Donegal Open Week Harp Summer School

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Donegal Open Harp Week

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 the ‘Ionad’ (Dungloe Library) €5
Thursday: Concert - Templecrone Church featuring ‘Janet and Friends’
Friday: Session - Trip to Seisiún at Hiúdí Beag’s in Bunbeg

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).

Course fee (Accommodation or catering not included)

Adults (over 18): €450 (Full days; all workshops and concerts)

Teens (13–18): €280 (Full days; all workshops and concerts)

Pre-Teen (10-13): €100 (Mornings: Monday – Friday and concerts)

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

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). 

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:
Your destination is the Maghery Beach Cottages, Maghery, Donegal, Ireland. F94F883 .