An Táin Arts Centre in Dundalk celebrates 10 years with spectacular artisitc event

An Táin Arts Centre celebrated ten years as an independent arts space with an evening of entertainment.

The event had speeches from special guests Michael Barker Craven, Head of Venues for the Arts Council of Ireland, Moya Hogers, Louth County Council Arts Officer, Chair of the An Táin Arts Centre Board Sharon McArdle and Director / CEO for the last ten years Paul Hayes. 

Guests enjoyed a variety of artistic events running concurrently in each of the arts centre’s creative spaces throughout the evening.

In the Main Theatre, host Paudie Breen brought guests through an evening of highlights from An Táin Arts Centre’s in house productions over the last ten years. 

There was readings of the Threading the Táin Tapestry poems by members of our theatre company in residence Chalk on the Wall Productions.

The poems were commissioned by An Táin Arts Centre in response to the Threading the Táin Tapestry Project, the readings were interspersed by performances from Everyman by The Mens Sheds Choir with Sophie Coyle, An extract of The Beckett List by Encore Productions.

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A performance by Glas Quartet, extracted from Cracks and Star of Chester’s Lane by Quintessence Theatre and an extract of the music from Brigid Lady of Light, performed by Jessica Muldrew, Daire Stanley, Francesca de Nardi, Davide Forti, Adéle Commins and Leandro Pessina. 

In the Studio Theatre, guests enjoyed a look back at the short films This is our Arts Centre. Shot during the Covid-19 Pandemic, the short films focus on a number of groups that could not use our venue during the pandemic and the impact that had.

It features, Dundalk Musical Society, Colaiste Rís, Dundalk Theatre Workshop, S.O.N.G, Funky Feet, M.A.D Youth Theatre, Castle Players, Encore Productions. 

In the Basement Gallery guests enjoyed the exhibition Flux by Emerging Visual Artist in Residence Moya Gibney, which explores the fluidity of gender representation.

There was a screening of Women of Independence, part II of the Remembrance Trilogy which explores the real life experiences of 4 Irish Women during the War of Independence and Decade of Dreams, an exhibition of the props and costumes from our annual outdoor family promenade theatre show which is also celebrating ten years. 

Director of An Táin Arts Centre Paul Hayes said:  “We are thrilled to celebrate  all the incredible talent that has shaped our journey over the past decade.

"We owe our thanks to our funders, our committed staff, board and volunteers, the arts community in Dundalk, and especially our audiences who, without their support we would not be here.”