Gráinne Yeats: a renaissance woman
Join us on National Harp Day to celebrate Gráinne Yeats.
To mark the centenary of the birth of Gráinne Yeats (née Ní Éigeartaigh) and National Harp Day 2025, harpists Mary Louise and Teresa O'Donnell will present an illustrated talk on her life and career as an Irish harper, singer, teacher, arranger, Irish language enthusiast and historian. Daughter-in-law of W.B. Yeats, she played an integral role in the revival and promotion of the Irish harp, in particular, the wire-strung Irish harp in the twentieth century. Her legacy is evident in organisations, such as Cairde na Cruite and in her numerous publications and recordings.
Teresa and Mary Louise O'Donnell are harpists and singers from Dublin who have performed extensively throughout Europe, North America and Asia. They have performed with various ensembles, including the Irish Chamber Orchestra, and are both former musicians in residence with Fingal County Council. Mary Louise works as a musician in various clinical and educational settings, including on the 'Music in Mind' programme (National Concert Hall) and as a Creative Associate (Arts Council of Ireland). She is also the author of several books, including Ireland's Harp: The Shaping of Irish Identity 1770-1880. Teresa is an artist in residence with the Teacher Artist Partnership programme (Department of Education). She is a doctoral student at Mary Immaculate College, Limerick. In 2021, Mary Louise and Teresa released an album of music for the Irish harp by Brian Boydell, entitled Heavenly Harps, Heavenly Cloths- many of these works were premiered by Gráinne Yeats in the 1960s.
If our team can be of any assistance, please contact us on learning@nli.ie.
