Bunting, Edward (1773–1843)

Irish collector of traditional music. Born in Armagh, he lived in Drogheda from 1782 and eventually settled in Dublin in 1819. A trained organist, Bunting made a major contribution to the survival of Irish music with his General Collection of The Ancient Music of Ireland (1796); subsequent editions in 1809 and 1840 added hundreds of new pieces. Much of the material was gathered during his travels across Ireland. His collections inspired writers and Irish nationalists alike, and continue to serve as the foundational texts for research into traditional Irish music, in particular airs for the harp.