Waterford’s inaugural intercommunity croquet tournament held in Dunmore East
Winning Team - SECC Passage East – Eddie Deavy, Michael Bolger, Paul Duggan & Noel Shanagh
South East Community Croquet (SECC) Passage East triumphed over Cheekpoint and Dunmore East at the inaugural intercommunity croquet tournament hosted last Saturday.
The event was held in Dunmore Park courtesy of The Woods & Park Trust Passage East player Noel Shanaghy said they were “over the moon” to win.
“We were only one point behind Dunmore at half-time. The pressure was on as Dunmore were tipped as favourites, as they were the first community croquet group established and also attract many golfers from their community, so they would have expected to have the edge on both Passage East and Cheekpoint,” said Noel.
SECC have established community croquet groups in Passage East, Cheekpoint & Dunmore East in summer 2026.
Each continues to play a tournament weekly in their own parishes.
South East Community Croquet aims to establish a further 10 community croquet groups in the summer of 2027 with the support of Waterford Sports Partnership.
Ultimately they hope to provide access to community croquet in every parish in Waterford that has an active community development group, Waterford – the croquet capital of Ireland.
Commenting on Passage’s tournament win, chairperson and founder Michael Cox said: ‘I am delighted for Passage and were most deserving.
“But the real win here is for everyone who participates in SECC. When two neighbours, who have lived 50 metres away from each other for 20 years, meet for the first time on the croquet lawn-that’s the magic, said Michael.
SECC pride themselves on the fact that a local community group can host a croquet group in their parish with little fuss.
Michael, ex-chairperson of Park Rangers AFC, founder and chairperson of the Minaun Community Theatre group and Waterford’s Volunteer of the Year 2022, explained that ‘a key principle of SECC is to maximise the social, mental and physical benefits of sport for local communities while eliminating the grief ofthe volunteers who make it happen!.
Michael thanked fellow members of the management committee Mary Dorgan, Secretary and Eddie Deevy, Treasurer, who ‘conscientiously guide the ship through these unchartered waters.
“We extend our heartiest appreciation to Rosarie Kealy, Liz McEnaney, Jordan Kelly and Peter Jones @ Waterford Sports Partnership – an absolute pleasure to do business with. Without their support, encouragement and belief in the concept, SECC would never have come to fruition.
"Our hats are off to the Waterford Sports Partnership. SECC look forward to working together with Waterford Sports Partnership and our other stakeholders in 2027 and bringing more communities together through participation in sport. Ní neart go cur le cheile” said Michael.
If interested in setting up a community croquet club in your parish, please contact Michael Cox Michael@mcx.ie or WhatsApp text to 086 8225301.
