Three seminars to explore local and national heritage 

The Drogheda Civic Trust it is organising a Festival of Drogheda History — a new series of public history seminars to take place throughout 2025, celebrating the rich and diverse heritage of Drogheda and its wider historical context.

The festival, which is being supported by Louth County Council, will consist of three major seminars, beginning with “Oliver Plunkett in Historical Context” on Saturday, 3rd May 2025, at St. Peter’s Church of Ireland Parish Hall, Drogheda.

The event will open with a welcome from the Mayor of Drogheda, Cllr. Paddy McQuillan, and will feature a distinguished panel of speakers including Fr. Iggy O’Donovan OSA, Dr. Paul Smith (Trinity College), Dr. Eoghan Darcy (Maynooth University), Dr. Annaleigh Margey (Dundalk Institute of Technology), and Sean Collins of the Drogheda Civic Trust.

Admission is free and the event begins at 10am. All are welcome.

The second seminar, scheduled for July 2025, will explore “The Role of the Fenians in the 1860s”, and will include a special site visit to the John Boyle O’Reilly monument at Dowth. Full details and registration information will be announced closer to the date.

The final seminar of the year will take place on Friday, 8th November 2025, commemorating the 100th anniversary of the unveiling of Drogheda’s World War I Cenotaph on Mary Street. A powerful line-up of contributors will include Professor Brian Hanley (Trinity College), Lynn McDonnell, Dr. Donal Hall, Captain Francis Ledwidge, and Paul Clarke (UTV).

Chair of the Drogheda Civic Trust, Denis Cummins, commented:

“We are thrilled to present this Festival of Drogheda History, which highlights our town’s place in the wider story of Ireland. These events are about fostering local pride, learning from our past, and creating connections between community and heritage. With support from Louth County Council, we are proud to offer these events free to the public.”