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Durrow Scarecrow Festival

News

29 May 2019

Thinking Outside the Box with “Lulu’s World”

Durrow Scarecrow Festival 2019.

Saturday 3rd August
Two Performances
1:00pm – 1:45pm
3:00pm – 3:45pm

Meet Lulu, an amazing street artist that can’t be contained in any gallery. Enter her crazy world of make believe, where magic happens right in front of you! This lady will sweep you off your feet and drag you into her imagination. Who needs words when you’ve got a blank canvas and a marker to fill it.

Outside the Box will be preforming “Lulu’s World” at the Durrow Scarecrow Festival on Saturday 3rd August at 1:00 pm, and later the same day from 3:00pm to 3:45pm.

Francesca Castellano has been performing in Street Shows since 2003, and she has been working as a clown, aerialist, stilt-walker and fire artist with Cork Circus and Sorcaluba. A solo production, the show involves the use of paper, cardboard boxes, a personal assistant when needed, and a case with art material safely kept inside. Suitable for all audiences.

Find out more about LuLu’s World at www.circusoutsidethebox.com

Other Events On Saturday August 3rd

Saturday 3rd August

Arts & Crafts Exhibition Durrow Community Centre on the Kilkenny Road Opening Hours 11am – 6pm Admission: Adults €2 – Teen & Kids Free including Pet Farm Old World Machinery Round Hay Bales The Miami Slide As it’s our 10th Anniversary, Scarecrow Festival, we really are trying to make it that extra bit special, and bringing the biggest slide in Europe, is sure to excite all!

26 May 2019

Historical Walking Tour of Durrow with Sean Conroy

The Walk is based on Marie Moylan’s Historical Map of Durrow and will follow the route of same. The earliest record of Durrow dates back to 546 A.D. and the walk will take you along to visit many distinctive buildings including the Courthouse, The Famine Memorial, the Castle, the Castle Gate Lodge and the Obelisk (in the Castle grounds). This is a perfect opportunity to learn about the history of Durrow.

This is a free Event through DDF/Durrow Scarecrow Festival but requires booking for numbers. Book Here!

Allow a minumum of 1 hour for the walk but may take more time.

Meet at the Scarecrow Village Entrance ten minutes before the start of the walk, wear comfertable shoes or hiking boots, this walk is part village and part countryside.

Times & Dates

Wednesday July 31st at 2:00pm

Friday August 2nd at 7:00pm

Durrow Laois Historical Walk in conjunction with Durrow Scarecrow Festival

Historical Walking Tour of Durrow with Sean Conroy The Walk is based on Marie Moylan’s Historical Map of Durrow and will follow the route of same. The earliest record of Durrow dates back to 546 A.D.

20 May 2019
Bernard O'Shea to open Durrow Scarecrow Festival 2019

Bernard O’Shea to Officially Open Durrow Scarecrow Festival 2019

Scarecrow Village @3pm Sunday July 28th.

Durrow Scarecrow Festival is all about fun and laughter, so who better to officially open our tenth anniversary event in 2019, than our very own Bernard O’Shea. A native of Durrow, Bernard’s comedic value continues to soar, and we are always delighted to proudly welcome him home!!

Events on the opening day, Sunday 28th July, get underway from 11am, and Bernard will officially open Durrow Scarecrow Festival 2019, in the Scarecrow Village, at 3pm! So be sure to come along! The laughs are guaranteed!!!!

Check out all Sunday’s Events

Sunday 28th July

3PM in the Scarecrow Village: Durrow’s funniest export, Bernard O’Shea will officially open Durrow Scarecrow Festival 2019!

 

19 May 2019
Durrow Scarecrow Festival

Adult’s Scarecrow Making Workshops

Durrow Scarecrow Festival 2019.

July 28th & August 4th.

New to this year’s Scarecrow Festival, to celebrate our 10th Anniversary year, is the Scarecrow Making Workshops for adults. The workshops are being held on both Sundays during the festival, and entry is free!

Children have long enjoyed being tutored in the fine art of making scarecrows, so we thought, “why not give the adults a chance!”

