Droichead Arts Centre

The Lighthouse Project is a site-specific response to lighthouses around Ireland, curated by Dani Gill and produced in partnership with the Arts Council, festivals, venues and Arts Offices nationwide. From 2021 to 2022, Droichead Arts Centre, and Meath County Arts Office collaborated with the project to offer five artists the site of Mornington, County Meath. Mornington is home to three light houses (the North, West and East light) along with the additional architecture of: Lady’s Finger, the Maiden’s Tower and the ancient beacons where fires were originally lit before the presence of lighthouses.

Artists SJ McArdle, Jackie Hudson Lalor, Jessica Traynor, Laura Sheeran and Róisín Ward Morrow have created an audio experience mirroring the landscape and the tales surrounding it. The track includes original poetry from Jessica Traynor, Wandering Lighthouses and Driftwood Fire, set to music by Róisín Ward Morrow and new songs from SJ McArdle, To the Lighthouse and The Ship of Theseus. Jackie Hudson Lawlor created the limited edition print Mornington at Night which is also the cover of this brochure designed by Jackie. Laura Sheeran edited the audio experience and documented the site.

The Morrígan by FRIZ (Patrick Street)

FRIZ’ work leans towards presenting powerful female characters and explores our connection with the natural world, resulting in the perfect match as she has been tasked with representing The Morrígan. The Morrígan is a Triple Goddess. She is sometimes portrayed as one of a triune of female war deities and is seen to psychologically effect armies and warriors with her shapeshifting abilities!

Sligo native FRIZ is a visual artist currently based in Bangor, Co. Down, working in both digital and traditional mediums. Her work explores history, myths and folklore that shapes the cultural identity of a place and uses these stories to create a journey of discovery for people.

Stories by Anthony Murphy. Adapted by Gráinne Rafferty. Performed by Gráinne Rafferty. Original soundscape by Niall Gregory. Sound Editor Sean McCluskey at Basement Sounds.

Many thanks to all the partners engaged in this piece including Louth County Council, Chris Connolly, the d hotel, Colourtrend, Murtagh's of Drogheda & Height for Hire.

Produced by Droichead Arts Centre and Love Drogheda B.I.D.S (Business Improvement District Scheme), in partnership with Louth County Council Arts Office and curators Dee Walsh and Brian Hegarty (33-45). Working together with local, national and international artists, and mythologist Anthony Murphy, to deliver six murals based on some of the key figures from Irish Mythology who are rooted in the Boyne Valley region, the project will be delivered across a number of strands which will draw on Drogheda’s significant rich heritage, mythology and architecture.

Dagda by Russ (St Laurence Street)

Russ was tasked with presenting the leader of the Tuatha Dé Danann, Dagda. Dagda reigned as king for 80 years. One of his many names, Deirgderc, translates as 'red eye', leading scholars to identify Dagda as an early solar deity.

Muralist/Painter Russ from France, is interested in the evolution of matter and state through time. The result is dreamlike compositions, sometimes surrealistic, where plants and symbols of life cycles anchor the viewer in their own reality.

Stories by Anthony Murphy. Adapted by Gráinne Rafferty. Performed by Niall O'Brien. Original soundscape by Niall Gregory. Sound Editor Sean McCluskey at Basement Sounds.

Many thanks to all the partners engaged in this piece including Louth County Council, Ciara Nixon, Laurence St. Shopping Centre and Pillardale Ltd., the d hotel, Colourtrend, Murtagh's of Drogheda & Height for Hire.

Produced by Droichead Arts Centre and Love Drogheda B.I.D.S (Business Improvement District Scheme), in partnership with Louth County Council Arts Office and curators Dee Walsh and Brian Hegarty (33-45). Working together with local, national and international artists, and mythologist Anthony Murphy, to deliver six murals based on some of the key figures from Irish Mythology who are rooted in the Boyne Valley region,  the project will be delivered across a number of strands which will draw on Drogheda’s significant rich heritage, mythology and architecture.

