The O’Carolan Harp Festival, Keadue, Co Roscommon running for the 46th time, has commemorated the Harper and Composer Turlough O’Carolan every August since 1978 – with a break of one year in 2003 when the village was representing Ireland in the Entente Florale Europe competition and two Covid-19 Summers in 2020 & 2021 that we are glad are now way in the past.
The final resting place of the last of the Irish Bards overlooks Lough Meelagh just outside the village. His influence through the repertoire he left behind is appreciated nationally and internationally. His music has been drawn upon in all kinds of musical genres – as diverse as National Anthems (The Star Spangled Banner), movie sound tracks and even latterly sampled, and used in advertising.
The annual event is now one of the leading Harp and Traditional Music Festivals in Ireland, especially promoting harp music and the music of O’Carolan. It attracts harpers from Ireland and overseas who attend the Harp School Classes and compete in the International Harp Competitions. Participants have an opportunity to participate in the many traditional music events and sessions throughout the Festival & Summer School. Overseas visitors especially enjoy the relaxed atmosphere in the scenic surrounds of unspoilt north Roscommon.
But for those not taking part in classes, there is still much to do. Organisers have attracted more concerts- with both Kilronan Castle Hotel and the new-look St. Ronan’s Hall in the centre of the village playing host to quality music and song.
A new Concert on Friday night for the 2026 programme features Sonóir, a landmark Harp Ireland commission by acclaimed percussionist and composer Mel Mercier. Following its critically acclaimed premiere at the Royal Irish Academy of Music, this innovative work brings together two Irish harps, bassoon, viola da gamba and traditional percussion in a truly unique musical experience. The same concert also hosts local harpers in a not-to-be-missed event.
This concert and a lecture by Professor Luke Gibbons in Kilronan Castle on Bank Holiday Monday has been identified by Roscommon Co Co Arts Office as part of the county’s contribution to Cultúr 2026: Sharing Ireland’s Culture (an initiative to mark Ireland’s EU Presidency in the second half of 2026)
There is plenty of street entertainment throughout the weekend. Reel Craic make their Keadue debut from the GigRig at The Heritage Park at 4:30pm on Bank Holiday Sunday in an open-air event. They will have followed our parade, led by the Kiltubrid Pipe Band. The parade commences at 3:00pm.
A wreath laying ceremony at O’Carolan’s grave, followed by a lecture in the fabulous Kilronan Castle nearby gets the concluding Monday off to a reflective, educational start.
Music at the Heritage Park begins on Bank Holiday Monday @3pm with the multi-award winning local CCE group, followed by a Free Open Air Concert by David James & Band who glide from one genre of music to another without missing a beat.
The growing phenomenon that is the world famous Door Dancing competition will see all styles of Sean Nos compete for the title of 2026 Door Dancing Champion. The night whizzes by in a packed St. Ronan’s Hall as the young & the young at heart compete for the glory, the fun and the cheers on the door. Music is provided by Liam Purcell and his ever-growing group of friends. Compere will be long-time visitor and friend of the festival Eugene Murphy.
The O’Carolan Summer School features some of the very best tutors in traditional music instruments, set & sean-nos dance & traditional singing. Classes will be hosted throughout the village in Harp, Flute, Tin Whistle, Banjo, Button Accordion, Guitar, Bodhran, Fiddle & Concertina. Set dancing tales place each morning, with Sean-Nos in the afternoons. A Tutor’s Concert on the opening Monday will be another highlight in St. Ronan’s Hall with a look back at yesteryear Festivals as part of the show.
Our harp recital in Kilronan Castle on Wednesday 29th July will feature our own local, award winning and highly accomplished Keadue Harpers from 8:30pm. We are very proud of the heritage of harp playing that the Festival & Summer School has nurtured since it began in 1978 – and this concert will feature a large repertoire of local harp music composed by O’Carolan.
We continue to have competitors travel the globe to compete in the Harvest Flame sponsored O’Carolan International Harp competitions on Saturday 1st August. Indeed, the overall winner of the Open competition last year travelled from Japan to compete. They commence from 1030am and we will be sure to be enthralled again with the very high standard of competition.
Céilithe have always been part of O’Carolan Festivals and this year hosts two Connacht Ceili bands – the local O’Carolan Country Ceili Band & The Pipers Cross Ceili Band from Co Mayo. Dancing will be brisk on Tuesday July 28 and Thursday July 30 – please bring along all your dancing friends for two great nights.
On Sunday night too, St. Ronan’s Hall plays host to Téada, a band with a truly global reach, celebrates 25 years on the road in 2026. Acclaimed for its dynamic and deeply rooted approach to Irish traditional music. Their latest release on Gael Linn features special guest appearances by Hollywood actor and singer John C. Reilly and the late Seamus Begley, one of Ireland’s most beloved
