Running of the sheep in Boorawa, New South Wales

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Boorawa is a town in New South Wales, Australia. The first to settle there were Irishmen Rodger Corcoran and Ned Ryan, both former convicts who had received their ticket of leave from the Governor in 1821. The population is a little over 1,000 and it’s the birthplace of James Morrison, a jazz player of note (pardon the pun). Every October, Boorawa holds an Irish Woolfest which brings many visitors to the town. There is still a strong Irish vibe to the town. The area is renowned for the quality of its Merino wool and a feature of the Woolfest is the ‘Running of the Sheep’, similar to the Running of the Bulls in Pamplona, Spain, but involving a lot less blood and injury. At the head of the street parade is a small mob of sheep which career down the road between the cheering crowds on either side. Sheep dogs keep the sheep on track but sometimes have trouble manoeuvring them around the roundabout much to the delight of the crowd. There are a number of YouTube clips showing the spectacle. The photo is of Oscar being king of the castle.