Salmon of Knowledge by Ciarán Dunlevy (Dyer Street)

They say a picture can say a thousand words and we hope that the newly commissioned Salmon of Knowledge mural on the Fitzwilliam Court building will create a thousand conversations and a deeper understanding of our local heritage.

Ciarán Dunlevy has been selected as the first artist to showcase Drogheda’s mythological past with the retelling of the Salmon of Knowledge story. Ciarán’s style of wall art is based on super realism and as part of the research process into the piece, Ciaran met with local artist Richard Moore and Anthony Murphy and local fishermen who identified a specific area where there would have been opportunities to catch salmon at a weir in the river, Knowth and Dowth stand proudly in the background. This piece depicts the story of Fionn MacCumhaill and the Salmon of Knowledge and is masterfully delivered by Ciaran Dunlevy in two parts with the catching of the Salmon by Finegas and then the transfer of wisdom to Fionn.

Stories by Anthony Murphy. Adapted by Gráinne Rafferty. Performed by Niall O'Brien. Original soundscape by Niall Gregory. Sound Editor Sean McCluskey at Basement Sounds.

Many thanks to all the partners engaged in this piece including Louth County Council, Fitzwilliam Court, Wogans Interiors, Johnstone Paint & Height for Hire. Great appreciation to Declan Kierans, Leo Monahan, and Willie Smyth for their assistance in making this happen.

Produced by Droichead Arts Centre and Love Drogheda B.I.D.S (Business Improvement District Scheme), in partnership with Louth County Council Arts Office and curators Dee Walsh and Brian Hegarty (33-45). Working together with local, national and international artists, and mythologist Anthony Murphy, to deliver six murals based on some of the key figures from Irish Mythology who are rooted in the Boyne Valley region,  the project will be delivered across a number of strands which will draw on Drogheda’s significant rich heritage, mythology and architecture.

Amergin by AERO (Drogheda Port Wall)

AERO has produced the story of Ireland’s famous bard, poet and judge of the Milesians, Amergin. While under attack from the Tuatha Dé Danann, Amergin miraculously calmed the sea by chanting a poem, before setting foot safely on land, near Drogheda.

AERO, is a self-taught painter born in France. His work provokes emotions, reactions and reflections, and he enjoys participating in giving public spaces meaning.

Stories by Anthony Murphy. Adapted by Gráinne Rafferty. Performed by Niall O'Brien. Original soundscape by Niall Gregory. Sound Editor Sean McCluskey at Basement Sounds.

Many thanks to all the partners engaged in this piece including Louth County Council, Paul Fleming, Nessa Lally, Laurence Kirwan and Drogheda Port, the d hotel, Colourtrend, Murtagh's of Drogheda & Height for Hire.

Produced by Droichead Arts Centre and Love Drogheda B.I.D.S (Business Improvement District Scheme), in partnership with Louth County Council Arts Office and curators Dee Walsh and Brian Hegarty (33-45). Working together with local, national and international artists, and mythologist Anthony Murphy, to deliver six murals based on some of the key figures from Irish Mythology who are rooted in the Boyne Valley region,  the project will be delivered across a number of strands which will draw on Drogheda’s significant rich heritage, mythology and architecture.

Boann by Lula Goce (Abbey Lane)

Lula Goce has depicted the ancient story of Boann. Boann was the goddess of the Boyne, who's name was given to the river after an erupting well carried her to the sea, where she fatefully drowned.

Lula Goce, a graduate of fine art and painting from Spain, discovered a thriving underground graffiti scene during some time living in Barcelona, and thus her love for urban art festivals began. Lula enjoys the dialogue that is established between passers-by and residents alike as wall art takes shape and in its finality alters community spaces and neighbourhoods for the better. The fact these pieces become integral to the area, drives Lula to new heights of artistic endeavour when creating these pieces. The protagonists of her work are almost always women and children combined with nature.

