More than 60 entries have been registered for one of the country's most unusual summer competitions.
The 'Stylish Silage’ event is part of the annual An Tóstal festival in Drumshanbo, Co Leitrim.
Families, community groups and local businesses have spent the last few weeks designing, creating and decorating all kinds of exhibits, all of which have wrapped bales of silage as their main component.
Organisers of the festival say this particular event has boosted its appeal in recent years, and they are expecting thousands of people to visit the village in the coming week to see the displays.
Many of this year’s entries are based on topical issues, such as climate change and the environment.
Approach roads to the town feature bales decorated as garda speed vans, while housing estates have taken a novel approach to several children’s fairytales to showcase the community effort.
The An Tóstal festival has been running in Drumshanbo since 1953. It will be formally opened tomorrow, when the granddaughter of the festival’s first An Tóstal Colleen will be crowned this year’s guest of honour.
Chairman of the organising committee, Hugh James Gallagher, has paid tribute to all those involved in the ‘Stylish Silage’ competition. He said their work and dedication was a testimony to the broad appeal of the village festival.
Mr Gallagher said such events were vital to the economic well-being of towns and villages around the country, providing a tourism boost and generating income that is used to keep businesses afloat in rural Ireland.
Judging in the stylish silage competition began this afternoon. Winners will be selected in a number of categories, with the awards being handed out at the festival 'wrap' party next weekend.
