Westport, Co. Mayo native Laoise Kelly, now living on Achill Island, is regarded as the most significant harper of her generation. She has pioneered a new style of driving instrumental harping showcased in her three critically acclaimed solo albums, Just Harp, Ceis, and Fáilte Uí Cheallaigh. She was director of the Achill International Harp Festival, encompassing her role as musical director of music Suites Sraith Oileán Acla, Mayo-Breton & Ireland Galicia collaborations. Laoise was a founding member of traditional group Bumblebees with whom she recorded two albums and toured extensively, and a founding member of Fiddletree, a group from America, Cape Breton, and Scotland who play eight instruments made from the same tree by Cape Breton luthier Otis Tomas. She has recorded on more than 80 albums with many of Ireland’s foremost artists and tours regularly with different collaborators including award-winning Scottish Gaelic singer Kathleen MacInnes who is performing at the festival this year. Laoise will present a special concert exploring the connections between Louisbourg, Cape Breton and Louisburgh, Ireland as well as playing with The Bumblebees and on her own.