Things to Do in Navan: Solstice Arts Centre

Introduction

One day I passed by Solstice, but without knowing what it was, I thought, what could this interesting building on the corner be? So next time I stopped and went in. I was surprised by the amount of cool stuff I found, from artwork, books, tourist information, historical stuff from Meath, a library, a coffee shop and yes, a cinema/theatre that shows local, national and international works! Some time ago they were showing “I'm Still Here”, a Brazilian film that won several awards recently and moved many people with its story. (No spoilers, watch the film! Support Cinema hehe).

Solstice is a building with a very interesting architecture, which perfectly mixes things, a modern mix with brutalism and minimalist (I’m not an architect but I’d guess this), lots of straight lines, large windows, well-positioned lights, giving a unique air to this place in Navan.

Section 1: The Vibe and Atmosphere

Walking into Solstice is like getting a big, creative hug. Designed by award-winning architect Shelley McNamara, this place mixes sleek modern vibes with a warm, welcoming feel—think big windows, soft lights, and a foyer buzzing with chatter. The café’s this snug coffee corner where locals swap stories over steaming lattes, and there’s a little bookshop on the left corner, where we can find couple of historical books, tourism information, couple of things to do in Meath, including a rock sculpture of Navan Market Coss, dating from 1585 (absolutely madness, I know) and all the information provided here will help me a lot to explore this wonderful and historical place.

Upstairs, the gallery’s flooded with natural light, showing off wild sculptures and paintings (they’re present downstairs as well) that make you stop and think. During my visit, I noticed a diverse mix of cultures. The crowd’s a mix of students, families, and artsy types, making Solstice feel like Navan’s living room, but with way cooler events.

Section 2: What’s on Offer

Solstice is a creative jackpot! Their theatre hosts everything from laugh-out-loud comedy, musicals and by the time I’m writing this post, there will be events related to the pride month! I’m already pumped for their “I’m still here” screening, a Brazilian movie with a good story on a massive 10-meter screen with Dolby Surround Sound? Yes, please! The café’s open 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM, Monday to Saturday, serving hearty sandwiches, salads, soups and cakes that hit all the right spots (think €5–€10 for most items, gluten free items included), and for those who might ask, how about drinks? Yes, there are beers in the coffee shop, bottles of Coors, Heineken, Bulmers, soft drinks, juice and wine on display. So yep, coffee is not the only alternative in solstice.

They also run workshops for kids, dance camps, and talks like the Navan Pride panel discussion, as mentioned above. The gallery’s free and shows off talent like Cecilia Darnell, with her solo exhibition of new and recent paintings! The exhibition continues in the gallery on level 3.