Meet the Founders: The Story Behind Drogheda Musical Society
Updated: Jun 25
When Megan Monerawela and Sheena Duffy first spoke about bringing musical theatre back to Drogheda, neither imagined that just a few years later they would be celebrating a national award alongside a thriving community of performers, volunteers and supporters.
What began as a shared dream has become an award-winning musical society, reconnecting the town with a tradition that had been absent for almost 40 years.
Sheena Duffy (Left), Megan Monerawela (Right)
A Shared Passion for Musical Theatre
For both Megan and Sheena, musical theatre has always been more than a hobby.
Megan, a secondary school teacher of Irish and Music, grew up performing with St. Mary's Musical Society in Navan, inspired by her grandfather, Tom Walsh, who dedicated more than 50 years to the society. From childhood pantomimes to major musical productions, theatre became part of who she was.
Sheena, a primary school teacher with a degree and Master's in Music, discovered her love of theatre while performing in school productions before going on to perform with several musical societies across Ireland, both on stage and behind the scenes.
Although their journeys into musical theatre were different, they shared one common belief: everyone deserves the opportunity to experience the joy of performing.
How it Began
When Megan moved to Drogheda in 2021, she was surprised to discover that a town with such a rich cultural heritage no longer had an active musical society.
A year later, while working together, Megan and Sheena found themselves discussing the absence of community musical theatre in Drogheda.
"It has always been a dream of mine to set up a society in Drogheda," Sheena said.
Megan's response was "Well, let's do it."
Creating a musical society wasn't simply about putting on a show. It meant establishing a committee, raising funds, finding rehearsal spaces, securing insurance, organising theatre hire, purchasing production rights all from scratch.
In the early days, Megan and Sheena wore almost every hat imaginable.
Chairperson.
Secretary.
Treasurer.
Fundraiser.
Public Relations Officer.
Volunteer coordinator.
The list seemed endless.
Financially, it was one of the greatest challenges they faced. Before staging a full musical, the society organised cabaret performances and fundraising events simply to build enough resources to make their dream possible.
Despite the challenges, they never lost sight of their vision.
To create a welcoming environment where everyone felt comfortable to sing, dance, perform and grow in confidence.
More Than a Society
While producing musicals was always the goal, both founders quickly realised that DMS was becoming something much bigger.
It became a place where friendships formed.
Where confidence grew.
Where people rediscovered passions they thought they'd left behind years ago.
Members who hadn't performed since school found themselves back on stage.
Others joined simply to meet new people and discovered a community that quickly became like family.
As Sheena puts it, many members now describe DMS as their "tribe."
Seeing friendships flourish outside rehearsals has become one of Megan's proudest achievements.
Knowing that people who might never have crossed paths are now lifelong friends is exactly what they hoped the society would become.
A Defining Moment
In March 2026, Drogheda Musical Society proudly presented its first full-scale musical, The Addams Family, at the Barbican Theatre.
Months of rehearsals, planning and teamwork culminated in a production that received standing ovations from audiences.
For Megan, the moment the curtain closed on the final performance was unforgettable.
It was the moment she realised that the dream had become reality.
The production received a nomination for the prestigious Spirit of AIMS Award, recognising community spirit, resilience and dedication within musical theatre.
Soon after, Drogheda Musical Society was announced as the winner.
For a society presenting its very first production after being re-established just three years earlier, it was an extraordinary achievement.
Looking to the Future
Winning an award was never the goal.
Creating opportunities for people to perform, belong and build lasting friendships always came first.
Today, Drogheda Musical Society continues to grow, welcoming performers, creatives, volunteers and supporters from across the region.
As preparations begin for 9 to 5: The Musical, coming to the Barbican Theatre in March 2027, Megan and Sheena remain as passionate as ever about ensuring DMS is a place where everyone feels welcome.
Their message to anyone thinking about getting involved is simple:
Come along. Give it a try.
Whether you're dreaming of stepping into the spotlight, helping behind the scenes or simply becoming part of an incredible community, there's a place for you at Drogheda Musical Society.
Because at DMS, it's about more than putting on a show.
It's about creating friendships, building confidence and ensuring the magic of musical theatre continues to thrive in Drogheda for generations to come.
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