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music · Thursday 23 July 2026 · Various 
Boyne Music Festival 2026 - Chamber Music in the Boyne Valley
At Townley Hall and Slane Castle · Townley Hall, Slane, Co. Meath
At Townley Hall and Slane Castle · Townley Hall, Slane, Co. Meath
Four days of chamber music in some of the finest historic rooms along the River Boyne - the Boyne Music Festival has quietly built a reputation as one of Ireland’s most distinctive small classical festivals since its founding. Now in its 13th year, the 2026 edition runs from Thursday 23 to Sunday 26 July with a theme of Forgotten Spaces, examining the buildings and landscapes we inhabit, neglect, and sometimes rediscover. It suits anyone with a genuine love of chamber music who wants to hear it somewhere other than a conventional concert hall. The intimacy is the point.
The programme spreads across Townley Hall on the Slane road, the ballroom and grounds of Slane Castle, and St Peter’s Church of Ireland in Drogheda. Each venue brings its own character to the music: Townley Hall, a Georgian mansion, offers what the organisers describe as elegancy and intimacy; Slane Castle adds a grander backdrop for the opening night dinner and concert “Echoes”; and St Peter’s provides cathedral acoustics for the midweek programme “Foundations” on Friday 24 July (8-10pm), featuring works by Vivaldi, Schubert, and Irish composer Ian Wilson.
The roster of performers is strong. Lotte Betts-Dean, Paul Cassidy, Deirdre Brenner, Ioana Petcu-Colan, Sholto Kynoch, Jacqueline Thomas, and emerging composer Samuel Kane are all on the bill, alongside poet Kate Wakeling who contributes to the festival’s blend of music and word. Beyond the concerts, the programme includes a film screening of Philip Denvir’s documentary “Leave Only Footprints” exploring dereliction in Northern Ireland, a photography exhibition of abandoned Irish spaces, guided tours, and a poetry workshop. On the final morning (Sunday 26 July, 11am-2pm), there is an Amateur Strings Workshop at Townley Hall, open to adult string players of varying levels, at €40 per person including refreshments.
Venue capacity is limited across all events, so booking ahead is strongly advised.
Townley Hall sits just off the N51 between Drogheda and Slane, a few kilometres west of Drogheda town. By car from Dublin, the M1 motorway to Junction 9 (Drogheda North) takes around 45 minutes; from there follow signs for Slane. Parking is available at the venues. Slane Castle is in the village itself, directly on the N51. There is no dedicated public transport to Townley Hall, but Bus Eireann services run between Dublin and Drogheda regularly, and a taxi or lift from Drogheda to the venue is straightforward.
The village sits at a crossroads above the Boyne, with a ruined castle and a hillside said to be where St Patrick lit his Paschal fire in defiance of the High King. The river walk is short and worth the time. There is more to see in Slane and across Co. Meath.
Heading to Townley Hall and Slane Castle in Slane? Meath has plenty more to see. Read the Slane area guide, find what else is on, and explore the towns and villages nearby.