While the fields may not have appeared too bad to some, the reality is that had we allowed traders, demonstrators, and the general public onto the grounds, we would have risked both the safety of all involved and the beauty of this cherished National Monument site.

We could not have predicted that the ground would become so waterlogged on Sunday. We had genuinely hoped that the ground would have dried out, especially as there was no rain forecast for the early hours of the morning. Unfortunately, despite our optimism and preparations, the conditions did not improve as needed.

Crucially, emergency services—including the Fire Brigade, Red Cross, and An Garda Síochána—would not have been able to leave the field in the event of an emergency. As the OPW granted us an event licence for use of the Porchefields for the few days, we are bound by strict stipulations to protect and conserve these grounds, and we take this responsibility very seriously.

It would have been irresponsible to run the festival under these conditions, and our general insurance would not have covered us in such circumstances.

We would also like to extend our sincere apologies to the Clady Vintage Group and anyone that made the effort to come to the field with vintage machinery and the Donkey Breed Society NI. Both groups have always put on fantastic displays for the public and are a massive part of the essence and spirit of our festival. Their dedication and enthusiasm have contributed so much to the unique atmosphere we all cherish, and we are truly sorry for the disappointment this cancellation has caused.

The Scurlogstown Olympiad is a CLG, run entirely by dedicated volunteers. We hold this heritage-based festival to promote Irish rural farming heritage, raise funds for local charities, and bring joy to our community. Over six months of hard work and planning have gone into this event. As a CLG, we do not have event insurance, we have general liability insurance that covers all of our events.

We know how disappointing this is for our traders, many of whom our trade stand coordinator has spent months and even years building relationships with. Please know that we will be reaching out to you in the coming days to try and mend fences and answer your questions. However, as the volunteers reaching out have jobs and commitments our responses may be sporadic.

We are truly heartbroken, and we are deeply sorry to everyone who has been affected by this decision. Thank you for your understanding, your support, and your commitment to preserving our shared heritage.

With sincere apologies,
The Scurlogstown Olympiad Committee

We want to share a bit more about today’s difficult decision. This is not something we decided lightly. The field is simply not able to handle the foot or vehicle traffic safely. Despite our hopes that a dry night would help, a field inspection this morning confirmed the ground is still unsuitable.

We had truly hoped the festival could go ahead and are incredibly heartbroken to have to cancel. We sincerely apologise to everyone for the disappointment and inconvenience this causes.

Rest assured that when the ground conditions improve and with the OPWs permission, we will treat the field accordingly to bring it back to it's natural state. This field is part of a national monument and we do respect the OPWs ownership and the people of Trim.