Harp model Ceirnín
€1,300.00
A portable full-sounded travel harp Model “ Ceirnín”
A harp of the ancient Irish type, strung in brass/bronze and silver. 20 strings, two melodic octaves ending with caomluighe in g and three basses in D C and cronan G.
Suitable for beginners, students, travel, whenever there is a need for a very portable but full sounded instrument. Hollowed out soundbox, tenon mortise frame assembled in the old way, without gluing. Back of soundbox glued. Handmade horse-shoes, and cheek bands.
“Ceirnín” Portable Gaelic Wirestrung Harp
Old Irish Ceirnín is a word for “a clerical portable harp” according to E. Bunting
The Ceirnín is a cláirseach, a Gaelic wire-strung harp that follows the traditions of early Irish and Scottish harps. Unlike gut- or nylon-strung harps, the cláirseach’s metal strings produce a bell-like resonance, sustaining each note long after it is plucked. For a clear sound, it is traditionally played with fingernails, though many players also use their fingertips.
The Gaelic harps that have survived to the present day are relatively large instruments with a resonant voice suited for grand spaces. A 20-string wire-strung harp offers a balance between portability and musical range, making it practical for both learning and travel. While more compact than historical models, it retains the characteristic sustain and tonal qualities of traditional cláirseachs, allowing players to explore the instrument in a more accessible format.
With its 20 brass/bronze and silver strings, it provides two melodic octaves, ending with the caomluighe (sisters) G in the bass, accompanied by four rich bass notes in E, D, C, and the cronán (drone bass) G. One of the “sisters” can also be tuned from G to F, allowing a range from cronán G up to g, spanning two and a half octaves.
The bass strings of the Ceirnín are made from a special silver alloy containing 5% gold. The added weight and elasticity in the silver strings enhance sustain and projection, giving the small instrument remarkable depth in the bass register.
Ceirnín follows historical construction methods, featuring a hollowed-out soundbox with a neck and pillar joined using precise wooden joints. The harp is assembled without glue, relying on the tension of the strings to pull the structure tightly together. This glue-free design enhances the instrument’s longevity, allowing the frame to gradually adjust to string tension over decades or even centuries. The harp also features brass horseshoe-shaped string shoes that support the strings at the belly end, while brass cheek bands on the neck serve as an exoskeleton, providing both strength and controlled flexibility.
The instrument comes with a tuning wrench and enough brass/bronze wire in each gauge to replace all brass/bronze strings once. Silver strings with 5% gold content are sold separately upon request. I offer a 10-year warranty on the frame and construction, but shipping costs during the warranty period are not covered. A maintenance and care booklet, including tuning instructions and notes for some tunes, is included with the purchase.
