I knew something was amiss as my car approached the village of Leap in County Cork when, from the window, I spotted a body face down by the side of the road.
From a neighbouring field a banshee grimaced with hands outstretched…
…and a witch soared overhead.
It was the very first Hallowe’en Scarecrow Festival, a competition staged by the village to see who could come up with the scariest and/or funniest scarecrow in time for Hallowe’en, and it has proven to be insanely popular. Cars lined the road as I pulled into town and people milled around the main street ogling the hordes of scarecrows on display – I spotted well over a hundred of the spooky little guys popping out of windows, hanging from trees, dancing on rooftops and lolling in coffins.
My favourites of the festival – well, you’ve got to love a pumpkin on a bike with ET in the carrier basket…
…and everyone needs a little Nightmare before Christmas, right?
Here’s hoping this becomes an annual event! Hope you had a very Happy Hallowe’en.
xxx Ailsa
For something a little less contemporary, check out how I celebrated Hallowe’en, or rather Samhain, last year: Echoing the Ancients in the Cradle of Samhain.
Where's my backpack? 