Stories by Anthony Murphy. Adapted by Gráinne Rafferty. Performed by Gráinne Rafferty. Original soundscape by Niall Gregory. Sound Editor Sean McCluskey at Basement Sounds.

Many thanks to all the partners engaged in this piece including Louth County Council, David Courtney and all at Brú Digital Hub, the d hotel, Colourtrend Paints, Murtagh's of Drogheda & Height for Hire.

Produced by Droichead Arts Centre and Love Drogheda B.I.D.S (Business Improvement District Scheme), in partnership with Louth County Council Arts Office and curators Dee Walsh and Brian Hegarty (33-45). Working together with local, national and international artists, and mythologist Anthony Murphy, to deliver six murals based on some of the key figures from Irish Mythology who are rooted in the Boyne Valley region,  the project will be delivered across a number of strands which will draw on Drogheda’s significant rich heritage, mythology and architecture.

Étaín by Nina Valkhoff (Meat Market Lane)

Nina Valkhoff has taken inspiration from the story of Étaín, the heroine of Tochmarc Étaíne, one of the oldest and richest stories of our Mythological Cycle for her mural on the side of Penney's building, West St.

Nina Valkhoff, a painter/muralist from Rotterdam, The Netherlands has painted large-scale murals all over the world, in countries like Sweden, Argentina, Mexico, Belgium, Portugal, Ireland, France, Italy, as well as the Netherlands. Her style is realistic with a touch of magic, often emphasizing extinct animals! Her compositions are botanical, vivid, and they often put a smile on people's faces as they pass by.

Stories by Anthony Murphy. Adapted by Gráinne Rafferty. Performed by Gráinne Rafferty. Original soundscape by Niall Gregory. Sound Editor Sean McCluskey at Basement Sounds.

Many thanks to all the partners engaged in this piece including Louth County Council, Penney's and all the business on Meat Market Lane, the d hotel, Colourtrend, Murtagh's of Drogheda & Height for Hire.

Produced by Droichead Arts Centre and Love Drogheda B.I.D.S (Business Improvement District Scheme), in partnership with Louth County Council Arts Office and curators Dee Walsh and Brian Hegarty (33-45). Working together with local, national and international artists, and mythologist Anthony Murphy, to deliver six murals based on some of the key figures from Irish Mythology who are rooted in the Boyne Valley region,  the project will be delivered across a number of strands which will draw on Drogheda’s significant rich heritage, mythology and architecture.

Thirtythree-45 and Droichead Arts Centre

In association with Drogheda Arts Festival

Thirtythree-45 and Droichead Arts Centre present a new curated programme of sound and music based on the theme ‘Where are we now? which will broadcast on thirtythree-45’s radio stream, and Droichead Arts Centre’s podcast channel over July and August. Local, national and international artists have been invited to respond to this theme based on the David Bowie song of the same name.

Featured artists for Episode 6: Phil & Jim Christie & Tara Boath Mooney.

Same again - Phil & Jim Christie 9pm UTC

The Bonk is a musical project based around compositions by Waterford musician and songwriter, Philip Christie (formerly of O Emperor). Gathering influences from 60’s garage, jazz, and experimental pop, recursive rhythms and improvised melodies are brought together in loose minimalist song forms.

The group’s first collection of recordings, ‘The Bonk Seems To Be A Verb’, was released as a limited edition cassette via Drogheda label thirtythree-45 in October 2017.

‘Same Again’ uses live improvisation, tape loops and close harmony vocals to think through the tension between repetitions and what is always new .The similarity of sibling voices, the uncanny consequence of near-identical gene combinations conjured years apart, is used as a starting point.

Aeolian - Tara Boath Mooney 9.30 UTC

The Clumsy Giantess is a visual and sound artist who works from a cave in the North West. She collaborates with Tara Baoth Mooney in the egg house, across different forms and practices including performance, herbal animism, composition, drawing and spoken-song. Both do other things too.

