Droichead Arts Centre | Stockwell Street | Drogheda | Co. Louth
Whats On
______________________________
Droichead Presents Drama | Theatre Club Autumn/Winter 2025
Date: 05/09/2025 – 29/11/2025
Time: 20.00
Cost: Seven great plays for €76
Set up in 2017, and heading into its 15th season, Droichead Theatre Club brings audiences together to see a play, and like a book club, our audiences can share their views, thoughts and impressions informally post show with the cast and creatives. If this is your first or your 50th play, it doesn't matter, come along, and be part of the drama at Droichead.
BOOK ONLINE or Call 041 9833946
PADDY: THE LIFE AND TIMES OF PADDY ARMSTRONG BY MARY-ELAINE TYNAN, DON WYCHERLEY AND NIAMH GLEESON.
SAT 29 NOV | 8PM |
DIRECTED BY MARY-ELAINE TYNAN
Fifty years after his wrongful conviction, at the age of 74, Paddy is facing into his twilight years and wrestling with a thousand turbulent memories. In Paddy he relives the journey that forever altered his destiny.
A one-man show, starring Don Wycherley as Paddy, the play is inspired by Paddy’s memoir Life After Life, a Guildford Four Memoir. Paddy is a testament to the resilience of the human spirit and the power of forgiveness, reminding us that the privilege of freedom and love, family and everyday life can restore us and mend the scars of even the most savage injustice.
More Info
Leanbh Festival 2025
Date: 12/10/2025 – 29/10/2025
Time: Various Times
Cost: Vary by show
OUR ANNUAL ARTS FESTIVAL FOR CHILDREN, YOUNG PEOPLE AND FAMILIES RETURNS!
CLAYTIME | Protours | WEDS 29 OCT | 12.30PM & 2.30PM | Ages 4-6
A gorgeous, improvised "play made out of clay" that is different every time. It encourages interaction and creativity from the children in the audience in coming up with a story, which the performers then create with clay. It's also followed by 20 mins of hands-on clay playtime for the audience. BOOK HERE
Leanbh is funded by the Arts Council, Creative Ireland, Drogheda Credit Union, and Louth County Council.
Film Club | Autumn/Winter 2025
Date: 09/09/2025 – 16/12/2025
Time: 20.00
Cost: 8 amazing films for only €48 or each individual film for €8.
Film Club is back for Autumn 2025 in partnership with Access Cinema with a season of eight engaging and beautiful films from around the world, once again curated by Sinead Brassil and Niall O'Brien of LMFM's film review segment 'Reel Reviews'. Each film is introduced by the curators and followed by a short post screening discussion. See all 8 amazing films for only €48 or each individual film for €8.
HIDDEN
FRANCE | Thriller | DIR Michael Haneke
TUE 11 Nov | 8PM | €8
Without warning, Parisian couple Georges (Daniel Auteuil) and Anne Laurent (Juliette Binoche) receive anonymous videos suggesting they’re being stalked. The tapes are soon joined by disturbing, childish drawings. Georges, a literary talk show host, dismisses the messages, but Anne grows fearful for their teenage son and suspects a dark incident from Georges’ past is behind the torment.
MAGIC FARM
USA | Comedy | DIR Amalia Ulman
TUE 18 NOV | 8PM | €8
A bumbling American documentary crew—led by a frustrated host and her inept producer travel to South America to profile a rabbit-suited subculture musician, only to accidentally land in the wrong country. With no real story to tell, they collaborate with local villagers to fabricate a sensational “cult” narrative, all while remaining oblivious to an emerging health crisis afflicting the community.
LATE SHIFT
GERMANY | Drama | DIR Petra Biondina Volpe
TUE 25 NOV | 8PM | €8
FLORIA, a dedicated nurse, navigates the relentless pace on a surgical ward with unwavering dedication, infusing humanity and warmth into her patient care even though the shift is understaffed. As the day intensifies, LATE SHIFT transforms into a gripping race against time, culminating in a riveting climax.
