Déise festivals receive €1.6m in funding with brand new events announced
Winterval received €479,000 for its 2025 event. Photo: Patrick Browne
Waterford City and County Council has approved the allocation of €1,671,107 in festival and event funding to aid the development and promotion of events across Waterford City and County in 2025.
The allocation will support 71 festivals and events throughout the city and county, which includes 13 brand new events that will launch this year for the first time.
The primary focus of the funding is to support and promote local festivals that offer economic, tourism, cultural, artistic, or community benefits to Waterford.
Additionally, funding is available to provide training that will help local festivals and events grow and develop.
Winterval received the largest bulk of the funding, with €479,000 going towards the 2025 edition of the event.
Harvest Festival received €105,000, Spraoi got €82,680, and Waterford Music Generation was granted €80,000
West Waterford Festival of Food received €69,000, whilst €59,000 went to Summer in the City.
This year's St. Patrick's Day Parade in Waterford City has been granted €55,000
Waterford Walls received €38,584, Blackwater Valley Opera Festival got €37,100 and the Comeragh’s Wild Festival got €35,000.
Waterford Writers Weekend received €34,000, Imagine Arts got €26,500 and Pride of the Déise got €24,000.
The Apple Market Group, Churchyard Sessions, Vitamin Sea Festival and Viking Marathon all received €20,000 each.
In 2025, thirteen new festivals are set to take place, including the Passage East Festival, Southeast Carnival, the River Rhythm & Blues Festival, Brazilian Carnivale and West Waterford Drama Festival.
The new 'Summer of the Coast' festival received the largest amount of funding of all the new festivals, with €5,000.
€5,000 has also been granted to the one-off European Christmas Cities Network Conference.
Speaking following the adoption of the festival and events funding, Mayor of Waterford City and County, Cllr. Jason Murphy said, “The level of support for the arts, musicians, and creatives from Waterford City and County Council is truly remarkable and is growing year on year.
“From long-standing favourites or promising new arrivals on the scene, these festivals reflect the extraordinary passion, dedication, and the incredible creativity that define the diverse communities throughout Waterford city and county.
“I’m also delighted to see 13 new festivals make their debuts in 2025. It’s evident that there is an abundance of creativity and imagination in Waterford.”
Michael Quinn, Director of Services with Waterford City and County Council, added, “Waterford City and County Council takes great pride in fostering the dynamic and lively festivals and events that bring the community together, ensuring Waterford continues to be a hub of diverse and engaging entertainment.
“This year with 13 new festivals, as well as established favourites, Waterford’s cultural calendar is set to be more vibrant than ever, offering something for everyone to enjoy from one end of the year to the other.”
