Dunaire

‘Dunaire’ was a musical composition by Gary Reilly, National College of Art & Design, was developed using the Drogheda Port shipping statistics from the 1700’s. Gary who is from Drogheda and in his final year at college, collaborated with local composer Michael Holohan on the musical composition.

The project examined the history and shipping statistics of Drogheda Port and evolved into a musical composition which was performed at ship street in Drogheda. The multimedia piece explores the relationship of the town and its port which has changed over the years as it moved from state to commercial semi-state ownership. In the past, Drogheda has had a strong working-class identity, but Gary suggests that the town has lost much of this identity in the post-industrial era.

The music was developed using statistics (shipping tonnages etc.) from the 1700’s until present day. This culminated in a compelling and poetic work to let an audience experience the ebbs and flows of Drogheda port over the last 300 or so years. 

Gary Reilly was subsequently awarded the R.C. Lewis Crosby Award for Duanaire.