Gráinne Yeats
Gráinne Yeats was an Irish harpist and singer, and also a historian of the Irish harp.Biography
She was born as Gráinne Ni hEigeartaigh in Dublin, Ireland, and was raised bilingually in Irish and English. As well as obtaining a degree in history from Trinity College Dublin, she studied piano, voice and harp at the Royal Irish Academy of Music in Dublin and also traditional songs and music from the Irish-speaking areas of Ireland.
She wrote and researched the history and music of the Cláirseach, and she was one of the first professional musicians to revive and record this ancient traditional instrument.
She wrote entries about Turlough O'Carolan and other Irish harpers in the New Grove Dictionary of Music and Musicians.
Gráinne Yeats was married to Michael Yeats, a Fianna Fáil politician and son of the poet W. B. Yeats. They had three daughters: Caitríona, Siobhán and Síle ; and a son, Pádraig.
She died on 18 April 2013.Discs
- The Belfast Harp Festival 1792–1992 Féile Cruitirí Bhéal Feirste: Gael-Linn CEFCD 156.
Books and publications
- "Some Thoughts on Irish Harp Music", Ceol vol. IV, no. 2, p. 37–50.
- Féile na gCruitirí Béal Feirste 1792/The Belfast Harpers Festival 1792.
- "The Rediscovery of Carolan", in Integrating Tradition: The Achievement of Seán O Riada; ed. Bernard Harris & Grattan Freyer, p. 78–94.
- "Lost Chords", Ceol vol. VII, no. 1–2, p. 15–19.
