George Russell Easter Festival
Lurgan, Lurgan & North Armagh (Irish literary revival), United Kingdom
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🎟 Free entry
FestivalAtlas
Annual festival in Lurgan (Co. Armagh) celebrating the life and work of writer-painter George William Russell (known as "AE" and born 1867). It features exhibitions of his art and poetry, literary talks, music, and guided walking tours of sites linked to Russell. The event, aligned with Russell’s birthday (April 10), aims to showcase his role in Northern Ireland’s cultural revival and engage the local community with its literary heritage 1.
George "AE" Russell was a key figure in Ireland’s literary and cultural revival around 1900. Born in Lurgan, he was a poet, mystic and co-operative leader who befriended W.B. Yeats, introduced P.L. Travers (Mary Poppins author) to Irish culture, and influenced figures like Gandhi and Roosevelt 1 2. The festival taps into this legacy to celebrate local history and artistic culture in a once-overlooked Northern Ireland town.
Venues and routes
Brownlow House · Lurgan
Brownlow House
Main · Main festival venue (exhibitions, talks, Headquarters) · Windsor Avenue, Lurgan BT67 9BJ · Lurgan
Brownlow House
Main exhibition hall and festival HQ · Castle Lane, Lurgan, BT66 8NF · Lurgan
Aonach Mhacha
Secondary venue for performances and talks in Armagh · Market Place, Armagh BT61 7BX · Armagh
The dates that shape the visit.
Opening day · Thu, Apr 1
Parade marches through Lurgan town centre to kick off the festival.
Arrive early to enjoy the creativity and community atmosphere; free tea is served at Brownlow House after.
Day 2 · Fri, Apr 2
Guided bus tour across Armagh, Banbridge, and Craigavon area
Book in advance (limited seats); bring camera and notepad; includes light lunch.
Free admission; arrive early to get a good seat; enjoy intermission refreshments.
Reference notes for once this becomes a real plan.
Practical notes refreshed Feb 6.
Typical price: £0
Moderate crowds · Lively energy
Main venues can fill up, but space around park and exhibits is comfortable.
Lurgan is generally safe. Festival is well-staffed and supervised.
April can be rainy and cool · Event continues in light rain
Daily budget: £50-70, Mid: £100-150, High: £200+ · Drinks: £2-5
Pack snacks and water; use public buses instead of taxis; book accommodation early.
From center: About 0.5 km. · Ground-level venues with some wheelchair access
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