Stephen Carolan was an Irish harpist, composer, and singer who lived from 1670 to 1738. He is considered one of the most important figures in Irish traditional music, and his compositions are still played and enjoyed today. Carolan was born in County Meath, Ireland, and lost his sight at the age of 18. Despite this, he went on to become a successful musician, traveling throughout Ireland and Scotland and composing over 200 pieces of music. His music is characterized by its beauty, complexity, and emotional depth, and he is considered one of the greatest Irish composers of all time.