Hundreds attend this year's Passage East Festival

Hundreds of people descended on Passage East on Sunday July 26, as the annual Passage East Festival transformed the village into a hive of activity, laughter and community spirit.

The festival has become one of the highlights of the summer calendar in Passage East, combining family entertainment with a strong sense of community pride while showcasing the unique character and natural beauty of the village.

Organised by the Passage East and Crooke Development Association (PECDA), the festival welcomed families, friends and visitors from across Waterford and beyond for a day of entertainment, music and activities.

Children enjoyed bouncy castles, face painting, games, and crab fishing, while the dog show proved another highlight of the afternoon.

Throughout the day, raffle sales helped raise valuable funds to support future community initiatives.

As the afternoon progressed, live music took centre stage, with ‘Washed Out’ entertaining the crowds before ‘The Strobes’ rounded off the evening with a lively performance.

The event also featured a community BBQ, pizza, refreshments and opportunities for neighbours old and new to meet and chat.

Chairperson of the Passage East and Crooke Development Association, Margaret Julian Keane, thanked everyone who contributed to the festival’s success.

“The Passage East Festival is all about bringing our community together, and this year’s event exceeded all expectations. It was wonderful to see so many families enjoying the activities, local people volunteering their time, and visitors discovering everything our beautiful village has to offer" she said.

“Events like this simply wouldn’t happen without our volunteers, sponsors and supporters. We are incredibly grateful to everyone who gave their time, donated prizes, provided entertainment, or simply came along to support the day.” 

The Association also acknowledged the support of Waterford City and County Council, Journi Credit Union, the many local businesses, community organisations and volunteers whose generosity and commitment helped make the festival possible. Notably, the festival was also supported through funds raised in the community Lotto, at the local New Geneva bar

The Passage East and Crooke Development Association has already begun looking ahead to next year’s festival and hopes to welcome even more visitors back to Passage East in 2027.

(Funded by the Local Democracy Scheme)