A magical story: Priceless 200-year-old Irish harp found in garbage...

...and finds a home with one of the few people who would cherish it

The Brian Boru harp is featured on the Republic's Presidential flag, state seals, uniforms, and even bottles of Ireland's most-famous drink: Guinness (which also brews the popular Harp). The same Brian Boru harp design was also the inspiration for the gold emblem on the green flag that rebels flew in the ill-fated Easter Rising of 1916.

The harp has also been emblazoned on Irish coinage -- all the way from the from the Middle Ages to the current Irish euro coins. And even relatively new organizations use the harp as a logo, but often redesigned to reflect a theme relevant to their organization. The Irish airline Ryanair uses a modified harp, somewhat in the form of an angel taking flight,

The 20th century has seen a great resurgence of popularity for the Irish harp. Thanks to traditional musicians such as Derek Bell of the

Chieftains, Celtic harps are returning to the fore. No longer just an ancient symbol of Ireland or museum collectible, Celtic harps find their music rising heavenward once again, raising the spirit of Ireland.

Today, almost all Irish harps played in "seisiuns" around the world are in the Egan style, and almost all young harpists in Ireland and
Britain play "descendants" of the Egan harp.

There are only 70 surviving authentic Egan Irish harps in the world today, and just five, including Otway’s, are privately owned.

Nancy Hurrier, a leading authority on Egan harps, told Otway his Egan was crafted between 1813 and 1820, making it one of the oldest of its kind.

So, how did this rare Irish treasure end up in a dumpster?

After conducting some research, Otway discovered that the building's previous owner had unsuccessfully tried to sell the instrument in her

shop. When she lost her lease on the building, she dumped all her unsold merchandise into the trash.

Otway says the harp is in great shape for its age, and has probably not been played for at least 100 years. “The soundboard is in great condition, which determines whether an antique instrument can be restored to playing condition,” he says.

In October, the Irish musician plans to take his rare find to Britain, where experts will “balance aesthetic conservation with restoration.” The process is expected to take several years, after which Otway will bring the Egan back to New York.

“Harps like these really belong to the community,” Otway says. “I want to make sure it is played, and has a life.”

Otway plans to hold an annual concert – featuring music on the Egan – that will benefit charitable causes.

“It will be a magnet for great musicians who’d love the opportunity to play it publicly,” Otway says of his new treasure.

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Nster.com