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Description
On 1 April 2023 the annual George ‘AE’ Russell festival commenced with an April Fools ‘Big Head’ parade in Lurgan, the first of many events to celebrate the life of the Lurgan born artist, economist, journalist, poet and writer.
This video is produced by the Lurgan Townscape Heritage Scheme, which is supported by the Armagh City, Banbridge and Craigavon Borough Council and the Lottery players, through The National Lottery Heritage Scheme. Find out more at: www.lurgantownscapeheritage.com
A
B
Is
the
seventh
a
Russell
Festival
and
Seven's
a
mystical
number,
probably
one
of
the
important
mystical
numbers
you
know
so.
I've
I've
called
this
apart
this
Festival
this
year,
the
Annunciation
in
that
we've
went
truly
International.
We
have
people
from
the
Dakota
tribe
over.
We
have
academics
from
Minnesota
over
on
professors.
We
have
professors
coming
up
from
Cork
and
from
Limerick,
and
the
festival
is
far
larger
than
it
has
been.
Four
we'll
have
half
of
it
in
armaan,
half
of
it
in
Oregon,
so
there's
loads
of
events
on
well
Larry.
B
A
Russell
was
worth
remembering
for
lots
of
things,
but
mainly
he
he
wanted
to
make
life
better
for
everybody
that
he
came
in
contact
with,
and
that's
just
why
he
was
a
great
Economist.
He
came
up
with.
You
know
great
ideas
about
how
to
run
countries
and
things
in
Ireland.
He
he
created
The
Cooperative
movement,
which
empowered
small
farmers
and
made
them
economically
independent,
but
he
also
wanted
people
to
feel
a
lot
better
about
themselves.
So
he
he
had
this
mysticism
as
well
and
he
paired
their
beautiful
paintings.
C
D
So
the
big
heads
was
an
attraction
that
we
used
to
pull
in
people
to
come
and
join
our
parade.
It
was
actually
most
of
the
big
heads
were
created
with
a
couple
of
Charities,
manshed
and
mine,
wise
and
these
adults
came
on
a
Wednesday
and
constructed
the
heads
with
artist,
Dwyer
mccair,
and
then
our
young
Eon
artist,
which
is
a
Saturday
arts
and
crafts
Club.
They
created
the
smaller
cardboard
heads.
D
So
then
we
have
like
an
intergenerational
connection
of
both
our
adults
and
our
children
to
come
together
to
represent
the
whole
of
Lurgan
community
in
this
period
celebrating
George
Russell's
work,
I
think
his
work
is
not
about
himself,
but
about
encouraging
and
inspiring
others
and
I.
Think
that's
the
essence
of
where
aeon
Community
Arts
is
from
where
our
aim
is
to
inspire
others
and
to
get
other
people
to
be
creative,
Express
themselves.
I'd.
B
B
Hopefully
we
can
sort
of
bring
the
spirit
of
Lurgan
back
to
where
it
belongs
and
raise
it
from
the
flames.
You
know,
a
lot
of
people
are
given
learning
a
hard
time
at
the
minute,
but
Logan
is
truly
wonderful
place
that
has
I
reckoned
some
of
the
nicest
people
in
the
world.
I
love
all
learning,
people
and
I'd
like
to
see
our
spec
program
below.