Claire Roche

Claire Roche holds a degree in English and History,University College Dublin,a Diploma in Anglo Irish Literature ,Trinity College Dublin and a Masters Degree in Anglo Irish Literature, University College Dublin.

Claire performs with 1 to 3 harps : an 1850's Erard concert harp, a 1998 Paddy Cafferky Irish harp,and a 2017 Camac 'Deborah Henson-Conant Electric Blue Harp.. and when possible with piano.

Repertoire

Claire composes songs for harp, and for piano : these are greatly inspired by her childhood home in Dublin which was once a miniature farm .

She has set some poems by W.B Yeats amd Austin Clarke to music and also performs :

Irish and Gaelic songs, and traditional tunes.

Performances :

398 Weddings Ceremony and/or Reception.

National Concert Hall Dublin :

10 solo recitals evening and lunchtime ( except 2005 when accompanied by harpists Fionnuala Monks and Madeleine Doherty )

The most recent was in June 2018 . Evening of April 21st 2020 had to be cancelled due to Corvid 19.

USA : early 1990's Claire lived in Jacksonville Florida and the highlights of performing were the Florida Folk Festival ( 3 times ) presenting workshops and music, and opening for The Chieftains and The Furey Brothers when they came for one night only, at Florida State Theatre Jacksonville .

2009 to 2012 : 3 tours with 'Woodland Bard 'John Willmott to promote their Co.Sligo cottage where visiting groups walk the tree labyrinths, hear John's stories of myths and legends, and hear Claire's work.
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In 2012 John and Claire visited 22 states giving 27 concerts .. mostly house concerts, small theatres and churches.

Australia :

Claire returned for her 9th tour including New Zealand in 2008 : Irish Clubs, National Trust Houses and House Concerts.

live radio performances were a great joy in the USA and Australia .. also In Ireland in 2018.

Recordings
Dancing In The Wind : poems by W.B Yeats set to music by Claire, performed with harp accompaniment.
1998
Out Of The Ordinary ; original songs with harp.
The Lilt Of The Banshee. Celtic music and song 2000.
An Irish Wedding Ceremony 2000.
Songs From The Harp Room approx 2013
From Then To The Here And Now 2018 :.Double CD .Harp and piano songs composed from 1971 to 2017.

2019 ; performing for 'Innisfree Music Tours', hosting tour groups to Carrowcrory Cottage Co.Sligo,
2020 dates arranged for the above, and National Concert Hall Dublin , now cancelled.