Patrick Ball

Patrick Ball is a California-born Celtic harper, storyteller, and spoken-word performer known for reviving music associated with the Irish wire-strung harp.

Patrick Ball is a California-born Celtic harper, storyteller, and spoken-word performer who revived the wire-strung harp tradition and performs theatrical shows blending music and narrative.

Who is Patrick Ball

Born in San Francisco on March 27, 1950, Ball grew up in California before studying music, history, and Irish culture. He became known as a leading interpreter of composer Turlough O'Carolan's works, playing a wire-strung Celtic harp. He now lives in County Clare, Ireland.

Why it matters

Ball's work helped revive interest in the wire-strung harp, a key part of Ireland's musical heritage. His concert format—mixing music with spoken narration and historical context—brought traditional material to wider audiences in the US, UK, Ireland, and Canada.

Key details

Ball has released nine instrumental albums and five spoken-word albums, with total sales over half a million copies. He has also written and performed three solo musical-theatre pieces. He continues to tour extensively, including in Canada.