Derbyshire Harp Ensemble Tour dates
for 2012
30th March - 2nd April 2012
Itinerary and times to be confirmed - 30 places available with
Glovers Coaches.
Derbyshire Harp Ensemble Ireland Trip, April 2011
Derbyshire Harp Ensemble have enjoyed a fantastic four days in Ireland. After a long coach journey from Kirk Langley to Holyhead – stopping on the way at Snugbury’s for a delicious breakfast of damson and sloe gin ice cream! – we took the ferry over to Dublin, where we stayed the night in a lovely central hostel. In the evening we had free time, but many of us made the most of Helen’s local knowledge, who took us to a wonderful little Italian restaurant, which had delicious food and extremely welcoming and accommodating staff.
Saturday morning was a bright and early start (alarms were set for 05:30) and we went straight off to Belfast, where the harpists gave a workshop. Even our youngest (8 years) had a go at teaching, and the session was thoroughly enjoyed by all. After this, our trusty coach driver Alan whisked us away to Portstewart for a concert in which we performed joint with another group – this made a total of 20 harpists!! A wonderful sight and sound.
The next day started with breakfast at the Carrick-a-Rede rope bridge, which almost everyone had the courage to cross, and even have a little bounce along the way! From scenes of natural beauty, we went on to scenes of man made wonder; that is to say a tour of Bushmill’s whiskey distillery. We highly recommend the tour, not least because of the free samples you receive along the way! The fun didn’t stop there, however, and where better to top of a day of touristing in the Emerald Isle but at the Giant’s Causeway.
A highlight of the trip for many, and thoroughly enjoyed by all ages, this phenomenon of natural beauty truly deserves its reputation as the eighth wonder of the world. We then enjoyed a hearty three course meal at the Giant’s Causeway Hotel (‘giant’ being an accurate description of the portion sizes!) and then spent our evening playing harps and supping Guinness in the local pub. On the day of our return, we squeezed in a last spot of touristing at the historical Battle of the Boyne Visitor’s Centre, where we all came away knowing something we didn’t know before, and then we sped onwards to the ferry.
A magnificent memorable trip of harps, Guinness, sunsets over the Irish Sea, snoring (choose your room mates wisely!), sheep, stew and whiskey, everyone is looking forward to a return visit. Eireann go braugh!
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