A recently installed plaque to Carl Gilbert Hardebeck in the vestibule of Holy Family Church, Limestone Rd. Of German and Welsh extraction, born in London, and blind from an early age, he came to Belfast when he was 24. He learned Irish and began collecting Irish music. Hardebeck believed that if there was music in hell it was the bagpipes!
Eugene Dunphy, who has made a film on Hardebeck, spoke at the unveiling, and the brothers Mac Maoláın, retired priests Breandán and Caoımhín, unveiled the plaque. The unveiling ceremony, including performance of a Hardebeck piece, is documented in the video below. Dunphy is still researching the life of Hardebeck; if you have any information, contact him via his Hardebeck web site. (2016-04 Irish News article)
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Copyright © 2013 Seosamh Mac Coılle
X01195 1869-1945 organist at holy family from 1897 to 1904 at st peter’s west belfast from 1904 to 1919 blind musician collector arranger and composer of irish music became fluent in irish first to adapt the braille system for the irish language born in clerkenwell london died in dublin an ceol, solas sa dorchadas with information supplied by eugene dunphy plaque installed by fr gerry mccloskey and parishioners june 22nd 2013
Extramural Activity 