Droichead Arts Centre | Stockwell Street | Drogheda | Co. Louth
Whats On
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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
BELFAST GIRLS BY JAKI MCCARRICK | QUINTESSENCE THEATRE |
FRI 10 OCT | 8PM
DIRECTED BY RHIANN JEFFREY
“We have this one an’ only chance. An’ in all the kingdom of Ireland aren’t we – us women – aren’t we damned lucky to be getting out of it?”
Set in 1850, Belfast Girls tells the story of five fierce young women who face their dark pasts on a ship bound for Australia, as they leave Belfast in search of a better life. Confined in close quarters in the belly of the ship, they embark on a tumultuous sea journey as they sail away from their homeland. Secrets are revealed, enemies made, and it becomes clear that no matter where they go, there is no escaping the past. The inaugural production of Belfast Girls was produced in association with the North East Network. ( Droichead, Solsctice and An Táin Arts Centres)
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!
THE LONESOME BOATMAN | OUCH PRODUCTIONS & COLM O’GRADY | SUN 12 OCT | 3PM | €8 | 5+ AND FAMILIES
Follow the incredible adventures of Buttons, a corrupt local politician who gets into his bath and sails away on the rising tides. Upon this amazing voyage, Buttons battles with the sea, the elements and his ego. An outstanding circus theatre show for family audiences; a musical clown odyssey, which explores the themes of climate change in a humorous but thought-provoking way. Made possible thanks to the Arts Council of Ireland funding Circus and Touring Award. With support from Cairde Arts Festival, Roscommon Arts Centre, DeClic Circus and all the dreamers and makers along the way. BOOK HERE
THE ADVENTURES OF SHAY MOUSE - THE MOUSE FROM LONGFORD | BY PAT MCCABE ADAPTED & PERFORMED BY PADRAIC MCINTYRE & SHANE CARROLL. SUN 19 OCT | 3PM | €8 | AGES 5+
Based on one of the warmest and lively children’s books to be published in Ireland, this new adaptation and inventive production with songs and delightful regional accents is a treat for young audiences. BOOK HERE
CIRCUS 250 | DR JAY'S AMAZING EGGS-PLORATION | SAT 25 OCT | 2PM | €8
Circus 250 complete their residency week with one of their amazing family shows. Saturdays show is ‘Dr Jay’s Amazing Eggs-ploration’ about how the humble egg reveals so many scientific secrets. Funny and interactive, Jay asks why eggs are so amazingly strong? How does a bridge stay up? What is Torsional Stress? TV star Jay Ryan is well known from his series on RTE Junior. BOOK HERE
CIRCUS 250 RESIDENCY IN PRIMARY SCHOOLS 21-24 OCT | FREE
We are delighted to welcome back Circus 250 for a weeklong residency in schools in Drogheda and East Meath from the 21 -24 Oct. A Watersplash themed week, with workshops where you can create your own bubble shapes, make juggling balls out of sand, spin plates, a nature’s secret workshop in response to the Boyne River, and discover how to make a masterpiece with bubbles and paper. If your school is interested in participating in the workshops programme please email collette.farrell@droichead.com.
THE DROGHEDA CREDIT UNION SPOOKS PARADE FRI 24 OCT | KADA KA BOOM ARTS AND DROICHEAD ARTS CENTRE
Once again the ghouls take over the streets of Drogheda for THE SPOOKS PARADE!! Launching the LÚ FESTIVAL OF LIGHT in ghastly style, as a procession of horrific characters march out onto the ancient streets of and drag their sinister souls all across the town from Barlow House to Laurence's Gate. Schools across Drogheda & East Meath will participate and spectators are encouraged to dress up and join the ghoulish fun. Supported by Drogheda's Night Time Economy Advisor and sponsored by Drogheda Credit Union. Schools participating include Scoil Aonghusa and Marymount NS, Drogheda; Scoil an Spioraid Naoimh, Laytown; and Whitecross, Julianstown. MORE INFO
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.
CHRISTY
IRELAND | Drama | DIR Brendan Canty
TUE 21 OCT | 8PM | €8
Two estranged brothers with chequered childhoods in the care system suddenly find themselves living under the same roof. They must now reconcile with their pasts and make decisions about the future.
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.
Slow Sessions 2025 | Droichead Arts Centre | Drogheda, Co. Louth
Droichead are delighted to announce the continuation of their Slow Sessions with Brendan McCreanor. Capacity is limited so early booking is advised.
