Break out the bucket and spade

Building sandcastles was, for some, a competitive business at the Sand Sculpting Festival in Duncannon. So competitive, in fact, that a world record was broken, writes CONOR KANE

A MARAUDING toddler scampers over a small sector of Duncannon beach in Co Wexford, her feet carelessly demolishing a lovingly-formed sand-sunshine as we smile through clenched teeth. Ah, the perils of sand sculpting.

Being honest, our first-time efforts are never going to trouble the judges of the “amateur” sand sculpting competition taking place on the picturesque strand overlooked by Duncannon fort, try as we might to tell ourselves that we were in with a shout but for that pesky kid.

Our rudimentary sun and its rays pale when compared with much of the work going on in dozens of marked-out squares of beach, although we toil on, rushing to put together a second version before time and tide could have their say.

Few festival organisers must consult the upcoming tides before setting a date for their event, but this is what has been happening in the Co Wexford seaside town since it held its first Sand Sculpting Festival eight years ago.

What started off with one sculpture on the beach has evolved into a weekend-long event complete with Friday-night fireworks; professionally-carved sculptures that remain in the shelter of a tent beyond the high-tide mark; Saturday afternoon’s amateur competition and associated attractions; and yesterday’s new world record for the most sandcastles built in an hour at 573, an impressive 34 more than the previous record holder.

“They must be two foot high and two foot wide with four turrets,” says John Glennon from the organising committee. “There’s been a festival in and around here for 20-odd years but it morphed into the sand sculpting festival about eight years ago. Brenny Power came up with the idea and it’s developed into what we have before us now.” He guides us around the tented, pirate-themed sculpture, featuring the astonishingly detailed work of the Duthain Dealbh (fleeting sculpture) group, whose art has also been displayed in Dublin Castle and elsewhere over the last number of years.

Meanwhile, outside, the “amateurs” follow through on all manner of ideas, from mermaids to volcanoes, ships with coloured sails to sand villages, turtles to people – there is even an image of a Nintendo DS games console and another of an iPod.

Some of the exhibitors are locals, some are weekend visitors, many are people who have holiday homes in this popular corner of the southeast, such as Vincent Byrne, who is overseeing the sculpting of a “sinking euro”, which is appropriate for the times that are in it. “We’ve been here for it every year,” Byrne says as family members Darragh, Cillian and Emma keep up the work. “It’s a great family festival and gets everyone involved.”

Elsewhere, Anne-Marie and John Foley recreate the flower-filled boat that marks the entrance to Duncannon, with help from Cora, Jamie and Finn. “It’s a great festival for drawing a crowd into the village, without spending a fortune,” Anne-Marie says. “There’s a fancy dress disco which the kids love, puppet shows and lots of family things.”

The Foleys are among the several hundred taking part in Saturday afternoon’s endeavour, and the thousands who visit at some stage over the course of the weekend. More are expected next weekend for the beach’s kite-surfing festival which, if the breezes of the last few days are repeated, should be a roaring success.

Mark and Eva Kyne, with questionable help from Sally the dog, manage to sculpt a car out of the moist sand. “We’re at it about an hour,” Eva says, as the team puts the finishing touches to their creation. “The first year this [festival] was on, it was nothing like this but it’s got better and better. I’m glad we made the effort.”

Among the other beach-bound activities are a tug of war, a painting board for children to leave their mark – for a few hours at least, until the board is painted over and it starts again – and archery.

As the tide inexorably begins to do its destruction, John Glennon announces the winner of the amateur sand sculpting competition, a remarkable likeness of Phil Lynott complete with seaweed for hair.

“We were looking around at the competition and there’s a few really good ones here, that we thought might be a bit better than us,” says Adam Redmond.

He, along with Cian Redmond and Nicola Wallace from Wexford, created the Philo artwork. “We do one every time we come to the beach but this is our first year taking part in this,” Nicola says.

Even as they admire their medals, the waves of the incoming tide lap over all the delicately-crafted sculptures, undoing in minutes the work of several hours. But one member of the winning team is already looking forward to taking part in 2012: “Next year, we’re going pro.”