Laois plays host to Japanese harpists
Dunamase College teachers Chloe Ní Ghealbháin and Emily Lennox; Dunamase College students, Keris Bergin, Gráinne Heffernan, Dáire Ó Loinín, Ryan Cody Dempsey and Gráinne Ní Dhuinn and Rosa Flannery and Siobhan Buckley from Music Generation Laois with visitors at Dunamase College in Portlaoise during the visit of students and teachers from Kinjo Gakuin High School in Nagoya, Japan Photos: Alf Harvey
THIRTY-eight young harpists from Kinjo Gaukin High School in Japan toured Laois on three special dates, from 23-25 March.
Hosted by Music Generation Laois, the group’s itinerary included a stop at Dunamase College, where principal Dympna Kelly, students and staff provided an Irish welcome with a ceilí, Irish language classes, gaelic football and musical performances.
The Kinjo Gaukin High School harp ensemble also performed in Rath National School, Ballybrittas, where Music Generation Laois facilitates a weekly harp programme.
The visit included other special events, such as a ceilí in Laois Music Centre with Maureen Culleton, harp and bodhrán workshops and a visit to Emo Court.
The tour concluded with a harp concert in Laois Music Centre, featuring a collaborative performance by Music Generation Laois junior and senior harp ensembles and the students of Kinjo Gaukin High School.
Special guest Triona Marshall, a noted Laois harpist, also performed, alongside Siobhan Buckley, who leads the Music Generation Laois harp programme. Also in attendance were Aibhlínn McCrann, chairperson of Harp Ireland; Rosaleen Molloy, national director of Music Generation; and Muireann Ní Chonaill, Laois Arts Officer.
In 2023, five harpists from Music Generation Laois, along with their teacher Siobhan Buckley, undertook a ten-day concert tour of Japan. The tour included a collaboration with Kinjo Gaukin High School harp ensemble.
Rosa Flannery, music development officer for Music Generation Laois, said the group is thrilled to continue its partnership with Kinjo Gaukin High School, adding: “Our harpists now have a shared repertoire, which they can perform together, and bringing our young harpists and young harpists from Japan together, along with their teachers, is such an enriching, cultural opportunity.”
She continued: “We are most grateful to all schools, parents, guardians and the wider community and local and national organisations who provided such a warm welcome to our visitors.” Music Generation Laois is part of Music Generation, a national music education programme initiated by Music Network and co-funded by U2, The Ireland Funds and the Department of Education and Youth.
Locally, Music Generation Laois is part of Laois and Offaly Education and Training Board and part of Laois Co Council.
