Belfast Harp Festival
belfast harp festival called contemporary writer belfast harper assembly – july threeday musical patriotic event organised belfast ireland leading member local society promoting knowledge linen hall library dr james macdonnell robert bradshaw henry joy robert simms edward bunting young classically trained organist commissioned notate forty tune performed ten harpist attending work form major part general collection ancient irish music venue contest assembly room waring street belfast opened market house staged benefit belfast charitable society coincided town bastille day celebration shared patron supporter celebration involved trooping local volunteer corp carrying flag banner hailing french declaration right man american liberty new polish constitution concluded townmeeting resolution carried newformed united irishman favour catholic emancipation parliamentary reform handbill advertising festival clear patriotic intent view intimately spirit character people connected national poetry music presumed irish patriot politican sic deem object unworthy patronage protection festival said marked beginning long association northern protestant gaelic revival interest irish harp stemmed combination cultural political motif emboldened revolution france presbyterian northeast ireland seeking ally kingdom catholic majority anglican protestant ascendancy favour representative national government recognition gaelic past common inheritance seen bridge sectarian divide badge separate distinctive irish culture bolstered demand greater autonomy england july eight year assembly harper belfast first three annual harp competition ball supper held granard county longford patron john dungan wealthy catholic merchant living copenhagen denmark decided retain support original instrument country premium provided best player disbursed michael dungan likely brother secretary granard patriot volunteer corp among harpist engaged arthur oneill charles fanning feature later belfast assembly granard express objective festival belfast assemble remaining traditional harp player compete prize preservenotate dying irish harp tradition piece attended ten irish harper one welsh harper many tune played notated edward bunting published name general collection ancient music ireland donnchadh ó hámsaigh denis hampson blind county londonderry aged played long crooked fingernail arthur oneill blind county tyrone winner second prize green wood truagh charles fanning county cavan winner first prize coulin cúilfhionn dan black blind derry charles byrne county leitrim hugh higgins blind county mayo patrick quinn blind county armagh william caer armagh james duncan county rose mooney winner third place blind county meath williams first name unknown wale william caer year age others year old three winner selected fanning took first place awarded yearly stipend £ edward bunting subsequently visited winner one collate available contemporary harp music publish material song saved effort include feaghan gealeash deirdres lament son usneach thought oldest extant piece irish music scott lamentation battle argan ossianic air blackheaded deary open door softly played arthur oneill lament limerick chorus jig jig name rev george vaughan sampson wrote denis hampson played famous meeting harper belfast patronage amateur irish music mr bunton celebrated musician town year hampsons noting tune manner playing best old style said honest feeling self love played old tune another harper would play impetus behind festival survived insurrection united irishman banner harp without crown act union abolished kingdom ireland parliament dublin involved organising festival including james macdonnell edward bunting organised first belfast harp society employing arthur o’neill principal tutor sought train new generation irish harpist among poor child chosen patriotic tradition without reference religious distinction assistance contribution mary ann mccracken bunting published second volume work ancient music ireland weeklong harper festival originally intended member linen hall library centenary festival held belfast large crowd attended first night concert moved library new premise one city larger hall first ulster branch gaelic league formed east belfast active patronage left become church ireland lord bishop ossory rev john baptiste crozier presidency parishioner dr john st clair boyd unionist marked renewal interest irish study among educated middle class briefly straddled city sectarian divide group called reclaim enlightenment based belfast joined number group bring th anniversary festival