Crowing about new competition

The Michael Cusack Centre hosted its first annual scarecrow competition on Sunday. With 14 quality entries varying from traditional to contemporary scarecrows, competition was fierce.

During the event the air around the thatched cottage quivered with the dulcet tones of live traditional music played by Ray and Sharon O’Leary along with Fu Akamine, a bouzouki player, who thoroughly entertained both competitors and spectators.
The local community turned out in full swing and it was widely agreed that this was a wonderful community event, coinciding with Macra na Feirme’s Know Your Neighbour Weekend.
Frank Coffey, manager of the Michael Cusack Centre, said, “The centre was delighted to be able host such a unique and family orientated event. The renewal of old traditions is an important aspect of Irish society and the promotion of cultural events that can preserve such traditions is always welcome.”
In the end, the ‘Clare Hurler’ scarecrow built by Niamh and Aidan McNamara from Carron was judged the overall winner of the competitoin. Hot on their tails was the wonderful Galway Races scarecrow built by young twins Mark and Luke Livingstone from Kilnaboy. Third place was earned by the imaginative ‘Man from Carron’ scarecrow built by brother-and-sister team of Niall and Sarah McNamara, also from Carron. Fourth place was taken by Elena and Lia McNamara from New Quay, for their water sports themed entry ‘Surfin Suzie’.