Friday 18th September 2026
Event: Caomhnú Lú - For the Birds
Venue: Highlanes Gallery, 36 St. Laurence St, Drogheda, A92 F7PH
Time: 6:00pm - 7:00pm
Presented by Harp Ireland, Caomhnú Lú - For the Birds, is a newly commissioned work by composer Donnchadh MacAodha.
“For the Birds” is a musical response to the birdlife of County Louth in 2025, drawing on the Louth Bird Report and its record of activity along the county's coastline over a twelve-month period. Dundalk Bay and the wider Louth coast are vital habitats for the many species that pass through and settle here, and this piece meditates on the fragility of that world in the face of climate change. Bird calls and songs are evoked throughout, tracking the arrival and departure of different species from spring to winter."
This event also features solo harp performances & discussion with local activists on climate change, and is facilitated by Music Generation Louth Harp Ensemble.
Partially seated, partially standing. Limited capacity. Free admission.
Event: Traditional Irish Music Session
Venue: McHughs, 1-3 Cord Rd, Drogheda, A92 E2NK
Time: 6:30pm
Traditional Irish music session with Trinity College Dublin Trad Society Caitríona Ní Loínsigh (flute), Thomas Killian (banjo), Iarla Moran (button accordion), Joshua Judge (guitar), Sorcha Nic an Aba (concertina), Darragh Corbett (flute) & Caoimhe Howley (concertina).
Event: Oscailt Oifigiúil na Féile
Venue: Highlanes Gallery, 36 St. Laurence St, Drogheda, A92 F7PH
Time: 7:10pm - 8:00pm
Join us for our festival launch with highly regarded father-daughter duo Caitlín Nic Gabhann & Antóin Mac Gabhann.
Caitlín Nic Gabhann is an acclaimed concertina player, composer, teacher and percussive dancer from Co. Meath. A three-time All-Ireland concertina champion and former Riverdance performer, she has toured internationally for over 15 years. Raised in a musical family, she learned from her father, renowned fiddler Antóin Mac Gabhann, and inherited a love of traditional dance from her mother, Bernie. Antóin, originally from Co. Cavan, is an award-winning fiddler whose 1971 championship victories established him as one of Ireland's finest traditional musicians.
Together, Antóin and Caitlín bring to the stage a unique father-and-daughter partnership, blending generations of musical tradition, exceptional artistry and a lifetime of shared music-making in what promises to be a truly memorable performance.
Hosted by Gormlaith Maynes, with guest speakers.
Partially seated, partially standing. Limited capacity. Free admission.
Update: Reserved seating now sold out. Limited raised cushion seating/standing space available on first come, first served basis.
NIGHT Moves Presents:
Event: Traditional Irish Music Session
Venue: McHughs, 1-3 Cord Rd, Drogheda, A92 E2NK
Time: 9:00pm
Traditional Irish music session with Gary Curley (button accordion), Stephen McKee (banjo/fiddle) & Ryan O’Donnell (bouzouki).
Event: Traditional Irish Music Session
Venue: Barney Mac’s, 35 Cord Rd, Drogheda, A92 P656
Time: 9:00pm
Traditional Irish music session with Rachael Dooley (harp), Enda Dooley (banjo) & Oisín Bradley (concertina).
Event: Traditional Irish Music Session
Venue: Clarkes Bar, 19 Peter St, Drogheda, A92 TY28
Traditional Irish music session with Aoife McCabe (button accordion), Alana Flynn (bodhrán), Niamh Maguire (fiddle) & Tadhg Bryant (fiddle).
Time: 9:00pm
Night Moves Culture Night Late, an innovative late-night programme produced by Droichead Arts Centre, funded by The Arts Council, Drogheda's Nighttime Economy Advisor and the Department of Culture, Communications and Sport. Designed to build on the success of Droichead’s ongoing NIGHT Moves programme, collaborating with several promoters, curators and artists in Drogheda, providing new, experimental, engaging intergenerational nighttime cultural experiences across accessible public & shared spaces.
