Drogheda’s nightlife may have taken a hit after Covid, but for Legion of Boom, standing still was never an option. Legion of Boom was founded by Steo Maguire alongside Christian McGerty, with the idea taking shape while Steo was still in college.
“I was really interested in starting my own collective and running my own events locally,” Steo says. “I wanted to give up and coming DJs a chance, because I knew how difficult it was to get your name out there in the DJ scene.”
Like many towns, Drogheda saw its music and nightlife scene slow down significantly in recent years. But according to the collective, that story is already changing.
“The nightlife clearly took a decline after Covid,” they say. “But collectives like Purses, Drogheda Groove Movement, We R Ravers and ourselves have made it our mission to bring back nightlife and the dance scene. You can start to see an improvement.”
That local resurgence has also shaped Legion of Boom’s sound and identity. “For years the local scene was mostly commercial,” they explain. “We feel like the collectives in Drogheda, ourselves included, are now bringing the European and Dublin dance scene to the town. Our DJs all have very unique sounds, so when it comes to our events, people can expect real versatility.”
The collective has built a strong reputation locally through events like their Foleys “F*ck Mondays” nights, which consistently drew large crowds. “We’d be known for our Foleys nights, which had a great turnout every time,” they say. “It all really started with Well Fest in Grennan’s Bar, and since then we’ve played WigWam in Dublin and run events in Cavan and Monaghan too.”
What sets Legion of Boom apart, they believe, is not just the music, but the experience around it. “We all bring something different to our sets, but it’s always a good time,” they say. “We put a lot into promotion as well, hiring videographers and photographers to capture every night properly.”
Supporting new DJs has remained central to their ethos. “We were running events in Weavers where DJs could send on their mixes and get a chance to play live,” they add. “It was all about giving people opportunities and helping them get their name out there.”
When it comes to playing different venues and events, adaptability is key. “We try to understand what the crowd wants to hear, but we always leave room to mix it up,” they say. “We’re resident DJs for Sunday Street functions, but we can also get the crowd hopping in Fusion Piano Bar.”
One Drogheda moment stands out above the rest so far. “It would have to be our Piano Bar set, Steo b2b Christy,” they say. “The crowd was buzzing and we had a blast. Big shout out to Jordan Bohan for the invite.”
Momentum is now building well beyond Drogheda, with new collaborations taking shape across the country. “We have a lot of exciting things coming this year with other collectives around Ireland,” they say. “Playing WigWam in Dublin was sick and really made us want to venture out even more.”
For anyone booking Legion of Boom, they are clear about what to expect. “We come prepared with our own lights, sound system and decks,” they say. “There’s clear communication and proper planning, so people are guaranteed a good night of music and dancing.”
Looking ahead, the collective has recently partnered with Drogheda Famous 45 Ultras, hosting pre-match and after-party events for home games. “Our first event will take place on 13 February after the first home match of the season against Waterford,” they say. “We also have more events coming very soon, which people can find on our socials at @legion_of_boom_collective.”
From a college idea to a growing national presence, Legion of Boom are proving that Drogheda’s dance scene is not only back, it is building something new.
Special shoutout to the Legion of Boom crew:
Cal, Smiley Riley, Deception, Danik, Aaron O’Donnell, Christy, T. Piner, RON, Heretic, DNLY and Steo.
