Steve, you are only partly right.
let us take the harp[not the sort that you gob into, or suck blow]but the stringed harp.
the harp is one of the oldest instruments used in the playing of traditional irish music,it provided Carolan with the means to communicate his talent and channelled his inspiration for all his compostions.
The harp is an instrument that is used almost entirely for playing melody and harmony[ when used in irish music].
it is also one of the oldest irish instruments it predates the concertina, the uileean pipes,the banjo, the penny whistle,the accordion, and it is one of the instruments people associate with ireland and irish traditional music.
Steve,sorry, to hear about you getting banned from the chip and fipple forum.