Subscribe now

Harpist Will Present Tale Of Historic Irish Bard

William Berry Correspondent

Turlough O’Carolan was the most famous of Ireland’s traveling musicians. He was a blind harpist and composer at the turn of the 18th century who is recognized as the last of the Irish bards. Storyteller and musician Patrick Ball has captured his life and times in a one-man performance.

Ball plays the traditional brass-strung harp, which has a brilliant and clear tone. He has recorded seven albums of Celtic music on the rare instrument.

Of equal importance, however, is his talent as a storyteller and actor. He has recorded a couple of spoken-word discs as well, including “Finnegan’s Wake” in 1997.

Ball has created, with the help of playwright Peter Glazer, a telling of the story of Turlough O’Carolan. It is told from the point of view of Carolan’s friend and traveling companion, Charles MacCabe, who was also a poet and harpist. It is the tale of the end of an era of the bards in Ireland in which the old Gaelic ways were shattered by the English.

Turlough O’Carolan was born in 1670 to a poor farmer and at the age of 18 was left totally blind by smallpox. A wealthy family provided him three years of instruction on the harp, after which he spent the rest of his life, through 1738, traveling throughout Ireland, staying in the houses of the gentry and composing for them.

In the land of song, Carolan is Ireland’s most celebrated musician; his image still graces the Irish 50-pound note. And the harp is the national symbol of the Irish.

Ball weaves 14 of Carolan’s compositions into the performance. A good harpist, Carolan was considered a great composer. His beautiful melodies are deemed the best of the bardic era.

Ball is a California native who has researched the Irish storytelling tradition and made a career of re-creating the magical role of the Irish bard. His performances are suitable for all ages.

MEMO: This sidebar appeared with the story: Patrick Ball will perform Thursday at The Met and Friday at the Panida Theatre in Sandpoint. Both shows start at 7:30 p.m. Met tickets are $10, available at G&B Select-a-Seat outlets, or call (800) 325-SEAT. Panida tickets are $10 ($7 for students and seniors), available at Java Adagio and Eve’s Leaves in Sandpoint.

This sidebar appeared with the story: Patrick Ball will perform Thursday at The Met and Friday at the Panida Theatre in Sandpoint. Both shows start at 7:30 p.m. Met tickets are $10, available at G&B; Select-a-Seat outlets, or call (800) 325-SEAT. Panida tickets are $10 ($7 for students and seniors), available at Java Adagio and Eve’s Leaves in Sandpoint.