‘Beam me down to Drogheda, Scotty’
Drogheda has it all to host the 2018 celebration of Irish music and culture and even Captain James T Kirk agrees with that
HOLLYWOOD screen legend William Shatner says he’ll be in Drogheda ‘with bells on’ if the town secures the 2018 Fleadh Cheoil na hEireann.
The former captain of the Starship Enterprise took to Twtter last week to comment on a Drogheda Independent story, declaring his support for the town’s bid.
‘I’m a Drogger!,’ he proudly declared, before adding that ‘Cork can have it the next time’.
He is already being billed as the ambassador for Drogheda’s bid and if Drogheda gets the nod to host the event on March 11th, the race will be on to secure not only him but locally born fellow Hollywood icons, Pierce Brosnan and Colin O’Donoghue, to attend the nine-day event.
HOLLYWOOD legend William Shatner says he’ll be in Drogheda ‘ with bells on’ if the town secures the 2018 Fleadh Cheoil na hEireann.
The former captain of the Starship Enterprise took to Twtter last week to comment on a Drogheda Independent story, declaring his support for the town’s bid.
‘I’m a Drogger!,’ he proudly declared, before adding that ‘Cork can have it the next time’.
He is already being billed as the ambassador for Drogheda’s bid and if Drogheda gets the nod to host the multi-million Euro event on March 11th, the race will be on to secure not only him but locally born fellow Hollywood icons, Pierce Brosnan and Colin O’Donoghue (both pictured).
Indeed, Colin, who is the star of hit series ‘Once Upon a Time’ and has appeared in the like sof the Tudors and The Rite, alongside Anthony Hopkins, has been pushing Drogheda’s bid in Hollywood for a number of years.
It is now getting to crunch time for Drogheda’s bid and the national event organisers are expected in the town this week to check out the location prior to the final vote next week.
What they’ll find is a united town, backing one of the biggest events ever to take place here.
With a population of 1.7m living within an hour’s drive of the Boyneside port town, it is perfectly placed to spark a revolution in Irish music and culture that could last for years in this part of the country.
Writing in their superb Fleadh bid document, Lolo Robinson, Cathaoirleach of Drogheda Comhaltas, points to the fact that Drogheda - who is bidding for the 2018 event with Cork - could be the catalyst for great days ahead.
‘Fleadh Cheoil na hEireann has never been held in the north east of Ireland and NOW is the time to change that.’
There is a population of 80,000 in the greater Drogheda area and nearly two millon within a 60km radius.
‘How many of these play Irish music? How many are Comhaltas members? The percentage is very small but WE can change that,’ she declared.
The proposal for Drogheda has also been backed overwhelmingly by the Chief Executive of Louth County Council Joan Martin who wants a successful Fleadh application at the heart of her Creative Ireland Action Plan.
The likes of Dundalk Tourism has also backed the Drogheda bid and with up to 500,000 expected to attend over the nine days in August 2018, it will be a boom time for every hotel, B&B and campsite in the entire North East area.
A series of locations around Drogheda have been secured to stage events should the bid be a success and it is also planned to close off the town centre, turning it into a hive of music and dancing.
Drogheda is perfectly placed to spark a revolution in Irish music and culture that could last for years in this part of the country.