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family · Tuesday 28 July 2026 · Various 
Durrow Scarecrow Festival 2026
At Durrow Village · Durrow, Co. Laois
At Durrow Village · Durrow, Co. Laois
Each summer the Georgian village of Durrow turns itself over to the most singular sight in the Irish festival calendar - hundreds of scarecrows lining the streets, spilling out of gardens, dangling from lamp posts and propped against shop fronts. The nine-day festival draws families from across Ireland who come partly for the children’s entertainment and partly because the spectacle is genuinely hard to describe to anyone who hasn’t seen it. If you have young children who haven’t been yet, this is one of those events they will talk about long afterwards.
The centrepiece is the All Ireland Scarecrow Championships, a serious competition with a €3,000 prize fund drawing entries from every province. The scarecrows range from simple straw figures to elaborate themed constructions - political figures, film characters, sporting legends - and walking the trail is most of the fun. Each day a “Wally Scarecrow” is hidden somewhere new in the village, giving children a mission beyond just looking.
Beyond the trail, the Scarecrow Village runs daily from 11am with bouncy castles, carnival games, face painting, clay workshops, live music and food. There is also what the organisers bill as Europe’s largest mega slide, laser tag, pony and trap rides, a craft fair and a sensory area for children who need a quieter space. Different activities run on different days, so check the festival Facebook page closer to the date. Dogs are welcome, and dedicated dog-friendly events are part of the programme.
Durrow sits on the N77, roughly 15 km south of Portlaoise and about 20 minutes from Junction 4 on the M8 (the Dublin to Cork motorway). From Dublin the drive is around 90 minutes; from Cork city under two hours. Parking is managed in designated areas during the festival - follow the signs on arrival. Bus Eireann connects Dublin Busaras to Portlaoise (Expressway routes), from where you would need a taxi or car for the remaining stretch.
Durrow itself is a handsome planned village built around a wide main street and a tree-lined square, and it is worth a slow walk even apart from the festival. Castledurrow House and its grounds are on the edge of the village. There is more to see in Durrow and across Co. Laois.
Heading to Durrow Village in Durrow? Laois has plenty more to see. Read the Durrow area guide, find what else is on, and explore the towns and villages nearby.