Stringing

As in medieval times, to Renaissance visitors the notable feature of the Gaelic harp was the metal strings:

Brass or bronze are the typical metals named, and there are occasional mentions of iron trebles, but writers rarely go into more detail. However one seventeenth century writer gives what may be a reliable account of silver strings being used on Irish harps at this date:

“ qui si praestitisses historicam fidem, fides nunquam ferreas, sed aeneas, vel argentas lyrae, et tympano a musicis nostris aptari, tradisses. „	If you were to be faithful to the historical truth, you would pass on the fact that the strings of the harp are never of iron, but are of brass and silver, and are used also by our musicians on the tiompan.
Philip O'Sullivan Beare, Zoilomastix, c.1625.

An 18th century writer described the state of the Trinity College harp in 1756, though the harp was not then playable and is said to have been unplayed for a couple of centuries before. These strings may be the remains of a 16th or 17th century setup:

“ When given to Counsellor MacNamara, it had silver strings... „

Ralph Ouseley, c.1780