“It’s never too late to start a new hobby,” says 89-year-old Irish harp-maker Noel Anderson, one of only a few making the intricate instrument, a national symbol of Ireland.

A retired wood and metalwork teacher Anderson only took up the niche craft seven years ago, making his first harp aged 82.

“It doesn’t matter what age I am really, I just pop out to the shed and work at it, sometimes for 10 minutes, sometimes for 10 hours,” Anderson told AFP at his home in Strabane, 75 miles (120 kilometres) northwest of Belfast.

“I’ll keep on doing it as long as I can,” said the still spritely white-haired Anderson, who turns 90 in November.

“I’ve always made things, furniture, bowls, birdhouses, this and that, but making harps has been special, one of the better experiences in life,” said the twi

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