Discover the charm of a bygone era at Armagh’s Georgian Festival

The annual Georgian Festival (28 November 28 to 1 December) recreates the flavour of late eighteenth-century Armagh with tours, talks, theatre, music, light shows, markets and costumed characters animating its historic buildings and streets. 

History buffs will enjoy the guided Georgian walking tours, which give an insight into the many notable buildings that were the legacy of Archbishop Robinson’s vision for Armagh as a university city. There are also tours of the magnificent Archbishop’s Palace and Palace Demesne.  

On the entertaining Not so Gorgeous Georgian walking tour, some more unsavoury aspects of life in the eighteenth century are revealed. There’s also the chance to get a taste for the pitiless Georgian legal system as a member of the jury at a mock trial in Armagh Courthouse.  

At the Highwayman’s Banquet in the Archbishop’s Palace, you can indulge in a three-course feast of Georgian cuisine while listening to tales and tunes about notorious highwaymen and rapparees. Lots more delicious food can be sampled at the 130 market stalls which throng The Mall and offer quality crafts and seasonal gifts as well as artisan food and drinks including traditional roasted chestnuts and mulled wine. 

Throughout the city, festivalgoers will encounter iconic Georgian figures – noble gentry, street urchins, and gin-soaked ladies – while hearing the clip clop of horses as they draw carriages through the streets.    

On The Mall, families can enjoy an array of festive activities, including traditional funfair rides like the Carousel and Swing Boats, along with classic games such as Hoopla, Hook a Duck, and Coconut Shy. And as night falls, The Mall will light up as fire performers display breath-taking stunts.  

As the festival kicks off the city’s Christmas celebrations, the programme also features a Holly Jolly Christmas Light Show – a dramatic animation that transforms the Market House into a shimmering canvas for images, special effects, and other surprises. 

The Georgian Festival brings an unforgettable energy and atmosphere to the city, but there is always much to enjoy there. Its two cathedrals tell of the importance of the city in Ireland’s Christian history and are well worth a visit. The Robinson Library, founded in 1771, holds many literary gems including Jonathan’s Swift’s copy of Gulliver’s Travels with his handwritten notes.   

Armagh is also home to the Armagh Observatory and Planetarium, a leading astronomical research and education facility. The planetarium presents shows in its dome all year round, while the observatory is housed in a beautiful Georgian building where a number of historic telescopes can be viewed on guided tours.  

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