Louise O'Connor and Glor na dTonn Ceili Band - Boyne TradFest

What to Expect

Boyne TradFest closes on the Sunday afternoon with three hours of ceili dancing to Glor na dTonn Ceili Band, with Louise O’Connor calling the dances from the front. Calling matters here: it means the steps are talked through before and during each set, so people who have never done a half chain or a body in their lives can join a set and be carried through it by the other seven dancers. The festival states that all are welcome to take part, and in practice these afternoons draw a wide age spread from children up.

A ceili band is a different animal to a session group. Fiddles, box, flute, banjo, piano and drums play in unison at a steady dance tempo, holding a rhythm for the length of a full set rather than trading tunes around a table. St Peter’s Church of Ireland Parish Hall on Peter Street gives the event a proper wooden hall floor, which is what set dancing wants. Dancers who prefer to watch can sit out at the side, and there is no requirement to arrive with a partner or a set. It is the last event of a weekend that also takes in the At The Racket concert on the Saturday night, instrument masterclasses and a session trail across the town.

Good to Know

• Sunday 20 September 2026, 3pm to 6pm
• Venue: St Peter’s Church of Ireland Parish Hall, Peter Street, Drogheda
• Admission €15
• Dances are called, so beginners and first timers can take part
• No need to bring a partner or a full set
• Part of Boyne TradFest 2026, which runs 18 to 20 September
• Bring soft soled shoes if you have them, the floor is a hall floor

Getting There

St Peter’s Church of Ireland is on Peter Street in the middle of Drogheda, uphill from the Tholsel and West Street, with the parish hall attached. Drogheda MacBride railway station is about 15 minutes’ walk across the Boyne on the Dublin to Belfast line. Bus Eireann and Matthews services stop in the town centre. Drivers should leave the M1 at junction 9 or 10 and use the Scotch Hall car park or on street parking around Laurence Street, both a few minutes away on foot.