Scarva has two quite different faces. For most of the year it’s a quiet village on the Newry Canal, near the Down–Armagh boundary, where you can follow the canal towpath on foot or by bike. Then, in July, it hosts the Sham Fight, a costumed mock Battle of the Boyne staged in Scarva Demesne. Which Scarva you get depends on the date you pick.
The summer event
The annual Sham Fight in Scarva Demesne is a staged re-enactment associated with the Battle of the Boyne in 1690. It is usually held around 13 July, but the date can change. The organiser’s announcement reported locally confirmed 14 July in 2026. Check the next date, road arrangements and transport before making plans.
In the staged scene, ‘King William’ and ‘King James’ ride into the demesne with their aides, and the set-piece comes when William’s soldiers lower King James’s green standard. The parade is led by the Royal Black Institution and a long line of marching bands. The connection goes back to the Reilly family of Scarvagh House, who laid out the village in the 18th century and were the original hosts of the fight.
The canal and the towpath
The Newry Canal was the first summit-level canal in the British Isles, completed in 1742. Start beside the canal in Scarva for the towpath, choose a section, check the current route and allow time to return. Walkers and cyclists share parts of the route, so give each other room. Along the way you can still pick out the stone abutments of the old Banbridge-to-Scarva railway line. The local route guide has more on the walking route.
A little history
During the Williamite War the forces of Frederick Schomberg are said to have camped near Scarva before marching south, the seed of the Sham Fight tradition. The village itself was largely laid out by John Reilly of Scarvagh House in the mid-1700s, including the Presbyterian meeting house of 1753.
Practical information
- Getting there by car: Scarva sits roughly halfway between Banbridge and Tandragee, just off the Belfast–Newry corridor. Use designated parking, check special event notices and leave canal and farm access clear.
- By train: the station opened in 1859. Check Translink for services that stop at Scarva before relying on it.
- Facilities and events: check the local route guide or local notices for visitor facilities, seasonal opening and events.
Nearby
- Clare Glen – Wooded river-walk trails near Tandragee, a short drive away.
- Banbridge – The nearest town for accommodation, shops and a wider choice of places to eat.