August 2nd - Durrow Scarecrow Festival 2013

Today I went to Durrow to the annual scarecrow festival that has been taking place for four years now. It's a pretty impressive exhibition of art from all over the country and this year, thanks to The Gathering, there is even an international category. It's a strange experience to walk around the small town and see still figures that you first assume are human but then you realise they are far too statue-like. It's amazing the amount of effort that goes into projects like this. People have been working all year on their scarecrows to place in the competition in the hopes of bagging  €1000 in prize money.
It's creepy to walk through a town that has more stuffed mannequins than visible people and feels like the beginning of a zombie apocalypse movie. There is a whole area set out called the Scarecrow Village, filled with, you guessed it, scarecrows. As well as a scarecrow trail to follow around the town and discover the local talent. They even erected a roller coaster uppy-downy thing. I don't know what you call it. Just look.

Now look a bit closer.

So from roller coaster-riding scarecrows to the burial ground of Kilkenny hurling, there is something for everyone at this years festival. Even the recent Bruce Springsteen concert reincarnated.

To see scarecrow Snow White and the seven dwarves, Mr. Incredible as well as the rest of my photos you can check out my online gallery which will be ready soon with a link here.