Turlough O'Carolan was a blind Celtic harper, composer and singer in Ireland whose great fame is due to his gift for melodic composition.
Turlough O'Carolan
Carolan's memorial in St Patrick's Cathedral was the gift of Sydney, Lady Morgan.
The Celtic harp is a triangular frame harp traditional to the Celtic nations of northwest Europe. It is known as cláirseach in Irish, clàrsach in Scottish Gaelic, telenn in Breton and telyn in Welsh. In Ireland and Scotland, it was a wire-strung instrument requiring great skill and long practice to play, and was associated with the Gaelic ruling class. It appears on Irish coins, Guinness products, and the coat of arms of the Republic of Ireland, Montserrat, Canada and the United Kingdom.
'Brian Boru's harp' (Cláirseach Brian Bóramha) on display in the Library of Trinity College Dublin
Harpist on the Shrine of St Patrick's Tooth, 14th century
1805 Irish penny depicting an Irish harp, long used as a national symbol.
The medieval 'Queen Mary harp' (Clàrsach na Banrìgh Màiri) preserved in the National Museum of Scotland, Edinburgh