So if you are in the Scarecrow Village, on Sunday the 28th July, or Sunday 4th August, do drop in, and learn the craft from those who have many year’s experience, and many, many scarecrow creations to their names.

For homework, you will have one year to come up with a wonderful scarecrow for next year’s competition!!!

Durrow Scarecrow Festival
Durrow Scarecrow Festival

 

14 May 2019
Cocoa Couture at The Durrow Scarecrow Festival.

Children’s Chocolate Workshop with Cocoa Couture

Durrow Scarecrow Festival 2019.

Chocolate Workshop!

This year’s Children’s Chocolate Workshop with Cocoa Couture is limited to 15 people, price per person €5.00 + bookiong fee! The fee for this workshop has been subsidized by Durrow Scarecrow Festival, and really is great value!

The workshop is for children aged 6 – 12 years. Please allow 1 hour 10 mins for the duration of this workshop!

The class is given by award winning Blas na hEireann Artisan Chocolatier, Catherine O’Callaghan, who will assist you in making your own Artisan Chocolate Lollipop, complete with labels and packaging. Catherine will also talk about packaging, waste and Recycling, during the workshop, while your creations are setting. This is a great opportunity to learn from an award winning chocolatier!

Tickets

Children's Chocolate Workshop

€5+ Booking Fee
  • Chocolate Creations
  • With Packaging
  • And Labeled
Buy Now
Some of Cocoa Couture's wonderful chocolate creations!
Some of Cocoa Couture's wonderful chocolate creations!
14 May 2019
Geraldine Wisdom - Rush Workshop @ Durrow Scarecrow Festival

Gerardine Wisdom Rush Workshop

Durrow Scarecrow Festival 2019.

Gerardine Wisdom Rush Workshop.

Gerardine Wisdom joins us on Saturday 3rd and Sunday 4th of August, two seperate workshops where you will receive tution on how to work with rush and make a basket, bag or rushwork item to bring home with you.

This is a fantastic oppertunity to receive a masterclass with one of the countries best known rushwork artists.

Her fantastic rush-work and basketry has drawn many admirers and it’s an honour to have her in Durrow

You will leave with a whole new appreciation of the rush and what can be achieved with them as a craft element.

Arrive at the Scarecrow Village for 10.00AM, please note, village will be closed but a steward will be available to admit you to the Rush Workshop.

Please note that though the Rush Workshop is from 10am until 5pm, this is not the full length of time you will be there. Time is allowed for each person to proceed at their own pace and finish their creation. Allow 2-3 Hours minimum.

Tickets are limited, so please book early to avoid disappointment!

Tickets

Geraldine Wisdom Rush Workshop

€15+ Booking Fee
  • Rush Work
  • Basket Making
  • Bag Making
Buy Now
24 Apr 2019
Durrow Scarecrow Festival Volunteers

Durrow Scarecrow Festival – Volunteers Needed!

Ten Years of Community Endeavour!

2019 is the tenth anniversary year of the Durrow Scarecrow Festival, and our aim, like every other year, is to deliver an even better fun filled, family friendly festival!!!

Since its inception, right up to this, our tenth year, Durrow Scarecrow Festival has been run entirely by volunteers, and all monies raised have been reinvested in the village. Countless hours, days, weeks and months, are given by so many; from the planning stages of the event, to the set up, from scarecrow creation, to the actual running of the nine day festival, and the multitude of facets involved in that, not to mention the clean up, take down and storage of all festival paraphernalia. All of this is done by volunteers.

Anyone you see in our festival hi-viz vests, from carpark attendants, to those in the scarecrow village, are volunteers, as are many others working quietly behind the scenes! And hand on our hearts, even though we are part of it too, we really want to thank everyone for their help, and appeal for more help too!

Even if it’s just one hour of your time that you can spare, it would be so greatly appreciated! If it’s more than that, then all the better!

Scarecrow Kids Summer Camp

We are also looking for a suitable volunteer for our ever popular Scarecrow Summer Camp for kids. As the role requires Garda vetting, we would love to hear from volunteers soon, in order to have everything in place, in time for the event.