Saturday 19th September 2026
Event: Traditional Irish Music Workshops
Venue: St. Oliver’s Community College, Rathmullan Road, Drogheda, A92 D766
Time: 11:00am - 2:00pm
Traditional Irish Music Workshops with John Carty (fiddle), Brian McGrath (banjo), Séamus O’Donnell (flute), Michael McCague (Guitar/Bouzouki), Alannah Thornburgh (harp), Ciarán Hanna (concertina), Gary Curley (button accordion), Aimée Farrell-Courtney (bodhrán), Tom Gavin (tin whistle), and Pádraig McGovern (uilleann pipes workshop).
Registration: €25 inc. booking fee
Please follow the link below and click on the tutor’s photo you wish to purchase tickets for.
Event: Slow Session
Venue: Droichead Arts Centre, 26 - 28 Stockwell Lane, Drogheda, A92 FXC6
Time: 12:00pm - 2:00pm
Slow session hosted by Brendan McCreanor (uilleann pipes).
Register via link below or on entry.
Event: Trad for Toddlers
Venue: Drogheda Library, 26 - 28 Stockwell Lane, Drogheda, A92 PY20
Time: 1:15pm - 1:50pm
Join hosts Fionnuala McGovern and harpist Rachael Dooley for an introduction to traditional Irish music and song.
Recommended age: 1.5 years - 3.5 years
Free admission. Booking essential.
Join waiting list by emailing info@maynestage.ie
Event: Pop-Up Street Session
Venue: West Street, Drogheda
Time: 1:30pm
Bring a pop-up stool and join us for our open street session along West Street.
Weather dependant!
Event: Traditional Irish Music Session
Venue: Weavers, 83 West St, Drogheda, A92 PXW7
Time: 4:00pm
Traditional Irish Music Session with Gary Curley (button accordion), Alannah Thornburgh (harp) & Pádraig McGovern (uilleann pipes).
Find us at the back in The Tapestry Room!
Event: Traditional Irish Music Session
Venue: Barney Mac’s, 35 Cord Rd, Drogheda, A92 P656
Time: 5:00pm
Traditional Irish Music Session with Bernadette Nic Gabhann (fiddle) & Tony O Brien (fiddle/guitar) & Ryan O’Donnell (bouzouki).
Find us up the steps in the back venue.
Event: Traditional Irish Music Session
Venue: Clarkes Bar, 19 Peter St, Drogheda, A92 TY28
Time: 5:30pm
Traditional Irish Music Session with Patricia Clark (fiddle), Breifne Holohan (guitar) & Stephen McKee (banjo)
Event: Traditional Irish Music Session
Venue: The Hops Bar, Scotch Hall Shopping Centre, Marsh Road, A92 HF5F
Time: 7:00pm
Traditional Irish Music Session with members of Trinity College Dublin Trad Soc Caitríona Ní Loínsigh (flute), Thomas Killian (banjo), Iarla Moran (button accordion), Joshua Judge (guitar), Sorcha Nic an Aba (concertina), Darragh Corbett (flute) & Caoimhe Howley (concertina).
At The Racket
Event: In Concert with At The Racket
Venue: Droichead Arts Centre, 26 - 28 Stockwell Lane, Drogheda, A92 FXC6
Time: 8:00pm. Doors 7:30pm.
At the Racket is one of Ireland’s most distinctive traditional music groups, renowned for its exuberant performances and revival of the Irish and Irish-American dance-band sound of the 1920s and 1930s. Founded in 1996 by acclaimed fiddler and banjo player John Carty, the band draws inspiration from pioneering ensembles such as the Flanagan Brothers.
The current line-up features John Carty, Brian McGrath, Séamus O'Donnell and Michael McCague. Combining virtuoso musicianship, infectious energy and fresh arrangements of rare historic repertoire, At the Racket has performed widely in Ireland and abroad, earning acclaim for its originality, authenticity and joyful celebration of Irish musical heritage
Supported by Droichead Arts Centre.
Tickets €18
Event: Traditional Irish Music Session
Venue: McHughs, 1-3 Cord Rd, Drogheda, A92 E2NK
Time: 9:00pm
Traditional Irish Music Session with with Orla Corrigan (fiddle), Sadhbh McCabe (fiddle), Aisling O’Riordan (flute) & Jack McGoldrick (guitar).
