The Celtic harp is a triangular harp traditional to Brittany, Ireland, Scotland and Wales. In Ireland and Scotland it was a wire-strung instrument requiring great skill and long practice to play, and was associated with the Gaelic ruling class. In the Republic of Ireland, it appears on the coins and coat of arms. A characteristic feature if the celtic harp is the metal strings. Historical sources mention various types of wire, including brass and iron. It has been suggested that gold and silver strings were sometimes also used. The wires are attached to a massive sound box typically carved from a single log, commonly of willow, although other woods including alder and poplar have been used in antique harps. This harp also had a reinforced curved pillar and a substantial neck, flanked with thick brass cheek bands. The strings, usually played with the fingernails, produced a brilliant ringing sound.