The Summer camp runs from Monday 29th July, to Friday 2nd August, from 10am to 1pm each day, in the Scarecrow Village, right in the centre of Durrow. The camp is for children aged between 5 and 12 years. The camp has proved very popular over the last few years providing children with a host of different activities over the week including: Clay Modelling, Drama, Sports, Arts and Crafts and much much more. This year every effort will be made to ensure that all materials used for Arts and Crafts will be recycled material.

If you’d like to offer some of your time to help out at this year’s festival, or at our Kids Summer Camp, then please use the form below to get in touch, and we will contact you to arrange a role, and a time that suits you best!

    Aerial view as work begins on the Scarecrow Village set up, in 2018.
    Aerial view as work begins on the Scarecrow Village set up, in 2018.
    Aerial view as work begins on the Scarecrow Village set up, in 2018.
    Aerial view as work begins on the Scarecrow Village set up, in 2018.
    19 Apr 2019

    Shortlisted for Best Festival in Midlands 103 Hospitality Awards

    Durrow Scarecrow Festival.

    Shortlisted for Best Festival Award.

    We are thrilled to learn, that following the public voting phase of the 2019 Midlands 103 Hospitality Awards, Durrow Scarecrow Festival has been shortlisted in the category of Best Festival.

    The Midlands 103 Hospitality Awards celebrate excellence in Hotels, Restaurants, Pubs and entertainment venues in counties Laois, Offaly and Westmeath. Judging will take place in almost 50 categories, before the winners are crowned at a gala awards ceremony in the Bridge House Hotel, Tullamore.

    We thank everyone who voted for us, and we hope to deliver yet another family friendly, fun filled festival in 2019, as we celebrate our 10th anniversary year!

    Find out all about the 2019 Midlands 103 Hospitality Awards, by following the link below!

    Midlands 103 Hospitality Awards 2019

    The Midlands 103 Hospitality Awards celebrate excellence in Hotels, Restaurants, Pubs and entertainment venues in counties Laois, Offaly and Westmeath.

    Durrow Scarecrow Festival 10th Anniversary
    Durrow Scarecrow Festival 10th Anniversary
    30 Mar 2019

    Europe’s Largest Slide at Durrow Scarecrow Festival 2019

    10th Anniversary Festival 2019.

    Miami Slide: Europe’s Largest Slide!!

    As it’s our 10th Anniversary, Scarecrow Festival, we really are trying to make it that extra bit special, and bringing the biggest slide in Europe, is sure to excite all! The slide can be used by both kids and adults, if the adults are up to the challenge that is!!! We know the kids are!

    Europe’s Largest Slide – The Miami Slide is at the Durrow Scarecrow Festival for all nine day’s!!!

    Please Note – The Miami Slide is located in The Ranch: OPENING HOURS 11am – 6pm Daily.

    Scats Bouncing Castles proudly present you with the Miami slide, which is the biggest slide in Europe. This Slide really has the WOW factor & is set to be a huge hit at this year’s Scarecrow Festival.
    This Massive Slide will be visible from afar & is sure to attract all you thrill seekers out there.
    It is suitable for kids as well as for adults.
    The Miami Slide
    The Miami Slide

     

    The Miami Slide – Durrow Scarecrow Festival 2019

    Times

    Monday 29th July-Friday 2nd August.
    11am until 1.45pm daily.
    13 Sep 2018

    Durrow Scarecrow Festival 2018

    Well the curtain has come down on another successful Durrow Scarecrow Festival and we have had time to draw our breath. The 2018 event brought thousands of people to Durrow for a fun filled nine days and the news spread near and far of our wonderful scarecrows.

    Durrow Development Forum would like to take this opportunity to thank all our sponsors and all those who supplied their services free of charge or land for parking. A special thanks to our scarecrow makers. We cannot express our appreciation enough to our many volunteers who continue to donate their time before, during and after the Festival, your commitment is what makes this event so successful.

    To An Garda Síochána, Civil Defence, Laois Partnership, Laois County Council and our Community Employment Scheme – thank you all for your support.

    Finally, a big thank you to all the visitors who attended the festival, we hope you enjoyed it and we would love to see you again next year.

    Text Thanks To: Daniel Dunne at www.durrow.ie