The Tionól Harp and Pipes Festival 2024 took place across the first weekend of November, with workshops and concerts these traditional musical instruments and styles.
The festival, organised by Music Generation Laois, is an annual celebration of the harp and the uilleann pipes.
It is a chance to grow the love of music and these special instruments among young harpers and pipers from across Laois as well as the many visiting young musicians.
Childrens voices and ideas were central to this year’s festival, both in the project development, and in the music creation.
There were Harp Workshops by Catriona McKay, Laoise Kelly, Michael Rooney, Gráinne Hambly, Deirdre Ní Bhuachalla, Jill Devlin, Siobhan Buckley, Eilís Lavelle and Neil Wood.
There were also a number of Pipes Workshops by Pádraig McGovern, Leonard Barry, Tiarnán Ó Duinnchinn and Joe Byrne.
Scottish musicians Catriona McKay (harp) and Chris Stout (fiddle) were commissioned to create music for Tionól 2024, supported by Creative Ireland Laois.
This music was the centrepiece of a wonderful concert on Saturday evening in Portlaoise Library, with the concert streamed online.
Over 170 harpers and pipers from across Ireland and Scotland performed ‘Hook Head’ by McKay and Stout.
The Tionól 2024 closing party was held in Dunamase College, Portlaoise, on Sunday, where scores of other children had the chance to perform with some amazing musicians.
‘Hook Head’ Concert at Portlaoise Library
Tionól 2024 closing party at Dunamase College
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