A recent addition to Dublin’s low-rise skyline and spanning the Irish capital’s River Liffey, the harp-like silhouette of Santiago Caletrava’s Samuel Beckett Bridge is a technical marvel bordering in Celtic Kitsch. These qualities attracted me and my camera – even to the point of doing long picture exposures on cold snowy nights. It’s paid off, with several of my images of the bridge now being used by Ireland’s national broadcaster, RTE, for a Lyric FM CD compilation of Irish harp music.
From the RTE website:
Ireland is the only country in the world with a musical instrument as its national emblem. The symbol of the harp is everywhere: on our coins, passports, tax demands and even on the pint glass. It is probably one of our most enduring and recognisable images and today there are more professional harpers and students of our national instrument than ever before.
Masters of the Irish Harp (produced in association with Cairde na Cruite) is the latest release from RTÉ lyric fm and it celebrates the virtuosity of sixteen of our leading harpers playing music ranging from solo harp tunes collected at the Belfast Harp Festival in 1792 right up to compositions created in the twenty-first century for harp, trumpet and guitar.
Here’s the album sleeve, and parts of the inner booklet. Thanks to Eoin Brady for sharing these with me, and for choosing to work with me on this project.
Here’s more images of the bridge:
Samuel Beckett Bridge, Dublin – Images by Dave Walsh