Aeolian daytrip for all the people: Uncontained humans. Contained humans. Containers.

Slippy getaways. Secret ears. Record the walls before they cave in.

Violence and terror sours the flesh. Reduce me to a biological trace. Empty sea. People. Full sea. Goltraí.

Sticky flies. Sticky buns. The Bones bleach. Dehumanise me.

Caoineadh. Holy God. Unholy God. Incant - decant. Excavate - eliminate. No homes to go to.

Loss leaves holes. Innocence is stained by souls. Deora searbh braon beag blasta.

Geantraí. Damhsa. Deora athais. Souls spring from hard floors. Time swells and shrinks. Laughter in the belly. Baling twine. Astral Agartha. Scimíni. Croí-Cairdeachas. The crow is our friend. Fat heart hope. Eirí ar eiteog.

Suantraí. Bringlóidí. Spioradálta. Réaltach. Sleep now. Love is not the answer. Love is the answer

Thirtythree-45 and Droichead Arts Centre

In association with Drogheda Arts Festival

Thirtythree-45 and Droichead Arts Centre present a new curated programme of sound and music based on the theme ‘Where are we now? which will broadcast on thirtythree-45’s radio stream, and Droichead Arts Centre’s podcast channel over July and August. Local, national and international artists have been invited to respond to this theme based on the David Bowie song of the same name.

Featured artists for Episode 5: Hilary Mullaney & Niall Gregory.

Hilary Mullaney

Enough (2021)

fixed media composition, 30:00

This work was made using fields recordings, DIY instruments, voice and instrumentation. Moments captured, manipulated and edited into a series of sound images. Composed during summer 2021, a commission for thirty three 45 / Drogheda Arts Festival.

Hilary Mullaney is an Irish composer and sound artist.  She has been active in the field of electroacoustic music for over 20 years, with works performed and broadcast both nationally and internationally, most recently for Audiosphere. Sound Experimentation 1980-2020, the first large-scale contemporary art exhibition of sound works, with no images or objects, at Museo Reina Sofía, Madrid. Place informs her practice, using field recordings, improvisation and everyday experiences to explore memories and associations through sound

Niall Gregory

Where are we now ?

Waiting with bated breath to return to what we once considered normal. Strange music for strange times. Life goes on regardless.

Niall Gregory is a Drogheda based musician/educator . Currently performing and recording music from a wide range of musical genres from Grind, Doom, electronic and Drone/ Ambient.

Thirtythree-45 and Droichead Arts Centre

In association with Drogheda Arts Festival

Thirtythree-45 and Droichead Arts Centre present a new curated programme of sound and music based on the theme ‘Where are we now? which will broadcast on thirtythree-45’s radio stream, and Droichead Arts Centre’s podcast channel over July and August. Local, national and international artists have been invited to respond to this theme based on the David Bowie song of the same name.

Featured artists for Episode 4: Conor McMahon, Diarmuid Mac Diarmada (with contributions from Tara Boath Mooney), and Liam Ryan

9:00pm Fierce Consolations: A colloborative meditation from beside the seas of Dublin with Conor McMahon (www.wildernish.com) & Diarmuid Mac Diarmada, with Contributions from Tara Boath Mooney.

Fierce Consolations is a complement to the horizon, an invitation to walk towards the unfolding as it bends across the arc of time. This suite part of a longer piece is the result of manipulations - live and studio based - from an initial, short improvisation recorded using mics placed inside the body of a 100 year old Steinweg upright piano.

9:30PM What's Changed: New commission from  Liam Ryan aka Arc Pioneer and former member of In Motion. Mexican Pets and Dot Creek

Liam Ryan is a Dublin born, Louth resident, musician who uses guitar, keyboards, field recordings and samples to create noisy and melodic ambience. Releasing music under the moniker Arc Pioneer, Liam as also been a member of bands In Motion, Dot Creek and Mexican Pets.

Where are we now? A question? To be interpreted through sound for radio.