AE SOCIETY SPRING SCHOOL
4TH - 6TH APRIL 2025
THEME: HEALING THE INAUGURAL
CELEBRATING THE LIFE & WORK OF AE GEORGE RUSSELL THROUGH MUSIC, POETRY, SONG, ART, LITERATURE, MYTH, HISTORY & CULTURE
Top: Self Portrait by George Russell (AE) © Armagh County Museum Collection (ARMCM.14.1954). Main image by Dara Vallely
WELCOME TO AE SOCIETY SPRING SCHOOL 2025
Organised around the theme of HEALING and based in Aonach Mhacha and Armagh County Museum in Armagh City, and Tí Chulainn, Creggan Churchyard and M.C. Larkin’s in South Armagh, the Inaugural International AE Society Spring School
showcases and celebrates music, poetry, song, art, literature, literary history, myth, history, translation, esotericism and Armagh landscapes and culture.
This weekend school is part of AE90 - a year-long program of events across 2025 reviving interest in the great Lurgan-born Irish poet, essayist, artist, economist, and mystic philosopher, George ‘AE’ Russell (1867-1935) in the 90th year following his death in 1935.
Supported by a grant from the Department of Foreign Affairs Shared Island fund, this new Spring School features indigenous visitors from the Dakota and Ojibwe nations in Minnesota, Irish and French language translations of
work by and related to AE, examinations of Eastern spiritual wisdom, and a “myriadminded” variety of local and international voices celebrating AE whom his friend the poet, Oliver St. John Gogarty described as: “a human being in whom goodness was innate and radiantly active.”
The three Co-Directors of the Spring School are: Dr. Patrick O’Donnell, Réamonn Ó Ciaráin, and Fergal O’Brien. Special guests include American filmmaker, Rita Davern, Ramona Stately (Dakota), and Antony Stately (Ojibwe).
We would like to thank Shared Island Civic Society Fund, Sarah Duffy, Lord Mayor of Armagh City, Banbridge and Craigavon Borough Council, Aonach Mhacha, Armagh County Museum, Tí Chulainn, An Tobar, Traditional Arts Partnership and MC Larkin’s.
BECOME A MEMBER
To become a member of the AE George Russell Society, email membership@aegeorgerussell.ie Annual membership costs €20, €10 for students and OAPs.
For more information, visit our website www.aegeorgerussell.ie and follow us on social media:
Dr. Patrick O’Donnell
Committee members pictured with Daniel Mulhall at the United Arts Club
AE SOCIETY SPRING SCHOOL LAUNCH
VENUE: Aonach Mhacha, Armagh City 6pm - 7.15pm
Welcome and speeches from Lord Mayor Sarah Duffy, Réamonn Ó Ciaráin (CEO Gael Linn), Patrick O’Donnell (Chair of AE George Russell Society), Laura Ostertag (Simone Téry Scholar), Rita Davern (Filmmaker), Ramona Stately (Dakota Educator), Sean Barden (Curator of Armagh County Museum) and Jim Conway (Chair of Lurgan AE Society).
Rita Davern and Ramona Stately
A powerful film showing how modern-day Minnesota was built on the stolen lands of the Indigenous American communities.
CANDLELIT PROCESSION
VENUE: Emhain Mhacha (Navan Fort) 9.30pm - 10.30pm
A candlelit procession with poetry and recitation (in Irish & indigenous languages).
Mhacha, Armagh City
Followed by music from Finbar Magee, Breige Quinn, Aodh Mac Murchaidh and Fergal O’Brien Traditional Arts Partnership (TAP).
FILM: STORIES I DIDN’T KNOW: FACING A FAMILY HISTORY BUILT ON STOLEN LAND
VENUE: Aonach Mhacha, Armagh City 7.30pm - 8.30pm (Free Admission)
It will be followed by a Q&A with the film’s director, Rita Davern, and Dakota educator, Ramona Stately.
Aonach
Emhain Mhacha (Navan Fort)
KEYNOTE ADDRESS: MAPPING AE STUDIES
VENUE: Aonach Mhacha, Armagh City 11am - 11.50am
Dr. Patrick O’Donnell (Chairperson of AE George Russell Society) discusses where the study of AE is going. What is the overview of AE’s primary writing and art? How did he influence other writers and cultural figures? What is his association with places in Ireland and across the world? How has he been appraised during his life and following his passing in 1935 via biography, memoir, and critical study? How has there been a reappraisal of his legacy and importance in recent years? How is AE relevant in the twenty first century?
PANEL DISCUSSION 2: THE OMNISCIENT EYE
– SIMONE TÉRY AND JAMES JOYCE
VENUE: Aonach Mhacha, Armagh City 1.30pm - 2.30pm
PANEL DISCUSSION 1: HEALING IN IRISH AND INDIGENOUS CULTURES
VENUE: Aonach Mhacha, Armagh City Noon - 1pm
Ramona Stately and Réamonn Ó Ciaráin discuss the parallels between Irish culture and the extraordinary Dakota indigenous people of Minnesota.
Laura Ostertag and Patrick O’Donnell discuss how AE’s friend the French journalist, Simone Téry assessed the work and importance and personality of James Joyce after meeting him in Paris in the 1920s for her book on Irish writers, The Isle of Poets.
AE Self Portrait (1923)
Ramona Stately and Réamonn Ó Ciaráin
TALK: EXPLORING THE EASTERN SPIRITUAL TEACHINGS THAT INFLUENCED AE
VENUE: Armagh County Museum 3pm - 4pm
James North introduces us to IndoTibetan esoteric teachings regarding the Kundalini or Serpent Power, and the Chakras. It shows how a knowledge of these ancient Eastern traditions is essential to understanding AE’s writings and spiritual practice, but also how they were creatively adapted through the Theosophy of H. P. Blavatsky, and AE’s own creative vision.
