By Andy Spearman

I finally made it in to town on Monday last for the Lú Festival of Light and what a fantastic evening it was with the streets of Drogheda thronged with families soaking up the atmosphere of the amazing light shows.

It’s always great to walk the streets of the town without having to worry about traffic and to see people enjoying themselves. The illuminations are really fantastic and the characters such as fire-eaters, fairies good and bad and monsters of all descriptions that you will meet on the street really add to the fun.

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. 

The really good news is that the show is back in town this weekend starting at 6.30 this evening and it really is worth a visit, or indeed a revisit. The individual illuminations are short enough and are timed so that you can wander from site to site and not miss anything.

The Lú Festival of Light is a free event and an initiative of Louth County Council, in partnership with Love Drogheda BIDS. Lú Festival of Light is supported by Fáilte Ireland and is part funded under the Fáilte Ireland Urban Animation Scheme.  

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 LAURENCES 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 DOMINICK'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