These sessions are for players of any instrument and at any level. A selection of easy and well known session tunes will be played slowly so that people in the early stages of their playing, or those coming back to playing music, have the opportunity to play together in a friendly, supportive and informal context. More experienced players who wish to refine their techniques and extend their repertoire at a slower pace are also very welcome.
Brendan McCreanor is a multi-instrumentalist and an accomplished uilleann piper. He is also a founding member of the traditional/folk band Kern, a fully qualified musician in healthcare and is a member of Baile an Salsa, whose music fuses salsa and Trad elements.
Brendan is a passionate advocate of traditional Irish music and has significant experience teaching children and adults in a range of instruments including Uilleann pipes, whistles, fiddle, guitar, mandolin, banjo and flute. Brendan holds degrees in Applied Music and Creative Multimedia.
Participants will learn a selection of popular session tunes including a couple of local ones from Co. Louth and well known tunes from across the country. Through engagement with the slow session, participants will develop their repertoire to include jigs, reels, slides, polkas and hornpipes, and will learn about the timing of the different styles and a little about the history and origins of the tunes.
Essentially, the objective of the slow sessions is to enable participants to learn new skills, develop ability and enjoy the immersive experience of the seisiún in a relaxed manner.
Music will be provided in advance, by email, and the session will be live in the venue. Each session is 90 mins-2 hours long with a 5 min break midway.
Surveyor Exhibition 2025 | with the North East Network
Date: 15/11/2025 – 10/01/2026
Time: All Day Event
Cost: N/A
Droichead Arts Centre is delighted to announce its partnership with fellow North East Network members, Solstice Arts Centre, Navan, and An Táin Arts Centre, Dundalk, in a unique extension of Solstice's annual selected survey of local professional arts practice.
Surveyor 2025 will simultaneously open at Solstice Arts Centre, Navan, Droichead Arts Centre, Drogheda and An Táin Arts Centre, Dundalk, showcasing the work of artists from the Northeast of the country. Patrick Murphy, Director, RHA will select work at Solstice Arts Centre, Dorothy Smith, Droichead Visual Arts Curator in Residence, will select work at Droichead Arts Centre, whilst artists Declan Kelly and Els Borghart will select work at An Táin Arts Centre.
North East Network supports, values and encourages visual artists in the North East to develop their practices and creative careers. The exhibition presents an overview of contemporary visual arts practice in County Louth and Meath. There will be a visual arts award of €2,000 selected by each curator in each arts centre.
Applicants living in Co. Meath or Co. Louth are welcome to apply to any of the participating venues; however, you may only submit to one.
To apply to Droichead Arts Centre, please download the application form from droichead.com and send your submissions to droicheadarts2020@gmail.com and images via google drive.
Surveyor 2025 – Opening at 2:30pm on 15 November 2025 across Solstice Arts Centre, Navan, Droichead Arts Centre, Drogheda and An Táin Arts Centre, Dundalk
Exhibition Dates for Each Venue:
Solstice Arts Centre, Navan: 15 November – 20 December
Droichead Arts Centre, Drogheda: 15 November – 10 January
An Táin Arts Centre, Dundalk:15 November – 20 December
Statement from Directors:
Belinda Quirke, Director Solstice & Swift Cultural Centre, Meath
'As part of Northeast Network, I am delighted to work with Droichead Arts Centre and An Táin, Dundalk, in the production of Surveyor 2025. As the ancient Boyne Valley interweaves our two counties, Surveyor 2025 aims to celebrate and promote, the abundance of visual artists living and working with the northeast of the country.'
Collette Farrell, Director, Droichead Arts Centre, Drogheda, Louth.
'Droichead Arts Centre is delighted to participate in this unique exhibition by the North East Network, bringing artists together from Louth and Meath across our three centres, further supporting artists across the region.'
Paul Hayes, Director, An Táin Arts Centre, Dundalk, Louth
'This is a really exciting exhibition for An Táin Arts Centre to be part as it takes place simultaneously in the 3 venues that make up the North East Network. Our Basement Gallery is a unique space and we are particularly interested in submissions from artists working with installation, sculpture and projection that can respond to the space.'
- Accepting submissions from Friday, 4 July 2025.
- Closing Date for applications: Online Submission Deadline 5pm, Friday, 10 October 2025
- Applicants living in Co. Meath or Co. Louth are welcome to apply to any of the participating venues; however, you may only submit to one.
Stockwell Street, Drogheda, Co. Louth.
