The Otway harp

We do not know when the harp was made. The inscription has been interpreted in the past as stating that the harp was made by Cormac O'Kelly in 1707; Bunting tells us in the early 19th century that the harp was made by Cormac O'Kelly, “about the year 1700”

Joan Rimmer assigns the Otway harp to the 17th century, and R.B. Armstrong puts it in the first half of the 17th century, presumably on the grounds of its low-headed form and its decorative style.

We know that the Otway harp was owned and played by Patrick Quin (1745-post 1809), and it is tempting to see the rebuilding of the instrument evidenced by the mis-set joints, as work done to put a fine antique instrument in playing condition for Quin in the mid 18th century. Or was this work done by Cormac O'Kelly? Did he make a new soundbox for a much older neck and pillar?

References

Simon Chadwick