A historian from Armagh is preparing to step into the life of an unusual 18th-century woman as the city’s Georgian Festival returns this November.
Aoife Cleland, 27, has taken part in Armagh’s Georgian Day since childhood and now works as a living history interpreter at the event. She said the experience made her “fall in love with history” and has become the highlight of her year.
Bringing an unusual Georgian woman to life
During this year’s Georgian Day, Aoife will portray Annaritta Cust, a woman from the 1780s whose father was a sovereign in Armagh. In that role, he collected taxes for the King and held an important position in high society.
Aoife said Annaritta stands apart from the stereotype often associated with women of the Georgian period. Her character visits the infirmary to watch surgery, an activity Aoife described as highly unusual for women at the time because it was considered too grotesque.
Aoife will also lead a “Gorgeous Georgians” event, showing visitors how Georgian women prepared themselves each morning.
Research behind the performance
Historical research is central to creating a convincing character, according to Aoife. She studies what her character did in her spare time, her hobbies and the world she inhabited before speaking to visitors in the first person.
That preparation includes understanding historical details such as currency, the Royal family and pastimes including animal fighting, which was common in the Georgian era but would be viewed as inhumane today. Aoife said attitudes towards women also need to be understood, explaining that women were treated as property and often had to be widowed to gain freedom to act as they wished.
Language is another part of the performance. Rather than using modern expressions, interpreters must adopt the “flowery language” associated with the period when speaking to visitors.
A festival built around Armagh’s history
The Georgian Day forms a key part of Armagh’s Georgian Festival, which includes historical reenactments, festive markets and immersive experiences inspired by the 18th century.
Aoife said the event gives people who might not usually consider visiting Armagh the chance to experience a city “bursting with history”. Armagh is described as having some of the finest examples of Georgian architecture in the UK and Ireland.
Getting into costume is itself a substantial part of the day. Aoife starts early on her hair and makeup, then puts on a costume comprising a corset, petticoats, pockets and a main dress. She said the layers help explain why wealthy women had maids to assist them, while those women could also change outfits three or four times in a day depending on their activities.
She described Georgian Day as an accessible way for visitors to engage with the past. This year’s festival will take place from November 26 to 29. Further information is available from Visit Armagh.