Kada KaBoom Arts

19/06/2026

Just completed a six week course with the 4th and 6th class students of St. Kevin's NS Greystones Co. Wicklow.
The 4th class students put on a performance for their fellow classes and by all means, did brilliantly. I love the 4th and 5th class ages in primary school. It's like, they now learned how to learn and are eager to learn more (too many "learns" there..)
As I was about to say goodbye, I was clobbered by a load of homemade thank you cards, pictures and sentiments.
I'm doing this 28 years, but I still love the affection shown by these tokens of kindness. And I'm continually caught out by them.
The collage here is just a quick look. If you'd like all of the images and writings of a cool bunch of 4th class children, head over to my website
www.KadaKaBoomArts.com
Where (if I did this correctly) there should ya slide show on the opening page.

There's still a 6th class graduation to go next week, but rest assured, I'm in the best of form thanks to these creative characters.

08/06/2026

Viscri Romania. A Community Arts "Think in".

A UNESCO world heritage village up in amongst the hills of Translvani. About 20 of us from all different places around Ireland, north and south and covering almost every aspect of the arts.

From facilitators to policymakers.
What's it all about?
What role has community arts in Ireland?
Is community arts a thing in Ireland?

Rest assured, we'll have all the answers by Saturday...
(Or none of them)

30/05/2026

Simple Creativity Wins Every time.

Out in the county Meath's Scoil Oilibheir Naofa in
Bettystown on Friday. And between drumming with four 2nd classes of seven year olds, I managed to delve into one of my favourite pastimes, "Check out the junior's art collection".

And what a wee treat these were. When toilet roll tubes aren't available for your 3-D image, get creative!

Love it.

26/05/2026

Spoilt for choice.

New recruit to the KadaKaBoomArts.com crew is this 70cm Contemporânea Timba.
For a long time these were once the only drums I'd lead with. Timbra tempted away with the promise of tighter tones, metal shell and taller-ness??? Which was all very good for a while...
But the moral of the story is, if it ain't broke, don't fix it.

21/04/2026

Would ya look at the heads on them....
No, really, would you look at the heads on them.
I can see the creativity and imagine the craic.

28/03/2026

(More Easter break catch-ups.)
And again...
St. John's NS Drogheda Early Sart children and families booming away on the
KadaKaBoomArts.com 's drums!

27/03/2026

I was just delighted to return to Scoil Bhride Dunleer for a second year to run my Six Week Course.

From Junior Infants to Sixth class, the drums of KadaKaBoomArts.com got a real good workout. But better again, I got to meet and see these faces and characters that would just have you enthralled and enthusiastic from the word go. I love working in the “Wee” county (Louth) and I know, these little folk will be a bright part of its future.

Click here to catch Dunleer's Scoil Bhride National School's Instagram post and see where the drums of KadaKaBoomArts.com get a great workout.

https://www.instagram.com/p/DV3KgnUCHIS/?igsh=MXBzb3A3aDdscnR2aw==​

And..here too

www.instagram.com/p/DVlMmwRiNxF/?igsh=Y2JvaGl5enJ1Mzhn

20/03/2026

This is a brilliant project. The little ones get to bang the drums...and the big ones joining in.

They've been doing it for years. Well done Early Sart Bernie Pentony and team.

13/03/2026

My annual visit to St. John's NS Drogheda around the St. Patrick's festival season.

Each year several 3 and 4 year olds (and their families) from their EarlyStart classes take great pleasure in making light work of the KadaKaBoomArts.com drums...

I was met by this lovable lass (and not in the slightest bit camera shy) assistance dog, Edel. I didn't get a whole lot of time to chat to the fabulous human at the end of her lead, (maybe next time Liza) but my limited experience of these highly trained dogs in schools is that the effect of having her just in the building brings a tremendous amount of education, support and comfort to so many.
(No pressure there Edel!)

A delight to make an acquaintance with of a Friday.

17/01/2026

Thinking cap on so...

We are delighted to announce Kieran Gallagher as Droichead's associate curator for community and outreach.

Kieran Gallagher is a musician, artist, performer, award winning project creator and coordinator receiving the Allianz Business to Arts Awards from former president Michael D. Higgans. For almost thirty years, a prolific instigator in providing communities with opportunities to engage with the arts.

Through KadaKaBoomArts.com (Est 1998) his facilitation skills in music and percussion have captured him working with primary schools, secondary schools, third level colleges, youth groups, special need groups, women’s and men’s groups and theatrical groups.

He has been the artistic director of the Droichead’s “Spooks Parade” 2021-2025, and played the same role for the centre’s “St. Patrick’s Day Pageant” 2023-2024 and Droichead's Back in the Groove & Back in the Groove “The Gathering” 2021-2022 (all to be found on our YouTube page).

“My first journey into the Arts was actually as a “Community Employment” employee for the Droichead Arts Centre in 1997. This new role will continue the adventure, and one I look forward to exploring”.

The Arts Council / An Chomhairle Ealaíon Kada KaBoom Arts LoveDrogheda Visit Drogheda Visit Louth Discover Boyne Valley Louth County Council Arts Office