Arts SCeneWith a rich heritage for inspiration and a deep well of talent, Louth is a county at ease with the arts. A range of venues throughout the county present a varied mix of drama, music, poetry, dance and opera with something tosuit everybody's taste. |
Louth is home to two of the most innovative theatre companies in Ireland. Upstate and Callipo. Both based in Drogheda, their work is challenging and relevant, gathering critical acclaim both in Ireland and abroad. Dundalk International Maytime Drama Festival has, over many years, established itself as the premier invitation amateur drama festival in the country, with Irish companies competing with groups as far afield as Korea, the Untied States and Israel. Later in summer, Drogheda becomes the Samba capital of Ireland, as the Samba Festival takes up the challenge of making every hip sway and foot shuffle on the banks of the Boyne.
But maybe it's music that best captures the spirit of Louth. The fiddle and the flute, the pipes and the whistle are in evidence throughout the county, with traditional music sessions to be found in bars from Drogheda to Carlingford. Choirs, brass bands, musical societies, rock bands, ballad groups and classical music ensembles complete the musical mosaic, and no mention of music in Louth would be complete without mention of The Corrs, who maintain strong links with their musical heartland of north Louth.
The Basement Gallery in Dundalk and the gallery in the Droichead Arts Centre mount large-scale exhibitions throughout the year, with work from local, national, and international artists.
