The New Ceili 34 Harp

This new Ceili harp (pronounced Kaylee) got the Janet Harbison "Seal of Approval" (or should I say Ceil of Approval!) at the Southeastern Harp Conference held in North Carolina 2008!

Maeve Gilchrist and her new Ceili harp:

Hear Maeve play on her Ceili harp: The Ostinato Project

with Jordan Tice and Mariel Vandersteel

The Maeve Gilchrist Trio

Also see the Clare

• Semi Staved Back See and hear our newest harp model 
  
• Binding
• Taller Feet
• The Black Pearl
• Ceili Endorsements

The Ceili (pronounced Kay-lee) 34 Harp is the newest addition to the Thormahlen harp family. It was designed with the traditional Irish player in mind. This harp features low string tension from low C to high A and a slightly narrower spacing than our other harps. It is strung with fluorocarbon strings for a bright sound, levered with Camac levers, comes with a case, a tuning key and a five year warranty. Weighing in at about 18 lbs, it is small, light and easy to carry. The Ceili 34 is made with the same loving care that goes into all our Thormahlen Harps.

Amber, Chestnut, Walnut, Indigo and Black Ceili
(not shown is the natural blond which is no stain, but you can see it on the Serenade page.)

The Ceili soundbox is built out of Okume laminate like our Serenade with either a flat back like the harp on the right (in the picture) or a semi staved back ($200) like the harp on the left.

The neck is maple pin block with a gentle curve and the pillar is mahognay also with a gentle curve making it very compact. It weighs 18 lbs. Base Price: $4095.

As the Clare this harp is constructed like the Cygnet with a full staved back and a solid wood choice of  Cherry, Maple, Walnut, Mahogany, Koa, Rosewood or Bubinga. The neck is maple pin block sandwiched between the solid wood. Price: $5995. Please click the link for pictures and more information on the Clare.

Another way to make your Ceili beautiful and unique is with the 2-toned harp. Here are some pictures of some possible configurations: On the left: Walnut Ceili with a Chestnut soundboard, maple binding and top block.
On the right a Chestnut with a natural blond soundboard, maple binding and top block with bubinga trim around the soundboard. It is $400 to do this kind of detail.

Also check out the Black Koa Ceili for another unique treatment of this harp!

In the photo on the left side of this page, you can see the basic Ceili, (on the left side of the photo), with a flat back and no binding. On the right (in the same photo) you see a Ceili with front maple binding and top block ($300) and a semi staved back ($200). On a flat back harp, you can get maple binding down the front and the back ($500). To see more about binding click on the link.

The harp is fully levered with Camac levers and, of course, comes with a case and a tuning key.

On the right is Annalee Foster who originally came to us with the idea for a Thormahlen Irish style harp. She has worked with us closely over the last year and has just won the 2010 All Ireland Harp Championship on her Koa Ceili-Mor. We are so proud of her! We have also worked with Janet Harbison, Grainne Hambly and William Jackson on honing in the details for a fantastic Ceili harp.

Hear Annalee play her Chestnut Ceili and her Koa Ceili-Mor with the links below:

Falling Slowly (from the movie Once)

Eleanor Plunkett

The Three Sea Captains

The Man from Newry McQueen's Hornpipe

Love Take Hold
is a U-tube video of Annalee playing her Ceili-Mor with the band Bryan Free and the Doxyhaunts

Some Decorated Ceilis:

A Semi Staved Amber Ceili with maple binding down the front, a triple "single vine" inlay on the pillar and a side "squiggle".

Inlays on a stained harp need to be very simple. The inlay above is not simple, and we have decided not to do this intricate of an inlay on the stained harps. Here is a page that shows the inlays that we will do.

Below are the specifications on the Ceili:

The height at the pillar from the floor to the tip of the pillar is 51" (shorter feet can take it down an inch and taller feet can bring it up 2 more inches)
The very top of the shoulder including the top block is 46"
The top of the soundbox is 44"
The widest part from the pillar to the back of the soundbox is 25"
The width of the top of the soundbox is 3"
The width at the bottom of the soundbox is 13 1/2"
The widest part of the soundbox at the bottom is 6 1/2" deep

This new Ceili harp got the Janet Harbison "Seal of Approval" (or should I say Ceil of Approval!) at the Southeastern Harp Conference held in October 2008 in NC!

Thanks for taking a look at our new Ceili harp!

Serenade

Swan/Cygnet

The Clare

models

Endorsements for the Ceili and the Clare