Sponsor a seat at the droichead arts centre

Tue 1st Jul - Thu 25th Dec
Venue: Stockwell Street Theatre

droichead theatre is undergoing substantial refurbishment works this summer at a total cost of €1 million! According to droichead director, Marcella Bannon, the idea is to make the theatre more comfortable for audiences, and upgrade lighting and sound for performers. ‘The theatre itself will be refurbished with new seating, wiring, stage, lighting, equipment, new full bar area and other facilties, with small changes to the reception area,’ said Marcella. A new bar area will be installed which should improve the flow of people through the building, with audiences able to move freely from the exhibition area to the new bar in the small gallery, and back to the theatre. Audiences will experience the spend in increased comfort in the theatre seating, and new heating system, whilst artists will see it in ease of getting in, setting up and managing lighting. Refurbishment works are funded by the Dept of Arts, Culture, Sport and Tourism, in association with Drogheda Borough Council and droichead Arts Centre

Arty McGlynn & Nollag Casey
Traditional Irish Music

Friday 19th September
Times: 8pm
Venue: Barlow House
Tickets: €12-€15

 Nollaig Casey and Arty McGlynn are a most exciting duo who together provide a rich mix of talent and experience. Nollaig and Arty first met in Dublin in 1979, after which their musical paths crossed again and again at recording sessions, television and radio studios and on stage with Andy Irvine, Planxty, Makem & Clancy and Maura O'Connell. The more they played together the more they enjoyed each other's company and eventually in 1984 they married.In 1990 they recorded and released their first album together, "Lead the Knave" to great critical acclaim, it was awarded the Belfast Telegraph Entertainment Media and Arts Award, (E.M.A), for excellence in the field of Folk Music. Together, they arranged and played music for the sound track of the feature film "Moondance" as well as "Hear My Song", a full-length feature film, based on the life of singer Joseph Locke, in which they also made an appearance.In July 1995 they released their second album together, Causeway for Tara Music, which as well as featuring Nollaig's superb singing for the first time, also has nine sets of original tunes composed by Nollaig and Arty. These tunes range from soft and gentle to strong and vibrant and display a unique love and understanding for the music and its origins. Many of these tracks include the stunning harmonica playing of Brendan Power

Introductory Workshop in Journalism

Friday 26th September
Times: 9.30am-11am and 11.30am-1pm
Venue: In two selected schools TBA
Tickets: €5

Fancy being a journalist?

Sign up for an introductory workshop with droichead arts centre.The 90 minute workshop will take the form of a short introduction and some practical sessions in writing, sub-editing and headline writing.Participants will also discuss the evolving role of the newspaper in the light of the advent of the internet and 24-hour TV and radio coverage.The workshop will be led by John Moore, deputy editor, sport, Irish Independent.Workshops will run in two schools on Friday September 26. First session 9.30 - 11am. Second session 11.30am – 1pm.Cost per student €5.

To book, ring droichead arts centre 9875140.

Elio Villafranca - Jazz
Jazz Music

Thursday 16th October
Times: 8.30pm
Venue: Dhotel Drogheda
Tickets: €15-€12

Cuban pianist Elio Villafranca is one of the rising stars of the US and Latin jazz scenes and in 2003 his debut album Incantations/Encantaciones  was selected as one of the albums of the year by Jazz Times Magazine. Noted for his razor-sharp technique, harmonic vision and rhythmic panache. Villafranca effortlessly fuses classical, bebop and African influences with the musical traditions of his native Cuba, while remaining a true individualist.As well as leading his own band, he has performed with such luminaries as Pat Martino, Jon Faddis, Sonny Fortune, Dave Valentin, Lenny White and Horacio "El Negro" Hernandez.On this tour Villafranca is joined by Juno Award winner and Grammy nominee Jane Bunnett, who has spent the last twenty five years touring her own brand of Cuban jazz around the world producing a string of highly-acclaimed albums including Red Dragonfly (2004), which was inspired by Japanese and Native American folk melodies. The line-up is completed by bassist Yunior Terry and drummer Ludwig Afonso, both with impeccable Latin jazz credendials: Terry has toured with Eddie Palmieri, The Latin Jazz All Stars, Dave Valentin, Steve Coleman and Steve Turre among others, while Afonso has worked with such legends as Ira Sullivan, Latin Grammy winner Nestor Torres and Eddie "Gua Gua" Rivera

Cinderella by Shonna Reppe Puppets
Leanbh Arts Festival for Children

Monday 20th October
Times: 9.30am and 11.30am
Venue: Marymount NS, Ballsgrove, Drogheda.
Tickets: €8

Every day is a bad hair day for Cinderella. This classic fairytale is beautifully re-imagined by Shona Reppe's puppets in this highly visual award winning production with secret latches, hidden drawers and a hang bag of magic.