The Irish Harp is the unofficial national symbol of Ireland. Authentic Irish harps are made from one solid piece of wood and have a very unique sound.
Historically harpists provided entertainment at the royal court. Consequently, harp music was closely tied to Ireland’s national identity so much so that invaders banned harp music in an effort to keep resistance to a minimum. That ban and the resistance to that ban is probably the reason behind the esteem the harp is held in Ireland. It is clearly a symbol of Irish pride and heritage.
Today harp music is ever present at weddings and other special occasions. Harp decorations adore jewelry, clothing, and so forth. There are also some very good harpists around who have made their music (both traditional and contemporary) available on CDs. Harp themed jewelry is very popular for obvious reasons.
