Armagh Gaol could be opened for public tours during this year’s Georgian Festival after ABC Council secured an additional £30,000 to expand the four-day event.
The festival is scheduled to take place across Armagh from November 26 to 29. The council is considering whether tours of the historic gaol can be included in the programme, although the source material does not confirm that the tours have been finalised.
Funding to extend the festival programme
ABC Council applied to Tourism NI’s International Events Fund for support to enhance the Armagh Georgian Festival 2026. Confirmation of the further £30,000 was reported at the September meeting of the council’s economic development and regeneration committee.
A committee report said the money would support participant costs, production, venues, marketing and promotion. It also said programme planning was well advanced and that tickets were available to book online.
The funding is intended to build on changes introduced in 2025. Those plans include extended opening hours and additional free and ticketed activities on the Friday evening and Sunday, giving visitors more reasons to stay in the city for longer.
“The £30,000 funding offer is on the basis of spend towards participant costs, production and venues and for marketing and promotion purposes.”
The report added that the enhancements were designed to provide “further incentives for visitors to extend their stays”.
Possible Armagh Gaol tours
Brian Johnston, the council’s Head of Tourism, Arts and Culture, told the committee that the extra funding was about adding to the existing event and spreading activities across more of the weekend.
“This is in effect about additionality to the event and stretching the festival over the weekend, so more events on the Friday and the Sunday.”
He also confirmed that consideration was being given to opening Armagh Gaol for public tours during the festival weekend. No further details about the proposed tours, including times, capacity or booking arrangements, were provided in the source material.
Support from Armagh councillors
SDLP Councillor Thomas O’Hanlon welcomed the extra support, saying the festival was important for businesses and should reach more of Armagh rather than being concentrated in only a small number of streets, including the area around the Shambles.
“It’s a good day for the businesses in Armagh and, as always, it’s important about stretching the footprint of the festival throughout the city, and not just into a couple of streets, particularly down around the Shambles. I’m happy to see this progress.”
DUP Alderman Stephen Moutray said he attended the festival for the first time last year, when he was Lord Mayor, and praised the range of events across the city.
“I think this is an outstanding series of events thrown over the weekend,”
He described the festival as unique, praised the council staff involved and said he hoped to return with his family. Councillor Kyle Savage also backed the event and praised the work required to deliver it.
With tickets already available online and further programme planning under way, residents and visitors can expect more details about the 2026 festival as arrangements develop. The source confirms the dates and funding, but does not provide a full event schedule.