Keadue

The Lough Meelagh area
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Keadue · Co. Roscommon

Where a blind harper from the 1600s is buried. Every August, the music remembers him.

Keadue is a small village in north Roscommon near Lough Meelagh and the Leitrim border. It exists because of Turlough O'Carolan, a blind harper and composer born in 1670, who died here in 1738 and was buried at Kilronan Abbey, about two kilometres away.

O'Carolan was the last of the Irish bards—a professional musician and composer in a tradition that went back centuries. He went blind from smallpox as a young man but continued composing and performing. Over 200 of his tunes have survived. His music was played at wakes, in houses, in courts. He moved through Irish society at a time when that society was collapsing under English law.

Every August, the O'Carolan Harp Festival returns to Keadue for a week of music, workshops, and summer school. The festival has run since 1978. Musicians come from around the world. It is the village's reason for existing as a destination.

Coords

54.1214° N, 8.4578° W

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Stories & lore.

The reason to come back. The things every local will eventually tell you about, usually after the second pint.

The blind harper, 1670–1738

Turlough O'Carolan

O'Carolan was born in County Meath in 1670. His father was a blacksmith who was invited to work on the Alderford estate near Keadue around 1684. Young Turlough received harp training from a local musician, then lost his sight to smallpox. Blind at a young age, he became one of the finest musicians of his era. He composed over 200 surviving tunes. He died in 1738 and was buried at Kilronan Abbey outside the village. He is the reason Keadue exists on any map.

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Music, by day of the week.

Schedules drift. This is roughly right. The real answer is "ask in the first pub you find."

Festival

O'Carolan Harp Festival — every August, week-long event with concerts, summer school, and daily sessions

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When to go.

There is no bad time. There are different times.

August

Late July–early August

O'Carolan Harp Festival runs for a week (2025: July 28–August 4). Musicians, workshops, trad sessions daily. The village fills with harpers and serious players.

◉ Go

Other months

Sep–Jul

Quiet village the rest of the year. No services during off-season. Best for walking if you do not need restaurants or accommodation.

◐ Mind yourself

Getting there.

By car

From Roscommon town, head north toward Boyle and the Leitrim border. Keadue is about 40 km north. The village is small and easy to miss.

By bus

No direct service to Keadue. Buses may pass through Boyle, then local taxi or hire car.

Next on the tour

Co. Leitrim

Arigna

Leitrim border village, about 10 km north. Mountains and higher altitude walks.

Co. Leitrim

Drumshanbo

Leitrim village on the Shannon, about 25 km north-east. Water activities and more services.