Opening on this day week, Friday October 25, and running over two weekends, the Lú Festival of Light will turn the historic town of Drogheda into an outdoor theatre of light featuring mythology, animated projections, music and storytellers telling the legends of the Boyne region.
Celebrating Ireland as the home of Halloween, and highlighting our mythological past, Lú Festival of Light will bewitch visitors who follow the trail of locations including St. Peter’s Church, St. Dominic’s Bridge, the Old Abbey and St. Laurence’s Gate.
New to the festival this year is The Milky Way: an interactive screen installation in Scotch Hall. Based on the mythical Milky Way, it responds to visitors’ movements, revealing constellations as they approach or gesture. This touch-free experience merges cosmic imagery with ancient lore, offering an immersive journey through the stars.
A free event open to all, Lú Festival of Light is an initiative of Louth County Council, in partnership with Love Drogheda BIDS and is part funded under the Fáilte Ireland Urban Animation Scheme.
Offering a full evening of adventure where people can journey through time along the trail and discover the stories of Cú Chulainn, Lú, the Salmon of Knowledge, Boann, The Two Olivers and many more.
Spectacular projections will adorn intricate stonework around Drogheda while illustrating the legendary tales of heroic warriors, mythical creatures, and ethereal landscapes that have woven themselves into the fabric of Drogheda’s history.
This will all take place alongside an array of on-street performances including stilt walkers, face painters and fire breathers, together with cafes, bars and restaurants in the area staying open late to welcome visitors to the Town.
Déan ceiliúradh ar ár dteanga agus ár gcultúr ag ‘Lú, Féile an tSolais’ Oíche Shamhna 2024. This year the shows on the 31st of October will be delivered as Gaelige to coincide with the ‘Caint agus Comhrá’ taking place on the same night.
The Spooks Parade pictured at opening night of the Lú Festival of Light in Drogheda last year. Photo: Leon Farrell / Photocall Ireland.
There will be a sensory hour on Monday the 28th from 6.30 to 7.30pm where the sound will be reduced to one third of the volume. Please note flashing lights will be in operation throughout the light shows.
Additional events will include Drogheda Classical music together with the Vanburgh Quartet, author Dave Rudden and actor Grainne Rafferty, who will present a special show on the 1st of November in St Peter’s Church of Ireland. Local venues are putting on additional events to co-incide with the Festival.
Illumination Information
Old Abbey
The Old Abbey has an exhilarating new projection installation for 2024. The innovative artwork will transform the bell tower into a towering canvas, where vivid projections bring to life the tales of ancient gods, legendary heroes, and mystical creatures that have graced the folklore of Drogheda for centuries. As night falls, the bell tower will become a portal to another world, where stunning visuals will dance across its surface, immersing spectators in a realm of magic and wonder.
St Peter’s Church
Prepare to be transported through time and mythology with an exhilarating projection of new stories for 2024. This mapped installation will grace the historic St. Peter’s Church, located in the heart of Drogheda. This immersive experience will celebrate the heritage of Drogheda and St Oliver Plunkett. Visitors are invited to embark on a journey where the past is brought to life, leaving them spellbound and in awe of the history that resides within the Town walls.
St Laurence’s Gate
An extraordinary new projection installation for 2024 will embrace the captivating Irish mythical stories and be brought to life upon the iconic Laurence’s Gate in Drogheda. With cutting-edge artwork this ancient monument will transform into a storytelling canvas. As dusk descends Laurence’s Gate will emerge as a gateway to a realm of enchantment and folklore. The projections seamlessly blend with the gate’s architectural details, creating a breathtaking fusion of past and present, myth and reality. Visitors will be transported into a world of wonder, where the boundaries between imagination and the tangible blur, and where the rich tapestry of Irish mythology unfurls before their eyes.
St Dominic’s Bridge
A spectacular water screen projection installation will grace the magnificent St. Dominic’s Bridge. This groundbreaking artwork will combine the fluidity of water with the enchanting narratives of Drogheda’s Irish mythical stories, creating a spellbinding fusion of nature and folklore. Prepare to be captivated by this harmonious marriage of water and light, as St. Dominic’s Bridge becomes a gateway to a world of legends and wonders that will leave you in awe of the power of storytelling.
For more information see www.lufestivaloflight.com
