Festivals

Since 1954, Durrow Carnivals and Festivals have brought high quality entertainment to the people of Durrow and beyond. Since its inception in 1997 the Durrow Development Forum has run very successful festivals which have steadily built on the successes of the previous 44 years whilst bringing entertainment in the area to a new level.

These festivals include The Irish Festival, The Durrow Arts Festival and The Howya Festival. The inaugural Howya Festival (Ireland’s Festival of Friendships) was held in 2009 and the 2010 event was even more successful. However, the unprecedented success of the 2011 Howya Festival which attracted over 11,000 people to Durrow to participate in the festival and view over 120 Scarecrow exhibits has given rise to the renaming of this very successful festival to the ‘Durrow Scarecrow Festival’ from 2012.

Plans are currently afoot for the 2012 Festivals which will include the ‘St. Patrick’s Festival’ and the ‘Durrow Scarecrow Festival’.

St. Patrick’s Festival
Although details have yet to be finalised for the ‘St. Patrick’s Festival’ it will run from Sat 17th to Mon 19th March and the centrepiece of the festival will as always be the Non Motorised St. Patrick’s Day Parade. Details of this fun filled weekend will be available early in the new year so put the dates in your diary and check back regularly.

Durrow Scarecrow Festival 28th July – 6th August 2012
The 2012 festival promises to be bigger and better than any festival witnessed before in Durrow. Commencing a day earlier than in previous years, the festival will be launched in style with a ‘Scarecrow Ball’ on Sat 28th in the Castle Arms Hotel. In addition to the many craft workshops, sporting events, children’s summer camp and of course the All Ireland Scarecrow Championships, the 2012 event will also incorporate a programme of Arts, including an art exhibition, photography exhibition, arts and crafts fair as well as midweek festival entertainment.

The full programme of events will be available in the Spring of 2012 but if you missed last year’s event, please feel free to browse the 2011 brochure which will give you a taste of what’s in store in 2012.

Howya Programme 2011 [pdf - 1.64mb]

As previously mentioned these festivals are organised by the Durrow Development Forum which is a 12 member voluntary committee. Such a huge undertaking is very difficult for a committee of this size and volunteers to help with the organisation and running of the festival are always welcomed. If you would like to get involved please email marian@durrowvillage.com