Seeing Drogheda through Nano Reid’s eyes with community historian Brendan Matthews.
Walk the streets she walked.
See the town through an artist’s eyes.
Discover how an ordinary place can shape an extraordinary vision.
In the spring of 1900, above a busy Drogheda public house, a child was born who would become one of Ireland’s most distinctive artistic voices.
Nano Reid studied in Dublin, London, and Paris, exhibited internationally, and represented Ireland on the world stage — yet her imagination remained rooted in the streets, markets, and river valley of her native town.
During this specially curated walking tour, community historian Brendan Matthews invites you to step into Nano’s Drogheda and encounter the places that shaped her artistic vision. Beginning at the Highlanes Municipal Art Gallery — celebrating its 20th anniversary this year and itself a symbol of the cultural confidence artists like Reid helped inspire — this relaxed, thoughtfully paced walk traces her journey from publican’s daughter to internationally recognised painter. Along quiet streets and familiar corners, the town is revealed through story rather than lecture, allowing you to experience Drogheda with the attentiveness of an artist.
Along the way you will discover:
- The birthplace of a remarkable creative life
- The vibrant market town that shaped her youth
- Early influences behind her independent spirit
- Her path into the wider European art world
- International recognition, including representing Ireland at the Venice Biennale
- Her later return – where memory, landscape, and belonging enriched her work
- Her enduring contribution to Irish art
Easy underfoot and rich in atmosphere, this walk is ideal for lovers of art, history, and cultural discovery – and for anyone wishing to see Drogheda from a reflective, artistic perspective.
Duration: 60 minutes
Pace: Gentle, with comfortable pauses
Starting Point: Highlanes Municipal Art Gallery
Tickets: €5
Date: Sun Sept 6
Time: 2:30pm – 3:30pm
Venue: Leaving from Highlanes Gallery
Brendan Matthews
Brendan Matthews is an independent historian and historical researcher, specialising in community and social history.
He has published widely in print and online media and is a regular contributor to radio and television on various events and periods in Irish history.