Overview
The setting is the draw here as much as the art. Highlanes occupies a former Franciscan church on the old High Lane in Drogheda, and the conversion kept the original stonework and vaulted ceilings, so the rotating exhibitions hang under a medieval nave. It opened as a public gallery in 2006 and has become the main visual-arts venue in the North-East. Admission is free, with a suggested €2 donation.
History
The Franciscan Order occupied the site for centuries before handing the church to the people of Drogheda in 2000. A restoration adapted it into a gallery, which opened in 2006. The collection runs from 18th-century Irish portraiture to contemporary installation, but the standout objects predate the art entirely: the ceremonial sword and solid-silver mace presented by King William III after the Battle of the Boyne, fought a few kilometres upriver in 1690.
What to see
- The Drogheda Municipal Art Collection dates from the mid-18th century and traces the region’s artistic history.
- The mace and sword from William III are the reason most first-time visitors come, displayed alongside the paintings.
- Temporary exhibitions rotate through the year, showing national and international work by emerging and established artists.
- Talks and workshops run throughout the year.
- A ground-floor café and shop handle refreshments, art books and local crafts.
If you have half an hour, look at the mace first, then the contemporary show in the nave.
Practical information
Opening hours
| Day | Hours |
|---|---|
| Tuesday – Saturday | 10:30 am – 5:00 pm |
| Sunday – Monday | Closed (except selected bank holidays) |
The gallery does open on selected bank holiday weekends, including the May and October ones, usually in step with local arts festivals. Outside those, a Sunday or Monday visit is a wasted trip.
Admission
| Visitor | Fee |
|---|---|
| General public | Free (suggested donation €2) |
Getting there
- By train – Drogheda is on the Intercity Dublin–Belfast line and suburban services, with regular trains from Connolly Station.
- By bus – Coaches connect Drogheda with Dublin, Dundalk and Belfast.
- By car – Take the M1, exit at the Drogheda turn-off and follow signs for the town centre. Multi-storey and street parking are nearby.
- On foot – The gallery is in the town centre, a short walk from West Street and the River Boyne promenade.
Contact
- Website: https://highlanes.ie/
- Phone: +353 (0)41 980 3311
- Email: info@highlanes.ie
Accessibility
There is level access at the entrance and adapted interior spaces for wheelchair users, with an assistance desk on the ground floor.
Nearby attractions
- Mellifont Abbey – Ireland’s first Cistercian monastery, a short drive west.
- Magdalene Tower – the medieval tower ruin standing over the north of the town.
- Carlingford Castle – a medieval fortress above Carlingford Lough, a longer run up the Cooley coast.
