The Street Harpist

Born in Enniskillen, Co. Fermanagh and raised in Co. Clare, Conni Dawson is a harper, whistle player, song-writer and folk music enthusiast.

Growing up in a musical household Conni has been playing Irish traditional music since she was eight years old. After moving abroad to the Netherlands for a decade she wanted to reconnect with her Irish heritage and for her eighteenth birthday she asked for an Irish harp.

With no teachers at hand she set about teaching herself to play. After returning to Ireland to study she continued to practice, often taking her little harp Eileen out onto the streets of Cork city.

Now Conni is a full-time busker and travels around Ireland and the UK to bring the Irish harp to as many people as she can.

This summer she has set off on a tour of Ireland to visit places referred to in traditional tunes, to connect the music to the locations and at the same time promote the harp as an instrument.

You follow Connie´s lovely project on her website thestreetharpist.com and on social media:

Facebook @thestreetharpist

Twitter @ConniDawson

Video of Tom Clarke´s Trip to Russia, filmed in a field in Aughrim