It is my unhappy duty to inform you that on the morning of Monday 4th September, Geoff Harden, journalist, broadcaster, music promoter and champion of community arts, passed away peacefully at home. Geoff, husband of Evelyn, son to Certhia, brother to Frances, Veryan and Richard and father to Niall, Alastair and Marina, had been suffering from heart disease and cancer and all too swiftly has been taken from us.
His remains will reside in the Chapel of Rest in O'Kane's Funeral Directors, Donegall Street, Belfast between 9 am and 9.30 pm until Wednesday morning when they will be taken to Roselawn Crematorium. The service will take place at 11 am. The family request that instead of flowers, donations may be made to the N Ireland Hospice on Somerton Road, Belfast.
Access to the family home is strictly by invitation. Friends may however wish to congregate at the John Hewitt Bar, Lower Donegall Street, Belfast, after the service.
A celebratory concert, in tribute to Geoff, will be announced at a later date.
Geoff ran the Sunflower Folk Club in Belfast for many years and gave the first leg up the professional ladder to many a young group.
All the leading lights of Irish music played the club over the years and Geoff built up an extensive collection of tapes and knowledge which served him and the musical community of the North well.
He was a founder of the Ulster Folk Clubs Federation and published Ulster Folk News. His many contributions on Radio Ulster, organising the Belfast Folk Festival, contributions to local papers etc have all served to popularise the folk music form in Ireland.
Although not a musician himself [at least I never heard him play] he made a profound contribution to the music.
Geoff was a good, decent man. I didn't know him well, but his enthusiasm for the sort of music we were playing helped me to consider that maybe there was something a little bit special about it.
I got to know Geoff during his involvement with the 'Northern Lights Festal' up here in Ballycastle, which ran from '93 to the late '90s. Geoff played a huge part in that event, including booking the many great & varied guests each year.
His weekly newspaper column too, certainly helped to keep us folks, out here 'in the sticks', up to date with all that was happening on the music scene.
Dick - I had forgotten about his involvement with that. He also tried to establish an Ireland wide organisation of folk clubs and for a couple of years the Folk Ring provided a circuit for a lot of musicians and access to those msuicians for the wider audience than could ever have been achieved by the clubs working alone.
He was a great organiser and was a key member of the New Belfast Community Arts organisation as their finance and admin manager.
In addition to broadcasts on Radio Ulster he also had a programme on U105 and also had regular features in the Belfast telegraph and Newsletter.
Geoff Harden
Geoff Harden
It is my unhappy duty to inform you that on the morning of Monday 4th September, Geoff Harden, journalist, broadcaster, music promoter and champion of community arts, passed away peacefully at home. Geoff, husband of Evelyn, son to Certhia, brother to Frances, Veryan and Richard and father to Niall, Alastair and Marina, had been suffering from heart disease and cancer and all too swiftly has been taken from us.
His remains will reside in the Chapel of Rest in O'Kane's Funeral Directors, Donegall Street, Belfast between 9 am and 9.30 pm until Wednesday morning when they will be taken to Roselawn Crematorium. The service will take place at 11 am. The family request that instead of flowers, donations may be made to the N Ireland Hospice on Somerton Road, Belfast.
Access to the family home is strictly by invitation. Friends may however wish to congregate at the John Hewitt Bar, Lower Donegall Street, Belfast, after the service.
A celebratory concert, in tribute to Geoff, will be announced at a later date.
Geoff ran the Sunflower Folk Club in Belfast for many years and gave the first leg up the professional ladder to many a young group.
All the leading lights of Irish music played the club over the years and Geoff built up an extensive collection of tapes and knowledge which served him and the musical community of the North well.
He was a founder of the Ulster Folk Clubs Federation and published Ulster Folk News. His many contributions on Radio Ulster, organising the Belfast Folk Festival, contributions to local papers etc have all served to popularise the folk music form in Ireland.
Although not a musician himself [at least I never heard him play] he made a profound contribution to the music.
My heartfelt condolences to the family.
# Posted on September 5th 2006 by breandan
Re: Geoff Harden
Very sorry to hear the news; some of my most enduring memories are from the Belfast Folk Festival. RIP, Geoff.
# Posted on September 5th 2006 by Conán McDonnell
Re: Geoff Harden
Very sad,
Geoff was a good, decent man. I didn't know him well, but his enthusiasm for the sort of music we were playing helped me to consider that maybe there was something a little bit special about it.
Safe journey, Geoff.
Harry.
# Posted on September 5th 2006 by Harry B
Re: Geoff Harden
Sad news indeed Breandan.
I got to know Geoff during his involvement with the 'Northern Lights Festal' up here in Ballycastle, which ran from '93 to the late '90s. Geoff played a huge part in that event, including booking the many great & varied guests each year.
His weekly newspaper column too, certainly helped to keep us folks, out here 'in the sticks', up to date with all that was happening on the music scene.
He will be sadly missed by many.
God rest ye Sir.
# Posted on September 5th 2006 by Ptarmigan
Re: Geoff Harden
Dick - I had forgotten about his involvement with that. He also tried to establish an Ireland wide organisation of folk clubs and for a couple of years the Folk Ring provided a circuit for a lot of musicians and access to those msuicians for the wider audience than could ever have been achieved by the clubs working alone.
He was a great organiser and was a key member of the New Belfast Community Arts organisation as their finance and admin manager.
In addition to broadcasts on Radio Ulster he also had a programme on U105 and also had regular features in the Belfast telegraph and Newsletter.
# Posted on September 5th 2006 by breandan
Re: Geoff Harden
Breandan, it might be worth mentioning here too that more tributes to Geoff can be read on the 'Message Board' of the 'Belfast Folk' website:
http://www.belfastfolk.co.uk/soc/index.asp
# Posted on September 5th 2006 by Ptarmigan
Re: Geoff Harden
For those who didn't know Geoff & for those that did, there is a lovely photo of the man himself at:
http://www.tradmusic.com/newspage.asp?newsID=1805
# Posted on September 5th 2006 by Ptarmigan
Re: Geoff Harden
I worked with Geoff at Belfast community radio for 3 years at the folky end of things.He had great knowledge,integrity and class.God bless him.
# Posted on September 5th 2006 by cos
Re: Geoff Harden
That's terrible news. Geoff was one of the friendliest, most amenable and decent people you might ever hope to meet.
# Posted on September 5th 2006 by Floss the Tethers
Re: Geoff Harden
A sad loss!!
# Posted on September 5th 2006 by Shtrum