No 5 and Armagh Robinson Library, two Georgian buildings, will be open on Saturday 29 November from 11.00am to 5.00pm. The Library will also be open on Sunday 30 November from 2.00pm to 5.00pm.
St Patrick’s Church of Ireland Cathedral willl be open from 10.00am to 5.00pm on Saturday 29 November, and from 3.15pm for Choral Evensong and an organ recital at 4.15pm on Sunday 30 November.
Saturday 29 November
In the Library we welcome the return of living history interpreter ‘Mrs Smith’.
The County Down caricaturist Rory Rea will be joining the Library team for the first time. He will draw visitors’ portraits on request. By way of introduction, Rory explains,
I’m a live caricature artist with ten years of experience. I draw at a wide range of events, including weddings and corporate functions, and each person’s caricature takes about four minutes to complete in a live setting. I’ve also had the opportunity to appear as a caricature artist on the well-known TV series Derry Girls.
In No 5, another living history interpreter, a ‘lady from the Cope family of Loughgall’, will be in attendance. She will help visitors seal the letters they have written with a wax seal. Children can write their letter to Santa Claus in No 5 too. These can be posted in the post box outside Armagh Robinson Library.
St Patrick’s Church of Ireland Cathedral willl be open from 10.00am to 5.00pm for visitors. Visitors can walk around and take in the beauty of the Cathedral. The photographic exhibition ‘From Darkness into Light’ will also be on show for its final day. The Cathedral shop will be open for your Christmas shopping, including the Cathedral’s Christmas cards.
At 5.00pm, visits will end and the Cathedral shop will close for the Cathedral Choir’s Choral Evensong. Evensong is a service that was held regularly in Georgian times.
Sunday 30 November
As an experiment, the Library will also open on Sunday 30 November from 2.00pm to 5.00pm. We will welcome back ‘Mrs Smith’ and for the first time, ‘Sir Thomas Robinson’, eldest brother of Archbishop Robinson. We are very pleased to have silhouette cutter, Steve Abbott, back with us. Steve is from Stockport in Greater Manchester. Speaking of his artwork, Steve said,
Forty years ago, I started my research into ‘Shades of the Past’. I am now an active member of the Silhouette Collectors’ Club and am pleased to see its popularity growing. Without drawing, using only a pair of scissors and black paper, a head and shoulder portrait can be cut in about one minute. Using only hand and eye co-ordination, an accurate profile can be cut out of paper.
At the Cathedral, there will be Choral Evensong at 3.15pm, followed by an organ recital at 4.15pm by Martin White, as part of Armagh Georgian Festival.
The team at the Library and No 5 Vicars’ Hill thank Armagh City, Banbridge & Craigavon Borough Council for their continued support towards the living history interpreters, who add greatly to the visitor experience on the Hill of Armagh during the Georgian Festival.
For further information, please contact Armagh Robinson Library via email: admin@armaghrobinsonlibrary.co.uk or telephone: 028 37523142
