Our Story

Affairs of the Harp is a website set up in 1998 by a professional harpist and is based on over forty years of specialist experience in, and knowledge of, the world of the harp. It is now the U.K’s largest online source of preowned harps – whether to buy or sell – accessories and fabulous, harp themed, unique gifts for all musicians.

The idea for an internet based website was inspired when Geraldine McMahon, after living and working as a professional harpist internationally in Europe and the United States, two and a half years of which were spent in Chicago, the home of Lyon and Healy harps, returned to the U.K. and decided to sell one of her Concert harps.

There was no shop for selling preowned harps, so as the internet was just taking off in the late 90's, she decided to set up a website as an online source of secondhand harps. It was a learning curve and hence, in 1998 www.affairsoftheharp.com was born. It was the first and only harp website at the time and it has gone from strength to strength, being now the U.K.'s largest online source of preowned harps.

Buyers have come from all over Europe and indeed harps have been bought and sold in Europe through Affairs of the Harp. Originally her specialist knowledge of Lyon and Healy harps, in particular the older models, helped her to source and import these exceptional harps which were renowned for their strength, beautiful craftsmanship and magnificent sound.

Since then, accessories such as harp strings and fabulous, high quality, original harp themed gifts (all made in the U.K.) have been added to the website over the years. It is thus, the U.K's biggest and best online source of beautiful preowned harps and harp related merchandise and accessories.

Happy Harping!