It’s kind of a big deal.
A unique and quirky festival with something for everyone, but mostly scarecrows.
Now in it’s sixth year of the Durrow Scarecrow Festival, competitors come from all around the world to take part in the random festival that celebrates those inanimate objects that keep the crows from the crops.
But these are no ordinary scarecrows that are entered into the contest, an incredible amount of creative and artistic merit is taken to transform bits of silage into some truly most interesting and beautiful designs.
The festival takes place from the 26th of July to the 3rd of August and has proved very popular with people, far and wide with 18,000 people in attendance last year.
A group of 12 locals organise the festival with 100 volunteers helping out over nine days where the festival takes place with all the money raised going back into the local community.
Locals say it is the quirkiness that keeps people coming back and the numbers increasing.
The committees PRO told the Irish Independent that the competition is fierce among the locals.
“We have four judges, and they’ve been around for the last couple of years,” Marian said.
“They’ve spent a lot of time judging the scarecrows as the competition grew and grew, but there were never really any boundaries or rules. It was hard for judges because they were trying to pick a winner and they weren’t judging like by like.
“This year we’ve put criteria in place in relation to the use of straw and, rather than the judges looking at all the different aspects of the scarecrows, we’ve each judge looking at something different, like one focusing on the design and appearance.
“This will bring a greater consistency to the scoring, they’re a super group of people.”
Although the scarecrow contest is the main highlight of the festival there is also a range of activities such as an arts and crafts exhibitions, treasure hunts, traditional hay making, bouncing castles and face painting.
Pics via Durrow Scarecrow Festival and Hat-tip to the Irish Independent
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