Castlecoote Tidy Towns Duck Race

Castlecoote Tidy Towns runs its annual duck race on the river at Castlecoote on 20 August 2026 at 4pm, one of the group’s better-known fundraisers and a fixture of the village calendar. It supports the Tidy Towns committee’s ongoing work keeping the village presentable for the national competition, alongside grants and other collections through the year.

What to expect

Numbered rubber ducks are launched together at a set point on the river and race downstream on the current, with ticket holders cheering on the duck matching their number as the field spreads out. It is a short, easy-to-follow spectacle that draws families and children to the riverbank in particular, and the atmosphere is informal and festive rather than competitive in any serious sense. The race itself is followed by music and a barbecue at PJ’s, extending the afternoon into an evening social for anyone who wants to stay on, which is as much a part of the day for many locals as the race itself.

Getting there

Castlecoote is a small village on the River Suck, southwest of Roscommon town on the R366, best reached by car since there is no scheduled bus service to the village. Parking is available in the village for the event.

While you’re in Castlecoote

Castlecoote’s riverside setting and the ruins of Castlecoote House and bridge make it worth a wander before or after the race, and the walk along the riverbank gives a good vantage point for watching the ducks come down the current. There is more to see across Co. Roscommon, including the neighbouring villages of the River Suck valley that make an easy loop for a longer afternoon out.

Good to know

• Date: 20 August 2026, as announced by the organisers
• Time: 4pm
• Venue: Castlecoote River, with music and a barbecue at PJ’s afterwards
• Price: Ducks sold in advance to enter; exact price not published
• Recurrence: Annual Tidy Towns fundraiser