Latest news with #BelfastHarpFestival
Yahoo
23-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Council considers purchasing historic Assembly Rooms
The historic Assembly Rooms in Belfast may soon be taken out of private ownership and bought by Belfast City Council. A potential deal is being considered that could pave the way for the restoration of the derelict building, which dates back to the 18th Century. It was the site of the famous Belfast Harp Festival in 1792, which led to the preservation of the ancient tradition of Irish harping. Details of the proposed deal are confidential. The matter was discussed behind closed doors at a city council committee meeting on Friday. Councillors are expected to meet again within the next seven days, and if it is agreed to make a formal bid for the Assembly Rooms, the move will need approval from the full council on 2 June. The historic building belongs to Castlebrooke Investments, which is behind the delayed Tribeca development in Belfast's city centre. Built in 1769, the Assembly Rooms are at the corner of North Street and Waring Street. In spite of the building's historical and cultural significance, it has fallen out of use in the past two decades. The Assembly Rooms has been placed on a list of global 'at risk' heritage sites by the World Monuments Fund. The leader of the Alliance Party group at City Hall, Michael Long, said final details have yet to be worked out but he was "really hopeful" a deal could be done. "The reality is that we now have an opportunity to take hold of the building, which is of great historic significance in Belfast. "This will help to regenerate and revitalise this particular area of the city, which has suffered in recent years. "So many buildings have been lost in Belfast, this is an opportunity to save this really important building." Green Party councillor Áine Groogan said she too is hopeful a deal can be done. "There have been countless political discussions about this over the last number of years. I think there now seems to be a general political willingness and acknowledgement that this is important. "The Assembly Rooms is a building that has massive cultural and historical significance for this city but it also has massive economic and regeneration potential. "We have large parts of our city centre just sitting there derelict and really needing proper investment and that's what I see this as." BBC News NI approached Castlebrooke Investments about the possible sale of the Assembly Rooms. The company made no comment. Belfast's Assembly Rooms on global list of 'at risk' heritage sites 'Give Belfast's Assembly Rooms to the people' Are NI's historic buildings deteriorating?
Yahoo
23-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Council considers purchasing historic Assembly Rooms
The historic Assembly Rooms in Belfast may soon be taken out of private ownership and bought by Belfast City Council. A potential deal is being considered that could pave the way for the restoration of the derelict building, which dates back to the 18th Century. It was the site of the famous Belfast Harp Festival in 1792, which led to the preservation of the ancient tradition of Irish harping. Details of the proposed deal are confidential. The matter was discussed behind closed doors at a city council committee meeting on Friday. Councillors are expected to meet again within the next seven days, and if it is agreed to make a formal bid for the Assembly Rooms, the move will need approval from the full council on 2 June. The historic building belongs to Castlebrooke Investments, which is behind the delayed Tribeca development in Belfast's city centre. Built in 1769, the Assembly Rooms are at the corner of North Street and Waring Street. In spite of the building's historical and cultural significance, it has fallen out of use in the past two decades. The Assembly Rooms has been placed on a list of global 'at risk' heritage sites by the World Monuments Fund. The leader of the Alliance Party group at City Hall, Michael Long, said final details have yet to be worked out but he was "really hopeful" a deal could be done. "The reality is that we now have an opportunity to take hold of the building, which is of great historic significance in Belfast. "This will help to regenerate and revitalise this particular area of the city, which has suffered in recent years. "So many buildings have been lost in Belfast, this is an opportunity to save this really important building." Green Party councillor Áine Groogan said she too is hopeful a deal can be done. "There have been countless political discussions about this over the last number of years. I think there now seems to be a general political willingness and acknowledgement that this is important. "The Assembly Rooms is a building that has massive cultural and historical significance for this city but it also has massive economic and regeneration potential. "We have large parts of our city centre just sitting there derelict and really needing proper investment and that's what I see this as." BBC News NI approached Castlebrooke Investments about the possible sale of the Assembly Rooms. The company made no comment. Belfast's Assembly Rooms on global list of 'at risk' heritage sites 'Give Belfast's Assembly Rooms to the people' Are NI's historic buildings deteriorating?
Irish Independent
12-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Irish Independent
First ever harp summer school will honour historic North Kerry musician who played for Earl of Antrim
The summer school has been setup to honour distinguished North Kerry harper and composer, Cornelius Lyons, who left a legacy which had a big impact on the Irish harp tradition when he died in 1750. Cornelius Lyons became the household harper for the Earl of Antrim and created celebrated variations of airs including Eileen A Roon and The Cooilin. Many of his tunes were collected by Edward Bunting at the Belfast Harp Festival of 1792. The North Kerry harpist's only surviving original composition is Miss Hamilton, which was composed in the very early 1700s. His early musical foundation likely grew from the historic Rattoo Harp School, an 18th-century centre of harp learning in Kerry. During a time when Gaelic culture was under pressure, Rattoo became a centre where traditional harp techniques and repertoire were passed to new generations. Janet Harbison, a multi-award-winning Irish harper and educator, will lead the summer school in Finuge. Ms Harbison founded the Grammy award-winning Belfast Harp Orchestra, and is directing the Irish Harp Centre in Limerick. She works as visiting professor of music at Ulster University and as an Irish Research Council Scholar at the Dublin Conservatoire (TUD). The summer school will offer a programme of masterclasses, ensemble workshops and talks aimed at beginner and intermediate harpers. Participants will explore historical repertoire, improvisation, and ensemble skills, with personalised attention guaranteed through limited class sizes. Other cultural activities are also planned to connect attendees to North Kerry's living heritage. Teach Siamsa said the inaugural summer school marks the beginning of a revival of the 18th-century Rattoo Harp School spirit. ADVERTISEMENT Learn more With the support of Harp Ireland and growing collaboration with Antrim harpists – honouring Lyons' Ulster connection – the school aspires to become an annual festival celebrating Ireland's harp tradition. Organiser of the school, Dr Susan Motherway, said Teach Siamsa is thrilled to reconnect North Kerry with its extraordinary harping heritage. 'Through Janet Harbison's artistic leadership, we hope to inspire a new generation of harpers, honouring both Cornelius Lyons and the musical legacy nurtured at Rattoo,' Dr Motherway said. The Cornelius Lyons Harp Summer School will take place from June 20 to June 22. There will be a fee of €120 per student. Bookings are open and places are limited. Those interested in registering or finding out more information can contact teachsiamsafinuge@ or phone 0876302978.