A SAMURAI IN TIME
JAPAN | Comedy/Sci-Fi | DIR Jun'ichi Yasuda
TUE 2 DEC | 8PM | €8
After lightning strikes during an Edo-era duel, samurai Kosaka Shinzaemon wakes on a modern jidaigeki TV set, mistaken for an actor. His true sword skills land him work as a kirareyaku—an extra “killed” on camera—giving him purpose as he mourns his old life. What begins as light comedy becomes a poignant exploration of identity, cultural legacy, and belonging in a new era.
THE MARCHING BAND
France | Drama | DIR Emmanuel Courcol
TUE 16 DEC | 8PM | €8
Diagnosed with leukemia, a famed orchestra conductor learns he was adopted and that his brother is a small-town trombonist. To save Thibaut’s life and connect, Jimmy donates bone marrow, and the two bond when Thibaut helps lead Jimmy’s struggling band to a regional competition. What starts as a feel-good reunion crescendos into a heartfelt story of family, class, identity, and music’s power to bridge divides.
DTMSW 2025 | Drogheda Traditional Music and Singing Weekend 21 - 23 Nov 2025
Dates: 21/11/2025 – 23/11/2025
Time: Various Times
Cost: Various Prices(+ €1.00 fees)
Drogheda Traditional Music & Singing Weekend returns this year celebrating its 29th year. Once again the weekend will see Drogheda come alive with music with singing concerts, talks, pub sessions, and a traditional sets céilí.
SINGING CONCERT | FRI NOV 21 | MORNING STAR TULLYALLEN | 8PM | €5
As ever, the weekend kicks off with a singing concert in The Morning Star Tullyallen, featuring two great voices from the Irish Tradition World. Sorcha Ní Scolaí and in 2025 was the winner of the Séan Ó Riada Bonn Óir competition. Tim Dennehy is a poet, singer and broadcaster and has performed at various festivals as well as he facilitating song workshops at home and abroad.
THE HISTORY OF TRADITIONAL MUSIC IN LOUTH BY NICHOLAS CAROLAN SAT NOV 22 | HIGHLANES GALLERY | 11 AM | FREE
Director Emeritus of the Traditional Music Archive in Dublin, Nicholas is well known for the archival television series Come West Along the Road and Siar and Bothar, 1994-2014.
CAOIMHÍN Ó RAGHALLAIGH IN CONCERT | SAT 22 NOV | THE THOSEL | 2PM | €10
Caoimhín who last played in Drogheda some years ago with This is How we Fly, returns this time to play a solo concert in The Thosel. A world renowned fiddle player, he has played all the great concerts halls of the world including Sydney Opera House, Royal Albert Hall and Carnegie Hall. A founder member of the supergroup The Gloaming, Caoimhín plays both the regular four stringed fiddle and a ten stringed fiddle he calls the hardanger d’amour.
ZOE CONWAY, JOHN MCINTYRE & DESI WILKINSON | SAT 22 NOV | DROICHEAD ARTS CENTRE | 8PM | €20
Described as “the best folk duo in the world” by the BBC, Zoe and John make a welcome return to the festival for the headline concert dedicated to the late Bean Ui Cairbre. While Zoe and John have graced many stages across the world with musicians from all sorts of genres it is the traditional music and songs of Oriel that will feature on this particular occasion, along with some of their own compositions. Desi Wilkinson, no stranger to Drogheda having lived in the town in the 80’s, Desi has played with all the great traditional musicians including De Dannan, Donal Lunny and Martin O’Connor. While recognised as one of our finest flute players Desi also an extremely talented traditional singer.
SETS CÉILÍ AT MCHUGH'S | SUN 23 NOV | MC HUGH'S | 2PM | €10
Featuring SLIABH AUGHTY, a prominent trio in traditional Irish music, known for their high-energy performances of East Clare/East Galway music, Sunday afternoon of the festival will see a Sets Céilí take place at McHughs on the Cord Road. Known for their music at set dancing céilís and festivals, the Sliabh Aughty Band bring lively and infectious rhythms to audiences.
AFTERNOON SINGING SESSION | SUN 23 NOV | DROICHEAD ARTS CENTRE | 2PM | FREE
Finishing off the 2025 Drogheda Traditional Music & Singing Weekend an AFTERNOON SINGING SESSION with special guest Bláithín Mhic Cana.
