Skip to main content

DkIT's Department of Creative Arts, Media and Music Supporting Cruinniú na nÓg

14 May 2021

DkIT’s Department of Creative Arts, Media and Music are delighted to be involved in this year’s Cruinniú na nÓg leading initiatives as part of Ireland’s national day of creativity. Cruinniú na nÓg is a flagship initiative of the Creative Ireland Programme’s Creative Youth plan to enable the creative potential of children and young people and this year’s events will take place on 12 June 2021.



The Department of Creative Arts, Media and Music are partnering with Droichead Arts Centre to present Music Matters. Hosted by lecturers Jonathan Duggan and Niall Coghlan, this panel of industry experts including artists, producers, venue managers and sound engineers will discuss their experiences in the music industry.

This event in free and aimed at teenagers aged 14-18 who are interested in making a career in music. During the Q&A participants will also have the chance to put their questions to the experts.

Along with singer/songwriter Farah Elle, Derek Turner Manager of Spirit Store Dundalk and artist manager Joel Safo, two of our MA students will feature as panellists: singer/producer Stephanie Caffrey and singer Gráinne Duffy.

Stephanie Caffrey is a musician and songwriter from Co. Louth with a portfolio of recorded works ranging from rock, electronic, folk, and Irish traditional music. Her passion for the artistry of music production and music performance facilitates her role in the Irish music industry as a music producer and sound engineer, working with the Oriel Traditional Orchestra, Na Píobairí Uilleann and Fair Plé amongst others. Stephanie has also worked in audio-visual contexts as a location sound engineer and sound designer for promotional videos and short films. She is a graduate of Dundalk Institute of Technology’s BA (Hons) Music and Audio Production and will graduate in November 2021 with a Masters Degree in Music Research.

Gráinne Duffy is a touring, original artist from Co. Monaghan. From Glastonbury to Woodford Folk Festival, Australia, she has toured international blues and rock stages as well as featured as a headline artist at home and abroad on many theatre and festival stages! She has also recorded 4 studio and one live albums. Her latest release ‘Voodoo Blues’ has earned her international acclaim featuring in a number of European indie broadcast lists and a top 10 position on iTunes Blues chart in Canada. She is also a DkIT research and performance based PhD student and is currently a BBC host with her new series Gráinne Duffy Rocks premiering in May.

Prior to entering academia, Niall Coghlan has worked in many areas of the Irish music industry, from grotty gig venues to corporate AV, from recording studios to sound design for games. These days he is as likely to be found at a conference as at a gig with his research published internationally. He also DJs and produces electronic music as 2BiT and has far more vinyl records and synthesisers than is entirely healthy.

Starting out as a recording engineer at Verden Studios in Edinburgh in 2004, Jonathan Duggan worked extensively producing emerging bands on the Scottish music scene. He went on to manage Verden Studios and then established his own recording studio in 2014. Jonathan now lectures Audio & Music Production at DkIT and continues to work with emergent artists in Ireland. Full details on this event and booking information is available here - https://droicheadartscentre.ticketsolve.com/shows/873624057

Current PhD student in music, Christina Lynn will lead an interactive and fun song writing work shop for 7-10 year olds called ‘The Garden of Music’ encompassing the theme of biodiversity. Children will learn about animals and insects that are found in the garden through music and movement. Christina has much experience teaching singing, guitar and performance to students of all ages. She also worked on the ‘Writing a Science Opera Project’ (WASO) and has led STEAM and creativity workshops in Dundalk Library for primary school children. This workshop is free and full details and booking information is available here.All activities are funded by Creative Ireland.

All Media Enquiries

  • Marketing & Communications