EXCLUSIVE FILM LAUNCH
FILM: SPIORAD CEILTEACH TAISPEÁINT SCANNÁN
VENUE: Aonach Mhacha, Armagh City 7.30pm - 7.45pm
Traditional Arts Partnership (TAP) musicians and rap artist, Cú Chulainn (inset)
READINGS OF AE’s WORK
VENUE: Aonach Mhacha, Armagh City 7.45pm - 9pm
AE’s writings read aloud by a wide variety AE enthusiasts. Hosted by Jonathan Hackett.
Filmaker, Ruairí Cahill/multilingual rap music artist, Cú Chulainn and All Ireland Scór na nÓg Champion, Niamh Noade present this film which combines Celtic mythology, rap and South Armagh landscapes with contributions from Traditional Arts Partnership musicians.
Jonathan Hackett
James North discusses H.P. Blavatsky’s influence on AE
TREE PLANTING AND RITUAL CEREMONY
VENUE: An Tobar CIC, Silverbridge 11.30am - 12.30pm
An Tobar Wellness Centre and Social Farm is situated within the Ring of Gullion in South Armagh, a recognised Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, offering a venue rich in cultural heritage and unique, ancient landscapes.
Creggan Churchyard (Úrchill an Chreagáin) and musician, Aodh Mac Murchaidh
HEALING AND BIRTH PRACTICES
VENUE: Tí Chulainn, Mullaghbawn 2.30pm - 3.30pm (Refreshments served)
A presentation by Úna Walsh and Anthony Stately (Medic and Native Healer) who will discuss the birthing practices of their people recalling a natural and practical wisdom.
5. AE SOCIETY SPRING SCHOOL 2025
Brian’s Wood at An Tobar, Silverbridge
Nature can be the greatest healer of all. Our indigenous visitors from America will join in a tree planting ritual ceremony recognising a shared colonial past.
POETRY AND MUSIC AT CREGGAN CHURCHYARD
VENUE: Creggan Churchyard 1pm - 2pm
Úna Walsh (local historian), Aodh Mac Murchaidh (musician) and indigenous visitors, Ramona Stately and Anthony Stately, will reflect on places of deep historic and spiritual meaning for our peoples.
Anthony Stately and Úna Walsh
Réamonn Ó Ciaráin and one of Dara Vallely’s illustrations for the book
TRADITIONAL ARTS PARTNERSHIP (TAP) MUSIC SESSION
VENUE: M.C. Larkin’s, Forkhill 5pm - 7pm
Bring a poem, a song and friends –ní neart go cur le Chéile!
TALK: WHAT I LEARNED FROM TRANSLATING A CANDLE OF VISION
VENUE: Tí Chulainn, Mullaghbawn 3.30pm - 4.30pm
Réamonn Ó Ciaráin (Cultural director and author) reveals how teasing out the meaning from AE’s masterpiece and translating it to Irish brought him closer to the inner territory of a myriadminded mystic and his healing spirit.
DATES FOR THE DIARY
13TH - 30TH MARCH 2025
29TH MARCH 2025
2ND - 6TH JULY 2025
TAP musicians at M.C. Larkin’s in Forkhill
AE SOCIETY SPRING SCHOOL 2025:
FRIDAY 4th APRIL (Armagh)
6pm- 7.15pm Event Launch. Music by Finbar Magee, Breige Quinn, Aodh Mac Murchaidh and Fergal O’Brien (TAP) Aonach Mhacha
7.30 - 8.30pm Film: Stories, I Didn’t Know: Facing A Family History Built on Stolen Land Aonach Mhacha
9.30 -10.30pm Candlelit procession with poetry and recitation Emhain Mhacha (Navan Fort)
SATURDAY 5th APRIL (Armagh)
11am - 11.50am Keynote address: Mapping AE Studies –Dr. Patrick O’Donnell Aonach Mhacha
Noon - 1pm Discussion Panel 1: Healing in Irish and Indigenous Cultures – Ramona Stately and Réamonn Ó Ciaráin Aonach Mhacha
1.30pm - 2.30pm Discussion Panel 2: The Omniscient Eye – Simone Téry & James Joyce – Laura Ostertag & Patrick O’Donnell Aonach Mhacha
3pm - 4pm Talk: Exploring the Eastern Spiritual Teachings that influenced AE – James North Armagh County Museum
7.30pm - 7.45pm Film Launch: Spiorad Ceilteach Taispeáint Scannán Aonach Mhacha
7.45pm - 9pm Readings of AE’s work, hosted by Jonathan Hackett Aonach Mhacha
SUNDAY 6th APRIL (South Armagh)
11.30am -12.30pm An Tobar – Tree planting and Ritual Ceremony with indigenous visitors, Ramona and Antony Stately
An Tobar CIC, Silverbridge
1pm - 2pm Creggan churchyard: Poetry and music with Úna Walsh, Aodh Mac Murchaidh and indigenous visitors Creggan Churchyard
2.30pm - 3.30pm Healing and birth practices with Úna Walsh and Antony Stately
3.30pm - 4.30pm Talk: What I learned from translating A Candle of Vision - Réamonn Ó Ciaráin
Tí Chulainn, Mullaghbawn
Tí Chulainn, Mullaghbawn
5pm - 7pm Traditional Arts Partnership (TAP) music session M.C. Larkin’s, Forkhill
