Don't miss out on the fun at the Scarecrow Festival in Laois

The village of Durrow has been buzzing with excitement as the 12th Durrow Scarecrow Festival, which commenced on July 30th, continues to captivate visitors with its array of artistic displays, family fun, and warm community spirit.

As the event reaches concludes over the August Bank Holiday weekend, the festival committee thanks everyone who contributed to making this year's celebration a resounding success, in the face of the weather, and they are also inviting guests to the town to enjoy the creativity that's in abundance.

Throughout the festival, the organisers say the Scarecrow Village has been the heart of the event, transformed into a wonderland of hessian, hay, and happiness. From intricate scarecrow displays to live music, workshops, demonstrations, trade stalls, and more, the village has been a hive of activity for families and friends to enjoy.

The highlight of the festival, as always, has been the All Ireland Scarecrow Championship, where participants showcased their imaginative creations in various categories. The quest to be crowned the All Ireland Scarecrow Champion was fiercely contested, with winners to be announced on this coming Sunday, at 5pm in the Scarecrow Village.

This year, the addition of the sustainability/waste reduction/climate Action category reflects the festival's commitment to promoting eco-friendly initiatives, and of course, scarecrow creations. More below picture.

The Durrow Development Forum hopes lots of people will come along over the weekend to enjoy the fun.

"As the festival enters its final weekend, we extend a warm invitation to everyone to join us for the remaining festivities until Bank Holiday Monday, August 7. The excitement continues with everything from live music performances, including the Des Hopkins Dixieland Jazz Band, Drops Of Green and Brinda Irani, to events and entertainment such as Wobbly Circus, Food & Craft Fair, kayaking, Jeca The Clown and so much more," they say.

The also hope people will join them on Bank Holiday Monday  when Senator David Norris unveils a plaque to commemorate 5th century  St Benedict of Durrow, who legend tells, became Pope and Bishop of Rome, for a period of two days, before a yearning for the Emerald Isle would compel him to relinquish his papacy.

The committee says the success of the Durrow Scarecrow Festival would not be possible without the support of their generous sponsors and the local community.

"The festival is not just a celebration of creativity but also a fundraising initiative to support local causes and projects, and all funds raised are reinvested in community projects.  We are grateful for the overwhelming support from businesses, volunteers, and visitors, who have contributed to making this event a thriving and charitable endeavor.

Memorial to be unveiled to Ireland's only Pope who hailed from from Laois

"The Durrow Scarecrow Festival committee would like to extend their gratitude to everyone involved, from volunteers to visitors, for making this festival a cherished tradition. As the final weekend approaches, we invite all to our village, to experience the magic and camaraderie that embodies the spirit of Durrow Scarecrow Festival," concluded their statment.

For festival information, please visit www.durrowscarecrowfestival.com