Aisling Lyons, multi-award winning musician & composer from County Clare has been described as ‘one of traditional music’s finest musicians’ by Hot Press Magazine & ‘the finest Irish harper at work today’ by Songlines Magazine after the release of her debut album ‘Aistear’. She is the holder of 8 All-Ireland titles & has performed all around the world, from Europe to The U.S, Australia & China. Aisling graduated with a First Class Honours Degree in Irish Music from The University of Limerick in 2018 & with First Class Honours as a Professional Master of Education in 2021. She holds a Grade 8 award with Distinction from the London College of Music & has tutored harp at The Irish World Academy, Limerick & at University College Cork. She is a sought after harp & concertina teacher at various festivals around Ireland and around the world.
Aisling has worked with bands ‘3 on the Bund’, ‘Merfolk’ and ‘Harpanno’. She has been described as ‘one of the rising stars and budding composers of the Irish harp world – rooted in tradition and beautifully inventive’. In 2021, Aisling collaborated with artist Aideen Barry, on ‘Oblivion’ commissioned by Music Network and the Irish Traditional Music Archives & also performed with Tolu Makay on RTÉ’s ‘Ireland in Music’ & for Michael D. Higgins’ 80th Birthday Celebrations on TG4. Aisling’s debut album ‘Aistear’, supported by Clare County Council, was released in 2021 and has been described as ‘an exceptional CD’ (The Living Tradition), ‘a standout record, flawless’ (Hot Press) & ‘excellent’ (Folk Radio UK).
She was nominated in 2 categories at the 2022 RTÉ Radio 1 Folk Awards; for ‘Best Folk Instrumentalist’ and ‘Best Emerging Artist’. Aisling collaborated with Aosdána poet Moya Cannon on a commission received from CÉHI to write a new work which celebrated 180 years since Edward Bunting’s death. Aisling was also involved in a project funded by Creative Ireland and Clare Arts Office in 2023 which saw new compositions for Irish harp and Ukrainian Bandura come to fruition. In 2023, Aisling released new music with ‘Merfolk’ and ‘Harpanno’. She is currently writing for her second harp album. She has toured internationally with different bands and has performed with artists such as Tolu Makay, Clare Sands, Steve Cooney, Mary Bergen, Stephen Shannon, Laois Kelly, RIIT & Elle Marja Eira. Aisling toured with seanachaí Aindrais de Staic in Autumn of 2023-2024. ‘Merfolk’ secured a residency in glór in 2022 which led them to develop their show which premiered later that year in glór.
AWARDS & RESIDENCIES
- All Ireland Champion x 8 (2007-2014)
- RTÉ Radio 1 Folk Awards Nominee in Best Emerging Artist & Best Instrumentalist (2022)
- UL40 Entrance Scholarship (2014)
- Creative Ireland Clare & Glór Residency (2022)
- Commission from Harp Ireland for new work with Moya Cannon (2023)
- Creative Ireland and Clare Arts funded Harp Ireland Events, Ennistymon (2024)
- Clare Arts Supported Residency at The Tyrone Guthrie Centre (2024)
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