Bunratty Castle & Folk Park is inviting primary schools to celebrate sustainability, creativity, inclusivity and community in their submissions to the 2024 Halloween Scarecrow Competition.
The popular County Clare visitor attraction is hosting the contest which boasts a total prize fund of €2,000 in the categories of Overall Spooktacular Scarecrow (€1,000), Most Sustainable Creation (€500) and Most Innovative Design (€500).
According to Marie Brennan, Events Manager at Bunratty Castle & Folk Park, “Scarecrows have long been used in agriculture to ward off unwanted animals from crops as a natural pest control. Our competition is aimed at preserving this longstanding rural tradition and encouraging the creative talents of schoolchildren.”
“We are looking for scarecrows that have a creative flair and are accompanied with a spine-tingling story and a unique personality,” added Ms. Brennan.
She continued, “Schools should connect their designs to the curriculum by weaving in learning from subjects like Social Studies, SPHE, and Art. Students are also urged to introduce sustainability to their design by showcasing their school’s commitment to the environment using natural materials and eco-friendly practices to create a scarecrow that’s good for the planet. Finally, we are asking schools to make a scarecrow that celebrates inclusion and community spirit.”
The winning entries, which will be selected by an independent judging panel, will be announced in late November and showcased to Bunratty Castle’s 75,000 social media followers.
Schools wishing to participate are invited to register by contacting Marie Brennan at Bunratty Castle on 061-711222 or events@shannonheritage.com by October 14th. The deadline for delivery of Scarecrows to Bunratty Castle is on or before October 23rd.
Visit www.bunrattycastle.ie for more details.
