MUSIC Éadaoin crowned queen of harps

Éadaoin crowned queen of harps


Balla native Éadaoin Ní Mhaicín has scooped a major international award – the Trophee des Harpes Camac – at the Festival Interceltique de Lorient in Brittany in Franc
Lorient is one of the world’s largest Celtic festivals, and over three quarters of a million people attended this year.  The harp competition, among the most prestigious in the world,  has been held in conjunction with the festival for the past number of years. It brings together harpists from all the Celtic nations. Éadaoin is the first person from Ireland to win the trophy.
After winning the competition, Éadaoin then had the honour of opening the large harp concert that evening at the Palais des Congress. She shared the stage with, among others, Moya Ní BhraonΡin of Clannad fame and Cormac de Barra, two of Ireland’s foremost harpists. The competition is sponsored by Camac, a French company that produces harps. Camac presented Éadaoin with a new harp to the value of over €4,000.
Éadaoin, an accomplished musician, has won many awards over the years for traditional music. She features regularly among the winners at Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann and only last week brought home four medals from the All-Ireland Fleadh in Sligo.