrated veteran Janet Harbison, these courses focus on personal development, social playing, fun and friendship located in the town of Dungloe on the magnificent Donegall coast – and at the heart of traditional Irish community. Janet will take your musicianship, confidence, creativity and traditional music understanding to a new level - enabling you to understand how music works and leading you to develop your own tunes and arranging skills. The style of teaching is oral with everyone challenged to a comfortable level. Learning is like language – instilling all the necessary skills, confidence and fluency of a native player – always focused on the core repertoire known to musicians and harpers world-wide. With a maximum of 8 participants on any week, everyone is assured of personal attention with workshops, lectures, concerts and sessions in the evenings, and a great trip out on Wednesday afternoon. There is lots of interaction with local musicians – Join Janet and the community of Dungloe musicians for a week to remember!

What’s included

• 5 days of Summer School training from 9.30am to 3.30pm (with 9.30am – 12.45pm on Wednesday) with lunches provided (all diets catered to) and all evening concerts, lectures and sessions (with travel where necessary!)

• Accommodation for 6 nights (from Sunday to Saturday) in twin or double ensuite bedrooms in adjacent (and fully equipped) holiday cottages. All bookings are treated as for single occupation, but you are welcome to bring a friend/partner if you wish.

Kitchens are set up with starting breakfast supplies, and all-day teas and coffees.

• A mid-week trip out to Glenveigh National Park, Arranmore Island or Mount Errigal (cost not included).

• For participants booking consecutive weeks, the in-between night’s accommodation is free.

• Harps are available to all (at an extra charge) if you don’t wish to bring your own!

• Pick-ups and drop-offs are arranged free of charge for all travelling by air or bus.

What’s not included:

• Your evening meals. As we have self-catering facilities, you may choose to eat in or out.

On Monday, Wednesday and Friday evenings, we book a table at McCafferty’s Pub which is very near us and an excellent pub and restaurant. On Thursday evening, we do a ‘pot luck’ at home where all who wish can contribute to a communal evening.

• The optional Wednesday afternoon trip out to Arranmore or to Glenveigh Castle in the Glenveigh National Park. Either trip costs @ €30 (including bus/ferry/entrance costs).

• The Wednesday evening concert in Dungloe’s community centre (featuring all local musicians, singers and dancers) where a ‘contribution’ to cover the interval refreshments is requested (€5 expected)

> Download the Adults schedule here

Course price (includes course, concerts etc, accommodation, lunches and arrival night dinner)

€1,300

Harp Hire

€80

‘Plus ones’ (friends/partners)

€300

ADULTS HARP SUMMER SCHOOL

> Download the Adults schedule here

ADULTS HARP SUMMER SCHOOL

> Download the Adults schedule here

ADULTS HARP SUMMER SCHOOL

> Download the Adults schedule here

DUNGLOE OPEN HARP WEEK (all ages, all abilities)

This course is for harp players from age 12 upwards, of all standards and musical backgrounds.

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).

Classes run daily 9.30 – 3pm daily with Evening activities:

Monday: Recital with Janet: ‘4 centuries of Irish harp’
Tuesday: Introduction to ‘The Session’ with guest musician
Wednesday: Local ‘Seisiún’ concert in the ‘Ionad’ (Dungloe community centre)
Thursday: public concert at Templecrone Church featuring ‘Janet H and Friends’
Friday: Trip to Seisiún at Hiúdí Beag’s in Bunbeg (a top night of music in Donegal)

Full week participation for all or Morning classes only option for teens from 9.30am to 12.30pm Afternoon classes only for pre-teens from 1.30 to 3pm

Accommodated participants: Arrive Sunday from 2pm – Depart Saturday after breakfast

Residential Teens are fully supervised at the Summer School Centre and ‘out and about’. Janet and her assistant on this course are both qualified in Child Safeguarding and Protection and will act ‘in loco parentis’ assuring parents of fully responsible management. In advance of the course, Janet will discuss with the parents/guardians about ‘dinner accounts’ if preferred to the teen’s financial independence.

> Download the Adults and Teens schedule here

The Dungloe Open Harp Week fee includes

• 5 days of Summer School training for all regular students
Morning classes only option for teens from 9.30am to 12.30pm Afternoon classes only for pre-teens from 1.30 to 3pm

• 6 nights accommodation in Twin or Double ensuite bedrooms
Pre-teens must be accompanied by a parent/guardian
Teens are booked in pairs in room sharing

• 6 All evening activities for residential participants

• Breakfasts and lunches (and supper on Sunday evening) are provided for residential participants: and day-participants may book meals in advance (or bring their own daily).

• Morning break refreshments are provided.

Course fee

Residential adult - €1,000

Non-residential adult - € 280 (excludes evening activities)

Residential teen - € 700

Non-residential teen - € 140 (excludes evening activities)

Residential pre-teen - €1,200 (with adult)

Non-residential pre-teen -€80 (excludes evening activities)

Plus-ones sharing (& not harping) - €300

TEACHERS COURSE

This course starts on Sunday morning at 11 am July 12th. Arrive Saturday evening (July 11th) or

before 11am on Sunday morning (July 12th). This course runs alongside the Dungloe Open Harp

Week with:

Whats 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 (June 8 or July 13). All other evenings we eat out or cook in (this cost not included)

• An optional mid-week trip out to Glenveigh National Park, Arranmore Island or Mount Errigal. (Extra 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. (For participants taking 2 consecutive

weeks, the in-between night is free)

> Download the Teachers schedule here

Course Price (per person)

€1,550