Aisling Lyons is an award-winning Irish harpist, concertina player and composer from County Clare, described by Songlines as “the finest Irish harper at work today” and by Hot Press as “one of traditional music’s finest musicians.” Rooted in the Irish traditional and harping traditions, her work combines a deep connection to traditional music with an inventive contemporary approach to composition, collaboration and performance.

​

Her critically acclaimed debut solo album, Aistear (2021), was described as “an exceptional CD” by The Living Tradition, “a standout record, flawless” by Hot Press and “excellent” by Folk Radio UK. In 2026, Aisling released her second solo album, Uaithne, a collection of original music for Irish harp which further establishes her distinctive voice as a composer and performer.

​

Aisling was nominated for Best Folk Instrumentalist and Best Emerging Artist at the 2022 RTÉ Radio 1 Folk Awards. She has performed extensively throughout Ireland and internationally across Europe, the United States, Australia and China, and has worked with artists including Bill Whelan, Moya Cannon, Mick O’Brien, Muireann Nic Amhlaoibh, Tolü Makay, Steve Cooney, Mary Bergin, Laoise Kelly, Clare Sands, Stephen Shannon, RIIT and Elle Márjá Eira.

​

2026 marks an exciting period in Aisling’s career. She appears as a soloist with the National Symphony Orchestra Ireland and premieres new music by Riverdance composer Bill Whelan written for four harps. As part of the National Concert Hall’s Tradition Now festival, she performs in composer Neil Ó Lochlainn’s Immram, a contemporary work which includes the poetry of Nuala Ní Dhomhnaill and brings together influences from Irish traditional and sean-nós music, jazz, improvisation and contemporary classical music.

​

Aisling also embarks on her third year touring with seanchaí Aindrias de Staic’s By the Light of the Silvery Moon, performing harp and concertina alongside de Staic and percussionist Brian Fleming. The touring production combines Irish storytelling, music and live performance, creating a distinctive sonic landscape around de Staic’s contemporary bardic storytelling.

​

A major current collaboration is Bí Liom Bí, a trio with sean-nós dancer, singer and concertina player Becky Ní Éallaithe and uilleann piper and singer Muireann Ní Shé. Drawing on the traditions of Clare, Connemara and Cork, the trio brings together instrumental music, sean-nós song and dance alongside newly composed work, exploring themes of place, the natural world and the feminine voice. Bí Liom Bí embark on their first Irish tour in 2026 (see 'Live Dates' page). 

​

Aisling’s work as a composer and collaborative artist spans traditional, contemporary and interdisciplinary practice. She collaborated with visual artist Aideen Barry on Oblivion, commissioned by Music Network and the Irish Traditional Music Archive, and with Aosdána poet Moya Cannon on a new work commemorating 180 years since the death of Edward Bunting. Her recent work has also included collaborations with Neil Ó Lochlainn, Stephen Shannon and Simon O’Reilly, exploring composition, electronics, ambient sound and the meeting points between traditional music and other art forms.

​

Aisling holds a First Class Honours degree in Irish Music from the University of Limerick and a First Class Honours Professional Master of Education. An experienced educator, she has tutored harp at the Irish World Academy of Music and Dance and University College Cork, and regularly teaches harp and concertina at festivals and music programmes in Ireland and internationally.