DROGHEDA
SONGWRITING
FESTIVAL
sunday 28 September 2025
9:30am - 9pm
droichead arts centre
the second annual
a day of inspiration, collaboration and creation for songwriters of all levels!
A whole morning of workshops!
Each workshop focuses on a different aspect of the craft
Run by experienced mentors
Provides new inspiration and ideas for your songwriting
Q&A hosted by Charlie McGettigan!
This year’s Q&A will be with HamsandwicH, one of Irelands biggest musical exports of the last 20 years!
HamsandwicH will spill the beans on their creative process to Charlie McGettigan, followed by an acoustic performance by the group.
Spaces provided for songwriting!
collaborate & network with other participants
create something new and exciting
participants will be encouraged to perform their days’ creations at the evening’s gala concert!
so, what will my participation at the festival look like?
On the day, make sure you’re early to ensure prompt commencements of the various events.
If you play an instrument and use it as part of your songwriting process, be sure to bring it along!
During the time you’re not attending a Q&A or workshop, there will be spaces provided for you to sit and create. We strongly encourage co-writing with others at the festival, both as a way to discover more about songwriting and to build your network.
Workshop mentors will circulate throughout the day to act as a sounding board for those who need an external pair of ears.
There’ll be opportunities to perform some of the day’s creations at the gala concert at the end of the festival.
Featured Songwriters
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One of the most enthralling live acts in recent times, HamsandwicH are well known for their incendiary live performances which has put them right at the top of the live acts to see today. With the combination of Niamh Farrell's powerful yet sweet vocal and Podge McNamee's juxstaposing baritone the band are given it's signature calling card. If ever there was a band to feed off their audience it is HamsandwicH. Each show is bona fide celebration with everything from balloons and confetti to their unique crowd interaction on display.t
Live Q&A and Performance hosted by
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Charlie has worked with artists like Maura O’Connell and Eleanor Shanley who both recorded many of his songs including “Feet of a Dancer”, “A Bed for the Night” and “If Anything Happened to You”.
Charlie joined forces with Paul Harrington and Brendan Graham to win the 1994 Eurovision Song Contest for Ireland with “Rock n Roll Kids”. He has released many solo albums including “In Your Old Room”, “Family Matters” “ The man from 20” and “Stolen Moments” produced in Nashville by legendary producer Bil Vorndick.
Charlie’s songs have been recorded by many artists including De Danann, Mary and Frances Black, Ray Lynam, Daniel O’Donnell, Sandy Kelly and Hal Ketchum to name but a few.
These days Charlie tours both here in Ireland and abroad. He presents “The Saturday Connection” on Shannonside/Northern Sound Radio, a two hour programme where he previews live music and theatrical events, interviews guests from the world of arts and entertainment and plays an eclectic mix of music and song on CD.
Songwriting Mentors
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Ultan Conlon, Galway based, internationally acclaimed and with a voice as rich as his storytelling, is one of Ireland’s finest singer-songwriters, captivating audiences from Kilnamartyra to Los Angeles and beyond. His poetic lyrics, soaring melodies, and unmistakable voice have earned admiration from legends like Mary Coughlan, Eddi Reader, Gaby Moreno, and Hollywood star John C. Reilly.
Ultan has shared the stage with music icons such as Jackson Browne, Shelby Lynne, and Nickel Creek, while his five critically acclaimed albums have solidified his reputation as a masterful songwriter. His music has also made its mark in film, composing the soundtrack and score for Songs for Amy.
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Suzanne has over twenty years of professional vocal experience, from live stage to studio as both session singer, professional chorister and soloist, alongside a career as a singing teacher and coach with students of all ages and abilities. Recent work for Suzanne include tutoring for the IMC (Improvised Music Company)/DCU four day ‘Jazz Camp For Girls’ in July, and vocal projects with contemporary vocal ensemble Tonnta, including performing in June at Dublin’s National Concert Hall with The Crash Ensemble for ‘Music Town’ Festival, for Dublin’s Project Art Centre ‘New Music Now’ Festival in April. She toured her Joni Mitchell project ‘A Case of You’ in May, to continue in December 2025. She has written and co-written several albums, including the German Record Critic Prize nominated 2016 album “Sleepwalking” with cellist/arranger Hugo Smit (for their string quartet and voice project The Savage Five).
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Dublin Songwriter and Skerries native Keith Burke has released three original albums. “The Dancer who Stole your Shoes” in 2004, “No One Wants to Move” in 2008 and “These Boys” in 2016. He has played concerts in Pittsburgh USA, Cairo Egypt and Beirut Lebanon, has played televised concerts in Italy, dates in the 2005 Guinness Cork Jazz festival and received the Hotpress “Pick of the fortnight”.
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SJ McArdle is a songwriter, musician and curator, critically-acclaimed at home and abroad. He is known for his PORT project and its accompanying RTE Radio 1 Album Of The Week Old Ghosts In The Water, his previous work in award-winning folk band Kern and his career as a singer-songwriter in Nashville and Germany, which produced 2014’s critically-acclaimed Blood and Bones album.
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Gillian Tuite is a singer, songwriter and fingerstyle guitarist from Oldcastle, Co. Meath. Her performances, typified by creative and tasteful guitar playing, strong vocal melodies and heartfelt lyrics, have earned her a reputation for captivating a live audience. Gillian travels regularly to Nashville where she collaborates with renowned figures from the world of country, folk and bluegrass music. Gillian frequently works with other Irish artists and has been a member of The Paul Simon Project and the collective Lemonade Marinade.
