Trinity College Harp

The Trinity College harp is a medieval musical instrument currently displayed in the long room at Trinity College Dublin. It is an early Irish harp or wire strung clairseach. It is dated to the 14th or 15th century and along with the Queen Mary Harp and the Lamont Harp, is one of the only three surviving medieval Gaelic harps.

History

It is uncertain who commissioned the Trinity College harp although structural evidence suggests it was made in the 15th century, and is similar in construction and design to the Queen Mary Clarsach in Scotland. It is likely, however, that the harp was made for a member of an important family, for it is skilfully constructed and intricately ornamented. It is connected to Brian Boru High King of Ireland, though this is romantic and has no providence. There are many theories about the harps ownership through the centuries, none can be substantiated, with no verifiable evidence remaining to indicate the harps original owner, or subsequent owners over the next two to three hundred years. The harp was eventually passed to Henry McMahon, of Co.Clare, and finally to the Rt. Hon. William Conyngham, who presented it to Trinity College in Dublin in 1760.

The Trinity College harp is the national symbol of Ireland, being depicted on national heraldry, Euro coins and Irish currency. An image of this instrument is used as the National Symbol of Ireland as well as a trade marke for Guinness. All three surviving Gaelic harps including the (Lamont and Queen mary Harps) are considered to have been made in Argyll in South-West Scotland sometime in the 14th-15th century. [Keith Sanger and Alison Kinnaird, "Tree of Strings - Crann nan Teud", Kinmor 1992]

Appearance

The harp is of a small Low Headed design with brass pins for 29 strings, longest c.62cm and one extra bass pin added at some point in its playing life. In 1961 the harp was exhibited in London, and it was dismantled and reconstructed by the British Museum, into the shape it has nowadays, closer to an original medieval form.

References

Replicas with gold and silver wire strings are played by harpists Ann Heymann and Siobhán Armstrong. Student replicas are available from the Historical Harp Society of Ireland.

References