Lake Project - Goltraí Shíle

Goltraí Shíle  was composed by Barry O'Reilly as part of the Lough Sheelin Project in 2026. The piece is composed on an Irish Wire Strung harp made by Barry and Arthur O'Reilly, after the extant harp in The Long Room of Trinity College, believed to be ove3r 700 years old.

This recording was done on the lakeshore at Ross Castle, with the lake to be heard in the background with Barry tuning the harp to pitch and playing through variations of the piece. 

Goltraí was one of the three Noble Strains of music in early Irish mythology meaning sorrowful or lamenting music.

Síle - In local folklore, a story tells of Síle, a young woman who after forgetting to close the well after drawing water from it, caused a flood of water that followed her to Granard where she was killed to cease the flood from going any further.

"I think this story of how the lake got it's name was always fascinating to me and whilst it is a sad story, the piece isn't a lament for the lake but more a reflection -  Lough Sheelin has memories of happiness, sorrow, peace, tranquility, loss and more for so many people and to sit by the lake and play this ancient instrument that has always had a home on it is a beautiful way to stop and take the lake in for all it has to offer"