Bláithín Mhic Cana is a celebrated Sean Nós singer and teacher from Slieve Gullion, County Armagh. She specialises in the Oriel singing tradition, carrying forward the rich repertoire documented by singers and researchers such as Pádraigín Ní Uallacháin. Bláithín has performed at major festivals is a founding member of Tempest, whose debut album was released earlier this year, and in 2024 she was honoured with the Gradam Cois Life award.
There will be a number of sessions and other events over the festival, please check out Drogheda Traditional Music And Singing Weekend on social media for details.
All singing/dance sessions are subject to a 1 euro online booking charge.
DTMSW 2025 | Singing Concert - Morning Star Tullyallen
Dates: 21/11/2025
Time: 20.00
Cost: €5(+ €1.00 fees)
Drogheda Traditional Music and Singing Weekend is celebrating 29 years this year from Friday 21 November until Sunday 23 November. It will feature multiple events throughout Drogheda and its environs featuring some of Ireland’s most esteemed traditional singers and musicians as well as a collection of our best local talent.
As ever, the weekend kicks off with a singing concert in The Morning Star Tullyallen, featuring three great voices from the Irish Tradition World.
Sorcha Ní Scolaí is both an Uilleann Piper and Sean Nós singer. From the age of 10 Sorcha has attracted significant attention and acclaim nationally and internationally for performances broadcast on RTE and TG4. As a Sean Nós singer Sorcha has won the U15 and U18 Feis Ceoil singing competitions and in 2022 she took first place at An tOireachtas, winning the Corn Sheosamh Uí Éanaigh agus Bonn óir. Trained by her mamó, Una Nic Mhathúna, Sorcha has a visceral connection with the art of sean nós which is matched by a mature interpretation and delivery of her songs in the Munster singing style
Tim Dennehy is a poet, singer and broadcaster. Originally from South Kerry, he now lives in Miltown Malbay, Co. Clare. Hehasrecorded six albums, has performed on several others and has written extensively on traditional music, dance and song. He continues to perform at various festivals and he facilitates song workshops at home and abroad.
Grace Toland is a singer from Clonmany in the Inishowen Peninsula, north Donegal. Fortunate to have lived among a community and family of singers, her songs are a reflection of the time spent in their company. A passionate supporter of the Inishowen tradition, she is a driving force in the Inishowen Traditional Singers’ Circle, developing events and projects to encourage more people to learn and sing songs. Having worked for many years in the Irish Traditional Music Archive in Dublin, Grace returned to Inishowen in 2021 to devote her time to developing the Singers’ Circle
DTMSW 2025 | Headline Concert Zoe Conway, John McIntyre & Desi Wilkinson
Dates: 22/11/2025
Time: 20:00
Cost: €20.00(+ €1.00 fees)
Drogheda Traditional Music and Singing Weekend is celebrating 29 years this year from Friday 21 November until Sunday 23 November. It will feature multiple events throughout Drogheda and its environs featuring some of Ireland’s most esteemed traditional singers and musicians as well as a collection of our best local talent.
The annual DTMSW concert in honour of Caitlin Bean Uí Chairbre who was instrumental in promoting the traditional music culture in Drogheda is always a highlight in a weekend of great music and song.
With an exciting blend of eclectic fiddle and guitar music, Zoë Conway and John Mc Intyre bring to the stage sympathetic arrangements of traditional Irish music, compositions and songs, old and new. This husband and wife folk duo possesses a rare facility to draw pieces into their repertoire from other genres such as classical, jazz and world music and understandably have been described as “simply one of the best folk duos on the planet” (BBC).
Zoë, no stranger to the stage, has performed with an impressive list of international artists including Riverdance, Damien Rice, Lou Reed, Nick Cave, Rodrigo y Gabriella to mention but a few. In contrast to this, she has been an important figure within classical music circles in Ireland and abroad, as her crossover discipline has allowed her the pleasure of appearing as soloist with acclaimed orchestras such as The Irish Chamber Orchestra, National Symphony Orchestra, BBC Symphony Orchestra and German WDR Symphony Orchestra; pieces recited include her own compositions and works composed for her by world renowned Irish composer, Bill Whelan.