Event: Traditional Irish Music Session
Venue: Barney Mac’s, 35 Cord Rd, Drogheda, A92 P656
Time: 10:00pm
Join us for our post-concert open session.
Find us upstairs in The Watchtower!
Sunday 20th September 2026
Venue: St. Peter’s Church, West Street, Drogheda
Event: Boyne Valley Camino Guided Walk
Time: 9:00am - 2:00pm
Starting at the impressive St Peter’s Church, West Street in the medieval town of Drogheda, the Boyne Valley Camino takes us on a journey through history. The route is a mixture of riverside, greenway, wood paths, quiet country roads, canal path and green fields on its route from drogheda to Old Mellifont Abbey and back.
The 25km walk forms a figure of eight looped walk via Townley Hall Woods on the way out to Mellifont Abbey, through Tullyallen Village, down King William’s Glen via Belnumber Wood, across the beautiful Boyne at the Obelisk and back into Drogheda via Oldbridge along the Boyneside Trail and ramparts. The Boyne Valley Camino (25km) is part of the Celtic Camino from Ireland, then walk the rest of the Celtic Camino from A Coruña to Santiago de Compostela (75km) in Spain. This 100km Celtic Camino entitles walkers to a Compostela in Santiago.
Hosted by Boyne Valley Trails September Walking Festival.
Event: Composition & Arrangement Workshop
Venue: Barlow House, Droichead Arts Centre, Narrow West Street (A92 CPF9)
Time: 11:00am - 2:00pm
Donnchadh Mac Aodha is a composer, harper and flute player from Dundalk, Co. Louth. A graduate of University College Cork and former Quercus Scholar, his music bridges contemporary composition and Irish tradition. His works have been performed internationally, and he has received major commissions, including for Consairtín (2024) and Cruit Éireann | Harp Ireland.
Discover practical approaches to composition and arrangement, work collaboratively on a new composition, and develop your own creative voice through guided solo writing.
Suitable to all instruments.
Registration: €20
Please follow the link below and click on the tutor’s photo you wish to purchase tickets for.
Event: Traditional Irish Music Session
Venue: McHughs, 1-3 Cord Rd, Drogheda, A92 E2NK
Time: 2:30pm
Traditional Irish music session with Edith Lawlor (concertina), Ciannait Lawlor (fiddle) & Aisling O’Riordan (flute).
Find us up the steps in the back venue.
With Louise O’Connor & Glór na dTonn Céilí Band
Sets Céilí
Event: Sets Céilí
Venue: St. Peter’s Church of Ireland Parish Hall, Peter Street, A92 AP95
Time: 3:00pm - 6:00pm
Louise O'Connor is a set dancing teacher, sean-nós dancer and fiddle player from County Clare. Deeply rooted in the music, dance and community she grew up with, she is passionate about sharing the joy of Irish tradition with others. Through her community dance project, Lasta Dance, she creates welcoming and inclusive spaces in Ireland and abroad where people can engage with live music and be part of a living tradition. Louise has brought Irish social dance traditions to many new audiences around the world, including teaching at World Expo in Japan in 2025 and at numerous festivals including Electric Picnic 2025/2026.
Website: www.louise.ie
Instagram: @louiseoconnor.ie
Joined by members of Sligo based 2025 All-Ireland Senior Céilí Band Champions Glór na dTonn.
Dances called. All welcome.
Registration: €15
Please follow the link below and click on the tutor’s photo you wish to purchase tickets for.
Event: Traditional Irish Music Session
Venue: Barney Mac’s, 35 Cord Rd, Drogheda, A92 P656
Time: 4:30pm
Traditional Irish music session with With Daithí Kearney (banjo), Sadhbh McCabe (fiddle), Orla Corrigan (fiddle) & Jack McGoldrick (guitar).
Find us up the steps in the back venue.
Event: Farewell Session
Venue: McHughs, 1-3 Cord Rd, Drogheda, A92 E2NK
Time: 6:30pm
Join us for the final hurrah in our weekly trad session with Noreen Morgan McManus (fiddle), Ruadhán Collier O’Brien (uilleann pipes/guitar) & Fergus McGorman (flute).