Patricia Daly's Channel

A POWERFUL ADVOCATE FOR THE HARP

If the last 40 years have seen a great revival in the popularity of the traditional Irish harp as Ireland’s national instrument, Patricia Daly is acknowledged today as having been at the forefront of that revival. She has inspired and touched many people through her passion for harp music, its heritage, and playing technique.

In September 1996, it was Patricia who founded the Armagh Harpers’ Association, whose primary aim is to promote awareness and appreciation of the Irish Harp. Through her commitment and passion for traditional Irish music, she continues to develop and implement different teaching projects in local schools, clubs, and festivals, where she teaches and coaches effectively. It was in this context that Sounding Strings Magazine declared: “The harp is truly alive in Armagh and its surrounding area due to the tremendous dedication of Patricia Daly.”

It was Patricia who also provided the inspiration (and the hard work) for the initiation of the ever more popular annual Edward Bunting Harp Festival in Armagh. One of the highlights of the 2008 festival was a visit from TG4 to televise a solo harp recital given by Mary O’Neill, and to interview Patricia on the importance of the festival, the life and times of Edward Bunting, the technique and life style of the old harpers of the Gael.

APPLAUDED BY THE EXPERTS

Her efforts and talent have not gone unnoticed in the high places of Irish traditional music. Composer and broadcaster Micheál Ó Súilleabháin, founder of the Irish World Music Centre at the University of Limerick and one of Ireland’s best known musicians, praises Patricia as one who is “...reaching back through history and allowing her musical vision to find voice.”

Irish Music Magazine called her “one of Ireland’s most formidable harpers.” And her acclaimed and widely used tutoring manual, The Irish Harp & Song Book (2000), presenting her course of coaching for would-be harpers young and old, carries on its front cover the endorsement of no less a musical giant than Derek Bell, late harpist with the Chieftains.

CHARITY WORK

Recently Patricia joined musicians and artists of many different nationalities from all over Northern Ireland to create a unique and inspiring CD to help raise funds for UNIFEM, the United Nations Development Fund for Women. Proceeds from the concert tickets and CD sales brought in £3700 for the “Say NO to Violence against Women” campaign.

PERFORMING... AND HELPING OTHERS TO PERFORM

Patricia’s performances have taken her to countries as diverse as Israel, Bulgaria, Scotland, Wales, Austria and France, on top of numerous workshops and recitals given at home. Her music can be heard regularly on various radio and TV programmes. She provides a warm and gracious musical ambience for many a corporate and private function all over Ireland.

A successful local teacher, she can peel back many layers within a pupil until she reaches through to their creative core. The result? confident, steady progress. The proof? her pupils are achieving recognition both locally and abroad for their competent playing style, and many of them are now professionals in their own right, performing, recording, composing and teaching.

Her early, largely instrumental albums - The Last Session (1987), Harping Daly (1998), The Rolling Wave (2004), and Inner Calm Wants for Nothing (2006) – alongside her latest vocal album “The Spanish Lady”, are currently available for sale.

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