Quite an experience hiking up Carrauntoohil only to be rewarded with a harp concert at the top.

Our hiking group of the day went up the Devil’s Ladder route – a lovely struggle for everyone involved. All hikers got there eventually, and at the top, we were presented with a partially clouded view from Ireland’s highest point. Peculiarly, another group of hikers were carefully carrying a case with something precious inside. As they unpacked the valuable content, it turned out to be a harp!

While they set the stage for the performance, everyone else ploughed their butt cheeks on the Old Red Sandstone-rocks. Not a soul spoke as the harpist started performing, and the wind miraculously calmed to allow for optimal transmission of the otherworldly tunes.

The harp-carrying group would eventually go on and do the same up Kilimanjaro. There’s a nice story there about raising funds for Cystic Fibrosis Ireland which you can check out for yourself.

Unreal!