Next time you’re at Sacred Heart Cathedral, make sure to take in the new Irish Harp statue, recently gifted by the Central Victorian Irish Association. On the High Street side of the Cathedral, the harp sits proudly atop a granite stone block that once formed part of the altar at the former St Mary’s Church in Golden Square. It’s a quietly eloquent symbol of the Irish migrants whose faith, culture and labour helped build the Church in Sandhurst.

The Irish harp, or cláirseach (pronounced KLAH-r-shukh), is the national emblem of Ireland. Long before it appeared on passports and coins, it belonged to a sacred world of memory and meaning. In Gaelic society, harpers were honoured as custodians of story and soul; their music binding community, history and belief.

For Irish Catholics, the harp also carries the weight of endurance. When colonial rule sought to suppress Irish language, culture and faith, harpers and their instruments were targeted, an attempt to silence the spirit of a people. Yet the harp survived and was reclaimed as a sign of hope and defiance, “new strung” and heard again. Its familiar form, shaped by the historic harp preserved at Trinity College Dublin, remains the model for Ireland’s official seal today.

Set within the Cathedral grounds, the harp speaks to this Diocese’s own foundations. In the late 19th century, Irish priests, religious and lay people crossed oceans to serve growing communities across Sandhurst. They built churches and schools, celebrated the sacraments, and carried faith into goldfields towns and rural parishes alike. Their legacy endures not only in stone and timber, but in the lives and communities that followed.

Today, the Irish may no longer be a dominant migrant group, yet Irish blood runs quietly through many veins across the Diocese. This harp stands as a reminder of those forebears, of culture kept alive, faith handed on, and a people who helped shape the Church we inherit. Silent, dignified and enduring, it continues to speak; a meaningful way for the Central Victorian Irish Association (CVIA) to preserve the Irish heritage of our region and promote Irish culture.

If you’re interested in Irish culture, particularly music and dance, keep your eye out for the CVIA St Patrick’s Day Concert. You don’t need to be part of Australia’s large Irish diaspora to celebrate St Patrick’s Day or appreciate the incredible richness of Irish musical and literary culture.

Note: The harp is installed on the High Street side of the Cathedral in gardens which are still open to the public throughout the development of Cathedral Square.