alannah thornburgh

Alannah Thornburgh is an award-winning instrumentalist and composer from the wild west of Ireland with a focus on traditional Irish harp. Alannah’s music explores her family heritage, reimagining melodies from the Irish harping and American folk & jazz traditions. This cross-genre interaction and juxtaposition of old melodies with contemporary harmonies and technique is interwoven throughout her music, described as being ‘unforced, fluid and utterly at home in her own sound’ (The Irish Times).

In February 2025, Alannah released her debut album ‘Shapeshifter’ - a collection of compositions inspired by fairy folklore & mythology in rural Ireland (“Sublime debut from Mayo composer” 9/10 - Hot Press). Alannah was awarded ‘Best Folk Instrumentalist’ at the 2025 RTÉ Folk Awards and she is the current Musician-In-Residence at Carnegie Library, Fingal County Council/Music Network.

Alannah featured on an RTÉ 1 Documentary ‘A Note for Nature’ in collaboration with the RTÉ Concert Orchestra, performing her interpretation of a Conor Walsh composition ‘One Swallow’. Her compositions have featured on RTÉ Raidió na Gaeltachta podcast series ‘Scéalta’ and RTÉ Radio Play ‘Clarity At Last’. In 2024, Alannah was awarded the Mayo Artist Bursary, the Harp Ireland Tyrone Guthrie Centre Residency and the Music Network Lullaby Residency. Alannah is also a recipient of the Arts Council’s Next Generation Award 21/22. 

Alannah is a founding member of Alfi, a trio who combine traditional Irish and Appalachian music and song, winners of the 2020 US Embassy Creative Minds Award. Alfi released their debut album ‘Say Old Man’ in July 2023 to great critical acclaim - ‘the album captures the organic, full-bodied spirit of their live shows, as well as the distinctive personalities of the players – and marks Alfi as a vital force in Ireland’s ever-diversifying folk scene’ (Hot Press). Alannah is currently working on album number 2 with Alfi, due for release in 2026.

Alannah has also collaborated and recorded with an array of artists including Brían Mac Gloinn (Ye Vagabonds), Loah, Anna Mieke, Laura Quirke & Lemoncello, Lorcan Byrne, Conor Cunningham, Brigid Mae Power, Cathy Jordan, Ruth Clinton (Landless, Poor Creature), Colm Mac Con Iomaire, Shamrock Showband, Aoife Kelly & Jiggy, David Keenan, Grammy-nominee Tristan Scroggins, Niamh Bury, Aoife Scott, Gareth Quinn Redmond, Jamie Duffy & Varo. 

"…unforced, fluid and utterly at home in her own sound." - Irish Times

‘…awe inspiringly adept…‘ - The Bluegrass Situation

‘…a virtuoso…’ - The Lonely Highway