John grew up in the Cooley Mountains of north County Louth where he took up guitar at 8 years of age. He began his career as electric guitarist with the successful indie band, The Revs with whom he performed on many famous stages and festivals including Oxygen, and Slane in Ireland, Reading and Leeds in the UK, and toured extensively in USA, Australia and Europe. He has worked alongside many world renowned producers, and is now also producing and recording in many genres. John studied classical guitar and piano for many years, and from early childhood was immersed in the language, songs and traditional dance music of south west Donegal - his father's homeplace.
Desi Wilkinson originally from Belfast was a long-term resident of Drogheda before living in far-flung places such as Brittany, Limerick and Newcastle. He holds a doctorate in traditional music studies which he taught at the University of Newcastle for a number of years. He has two fine solo recordings, Three Piece Flute and Shady Woods and is also highly regarded as a traditional singer. 30 years ago he recorded Cosa Gan Bhróga with Gerry O’Connor and the late Eithne Ní Uallacháin which was re-released on CD by Gael Linn in 2013. Desi was for many years a mainstay in traditional music group Cran alongside Ronan Browne and the late Sean Corcoran. Cran were know and appreciated by traditional music fans around the world and released a number of acclaimed cd’s.
DTMSW 2025 | The History of Traditional Music in Louth by Nicholas Carolan
Dates: 22/11/2025
Time: 11:00
Cost: Free, Booking Advised(+ €1.00 fees)
Drogheda Traditional Music and Singing Weekend is celebrating 29 years this year from Friday 21 November until Sunday 23 November. It will feature multiple events throughout Drogheda and its environs featuring some of Ireland’s most esteemed traditional singers and musicians as well talks on the history of traditional music and performances by a collection of our best local talent.
At on Saturday 22nd November at 11am Nicholas Carolan, a Drogheda native, and founding director of ITMA and now its Director Emeritus, will give at talk in the Highlanes Gallery on The History of Traditional Music in Louth.
Nicholas Carolan has worked as a broadcaster, publisher, researcher and writer, and has lectured on traditional Irish music in Trinity College. For a number of years he was presenter of the RTE programme “Come West Along the Road”. A long time supporter of the Drogheda Traditional Music and Song Festival, Nicholas will deliver this lecture on Aspects of Traditional Music in County Louth and all are invited to attend.
This is a free event, but pre booking is advised.
DTMSW 2025 | Afternoon Singing Session
Dates: 23/11/2025
Time: 15:00
Cost: €5(+ €1.00 fees)
Finishing off the 2025 Drogheda Traditional Music & Singing Weekend an AFTERNOON SINGING SESSION with special guests Bláithín Mhic Cana takes place at Droichead Arts Centre at 3pm.
Bláithín Mhic Cana is a celebrated Sean Nós singer and teacher from Slieve Gullion, County Armagh. She specialises in the Oriel singing tradition, carrying forward the rich repertoire documented by singers and researchers such as Pádraigín Ní Uallacháin. A multi-award winner at Oireachtas na Samhna, Bláithín has performed at major festivals including The Frank Harte Singing Festival, Féile na Tána and Electric Picnic. She is a founding member of Tempest, whose debut album was released earlier this year, and in 2024 she was honoured with the Gradam Cois Life award.
All are welcome to this open session.
The Life and Times of Paddy Armstrong
Dates: 29/11/2025
Time: 20.00
Cost: €20/18(+ €1.00 fees)
By Mary-Elaine Tynan, Don Wycherley and Niamh Gleeson.
Fifty years after his wrongful conviction, at the age of 74, Paddy is facing into his twilight years and wrestling with a thousand turbulent memories. In Paddy he relives the journey that forever altered his destiny.
A one-man show, starring Don Wycherley as Paddy, inspired by Paddy’s memoir Life After Life, a Guildford Four Memoir. A testament to the resilience of the human spirit and the power of forgiveness, reminding us that the privilege of freedom and love, family and everyday life can restore us and mend the scars of even the most savage injustice.
More Info
Stockwell Street, Drogheda, Co. Louth.
