The east and west shores of Waterford Estuary from Ballyhack / Passage East to the estuary mouth are described separately.

Passage East

Passage East is a picturesque fishing village built beneath a high escarpment and based around two open squares and three main quays: Boathouse Quay, Hackett's Quay and Middle Quay.  It is also the terminal for the car ferry to Ballyhack and the Waterford Harbour pilot station. There are coastal walks north and south with views over the estuary.  A year after Strongbow had landed at Bannow Bay, he landed at Passage East on 23^rd August 1170, with 200 knights and 1,000 soldiers. King Henry II followed him on 17^th October 1171 with 500 knights and 4,000 soldiers. There is a long history of a ferry service operating here from Waterford to Wexford.

Passage East harbour dries at low water (LWS draught -0.4 metres (-1.31 feet))and there is also possible mooring at the floating pontoon for the pilot boat (permission required). The village has shops, a restaurant and pubs.  Waterford Airport is within 10km with flights to the UK and mainland Europe.

The main channel runs adjacent and there is clear access to the harbour.  The position of the pierhead at the entrance:  52° 14.426' N, 006° 58.336' W.  Be aware of the Passage East Car Ferry which operates from Passage East to Ballyahck, sunrise to sunset.   Tide estimates are based on High Water Cobh +0021.

Crooke

Down river from Passage East, stands Crooke Church. It is said that in Strongbow vowed to take Waterford City by Hook or by Crook, referring to the two possible landing sites on the Wexford side or the Waterford side. Crooke Church is the site of the unknown croppy grave, a memorial to all those who were held and executed in nearby Geneva Barracks and Passage East during the 1798 Rising

Geneva Barracks

In 1782, an Irish Parliament was granted under the English crown, resulting in the scrapping of trade restrictions and plans for the economic and cultural development of Ireland. Following a failed rebellion in 1783, Genevan refugees were invited to form a colony of artisans in Ireland to stimulate trade. This site was acquired for the colony and named New Geneva but when the colony collapsed, the government converted the site into a military barracks, which by 1798 was capable of holding almost 2,000 soldiers. The barracks were notorious for atrocious conditions and ill treatment of prisoners.

Woodstown

Futher down the estuary, Woodstown House is a Regency house, built around 1823.  In 1967, Jackie Kennedy (widow of John F Kennedy) stayed here with her children John and Caroline, visiting the ancestral home in Dunganstown, outside New Ross. Woodstown Beach is a popular spot for walks. 

Creadon Head

Creadon Head has steps cut into the rock leading to the fields above, where they join a bothareen, called Bothar na Mna Goirm (Road of the Blue Women). This boreen was used to bring slaves from the estuary to Glanmire, Co. Cork, where they were transported to America.