The main street is closed to traffic. The air is filled with the skirl of bagpipes, the aroma of Guinness pies, and the palpable buzz of excitement. Suddenly, a rumble echoes down Marsden Street. But it’s not a bull. It’s a mob of fine Merino sheep, herded by kelpies and quad bikes, as hundreds of onlookers cheer them on.
This year’s dates have officially been locked in as October 2–4, giving the Boorowa community something to look forward to. It is a vibrant, chaotic, and utterly charming celebration that turns the town of Boorowa into an Irish town.
To understand the festival, you have to look at the land. Boorowa is world-renowned for its exquisite, super-fine Merino wool. In the late 1990s, the town launched “Wool Week” to celebrate the “golden fleece” that drives the local economy. But a funny thing happened on the way to the showground.
Realising they had a strong Celtic thread running through their history—dating back to Irish settlers like Roger Corcoran and Ned Ryan in the 1820s—the town decided to merge the two identities. In the year 2000, the Irish Woolfest was born, sealing a bond that remains unbroken today (the town is even twinned with Clonoulty in Tipperary, Ireland).
While there are plenty of sheep festivals in Australia, none have a centrepiece quite like the Running of the Sheep.
Inspired by the running of the bulls in Pamplona (but significantly fluffier and safer), the event sees a mob of sheep burst down the main street. The spectacle is genuinely thrilling: the roar of the engines, the bark of the working dogs, and the sight of the woolly tide flowing past pubs and shops. It usually kicks off around midday on the Sunday, following the official opening and the “Blessing of the Fleece”.
Don’t worry if you aren’t a wool classer; the festival has layers.
You cannot visit an Irish festival without eating. The Guinness Pie-Eating Competition is a highlight for spectators and competitors alike. Local pubs and food stalls serve up hearty fare that pairs perfectly with a cold pint.
The festival is famous for booking high-quality entertainment. Past years have featured the Australian Youth Choir, Irish dancers, and Celtic rock bands. For 2024, punk band Double Shot Maggie and folk duo The Raglins headlined, and 2026 promises a similar mix of traditional jigs and rowdy reels.
The Woolfest attracts thousands, and accommodation sells out months in advance.
Whether you come for the history, the quirky competitions, or just to see a sheep run down a main street, the Boorowa Irish Woolfest is a genuinely unique slice of Australian life – proof that the bush knows how to throw a party that rivals any city festival.
Jack Murray
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