Presented by Dun Uladh. Free Admission.

Lecture / Recital with Conor Caldwell

Edward Bunting began his career as a music collector in 1792 at the Belfast Harpers’ Assembly in Belfast. This monumental event, in which harpers came together in an attempt to revive the ancient Gaelic music tradition, took place in Waring Street and was organised by individuals who wold later form the Society of United Irishmen. Bunting transcribed the music form this meeting and subsequently collected music from every corner of the country, the first large-scale traditional music collection known in Europe.

This illustrated talk highlights examples from the Edward Bunting collection which are found in the contemporary repertoire of Irish musicians. Tunes have been reborn, recast, and remade in the time since Bunting’s publication, while a small number remain virtually untouched.