Introduction

The Passage East Car Ferry is a vital transportation link. Operating at the narrowest point of Waterford estuary, it runs between Passage East in County Waterford and Ballyhack in County Wexford, Ireland. Running since 1982, the current car ferry service provides a scenic shortcut across the historic River Suir, making it an essential route for commuters and a wonder for sightseeing tourists. However, most are surprised if not shocked, that the route is at least 900 years in existence. From oar to engine – 900 years of the Passage to Ballyhack ferry takes a look at what I can glean on the history.

My earliest memory of the present service was a galivant in the late 1970s from Cheekpoint to Ballyhack. We hoisted a flag on Passage quay and the ferryman, Jim Roche, trudged across in his half-decker boat to answer this time-honoured call.[i]

Recorded history of the service

After the arrival of Henry II at Passage East in October 1171 to cement the Norman conquest of Ireland, he handed out land and entitlements like snuff at a wake.  One such grant was to the Knights Templar. This included lands at Crooke and the rights to operate a ferry across the river.[ii]

Although the Templer lands on the Wexford side were based at Kilcloggan/Templetown on the Hook, the thought of them using a ferry service anywhere other than the narrowest part of the estuary is surely fanciful. I certainly believe so. Mind you, some have speculated to me that the steps at Creaden Head, directly in line with the Wexford properties, may have been to facilitate a ferry.

When the Templars were disbanded, c1307, their properties and entitlements fell to the Hospitallers, which has led to some speculation that they were the builders of the castle at Ballyhack c1450 to assist in protecting/managing the ferry, facilitating ships trading with Waterford and New Ross, and managing the fishery. In my own opinion, it’s more likely the builders were the monks of Dunbrody Abbey.[iii] As an aside, Wood in his Ferries and Ferrymen, noted that many monasteries had a relationship with ferries. It was a vital source of revenue and, in the era, it was not uncommon for wayfarers to call to a chapel associated with them to pray for safe passage or to give thanks.[iv]

The altar stone in Ballyhack Castle, is it possible that travellers by ferry prayed for safe passage or thanks? Authors collection

After the dissolution of the abbeys and religious orders, it was recorded that the Hospitallers’ property at Crooke was leased to Sir William Wyse of Waterford – the ferry was valued at the time at 20s.[v]  Leased should not be confused with holding the charter, however.

17th Century onwards

Following the Siege of Derry and the successes thereafter of William III, “Roche the Swimmer” was rewarded for services rendered with the rights to all the ferry operations in Ireland. The administration of it would have been a struggle even today. Roche opted to offload most, but kept a number of ferries in this area.  Apparently this included the Passage to Ballyhack run. He seems to have sold his ferry interests in 1698[vi]

In an economic report by Robert Leigh from 1684 Ballyhack was “…a place much frequented by passengers that ferry over there into Munster…”[vii] No other detail except to state that Ballyhack has two important fair days – St James Day (July 25) and Michaelmas (Sept 29) held on the fairgreen on the hill.

When Waterford city was attempting to build a new bridge (1790s), one of the obstacles was the ferry rights – at that point the rights were held by Cornelius Grogan of Johnstown Castle, Co Wexford.  Whether that included Passage to Ballyhack is a point I am not clear on.[viii]

When Hore published his relevant section of the areas history in 1904 he simply states that Ballyhack was once “…an important ferry in past times between this and Passage…”[ix]

A costly legal argument from 1904

According to newspaper coverage of a legal proceeding in 1904 a joint charter was granted to Lord Waterford, then owner of the village of Passage East, and the Marquis of Ely, who had some intersts in Ballyhack, granting them the exclusive ferry rights. This was claimed to be in standing for many years previous. Under an agreement (With the Ely estate it seemed) John Cummins, of Ballyhack, benefited from the rights, and provided under contract with the Postal Authorities mails to and from Ballyhack by ferry. However, a rival claimed this was infringing on his rights and Cummins was intent on bringing it to court to prove his claim.[x]

The case seems to have dragged on for a number of years.  In 1907, at the chancery division of the Irish High Court of Justice, Lord Waterford emerged victorious (with co-defendant Joseph John O’Neill of Ballyhack) – he had the deeds in his possession – and Cummins lost not just the business opportunity, but some hard cash too![xi]

Some of the evidence given in the court proceedings gave insight into those working the ferry at the time and previously. Much was given by Patrick Foley – who was employed with his son Michael by Cummins to bring the mails across twice a day at 9s a week. I will record the names here, without comment, as I know no more of it.  “Old Con” was mentioned as a long-time boat man. No doubt he was related to Mary Conn and her mother Anne, who, it was stated, managed the ferry previously.  Paddy Power was mentioned, as were the Caulfields and two individuals named Burke and White.[xii]

The case was recorded as part of the Schools’ Folklore of Ballyhack.

Frazer Tintern at Ballyhack June 2025 – authors collection

20th Century

The earliest mention of mail being transported by ferry to Arthurstown (as the local mail centre) via the ferry was 1856…but the advert seems to suggest it was running at the time, so it could have been much earlier.[xiii] I also found a notice that the mail stopped coming from the Wexford side by ferry in 1917; thereafter, it went to Campile and by train to Waterford.[xiv]

I found mention of Patrick Barron operating the ferry in 1911.  Another Barron, Willam, was operating it in the 1920s.  Patsy Barron was next associated with it from the early 1940s to the 1970s. He ran a half-decker and a punt as the weather allowed.  A giant of a man, it was claimed in Cheekpoint. “How so?” I asked my father, “Because even when he stands on Passage quay, he can keep another foot in Ballyhack” I later learned that Patsy lost his lower leg in an accident, and it was buried in Ballyhack. Patsy is still a giant today as it happens… when he eventually died, he wasn’t buried with his elusive leg, but interred in Crooke! Fintan Walsh told me previously that Patsy had an irrefutable basis for raising the cost of the ferry – if the price of a pint of stout went up, the ferry price went with it!. A relative of Patsy, Jim Roche, took over the operation, and as I mentioned at the outset, it was Jim we signalled from Passage Quay all those summers ago.

The new ferry commenced in 1982, and as Jim was operating up to that time, he became the first skipper of the new ferry, called FBD Dunbrody.[xv]  Two of his sons have since taken on the role, Dermott now retired and Paddy. A new company took over the service in 2017, and the current ferry I use to get to Wexford is called the Frazer Tintern.

12 crossings for £24 we didn’t know how lucky we were!! Courtesy of Liam Ryan

Types of boats and means of calling

It’s likely that the ferry had several different craft for various purposes down the years. Wood mentions that medieval ferries in England tended to provide three distinctive services – a small row boat for foot passengers, a larger boat for a man and his horse and finally a large craft to take horse and carriage or animals.[xvi]  I would think the coming of the paddle steamer service to Duncannon in the 1830s diminished the ferry trade. The railway at Campile added to the impact. The ubiquitous car another issue – that the new ferry in 1982 responded to.

O’Shea family waiting on Patsy at the New Quay, Ballyhack. Photo courtesy of PJ O’Shea

The flag system is the only one I am aware of at the location. However, Wood mentions a number of methods in England – A specific call – Bo-at, Cooeee etc, a bell to be rung, a horn blown, a metal plate to be banged, flag to be waved amongst other methods. It seems a specific time for departures was also a consideration in certain circumstances.[xvii]

Incidents associated with the service

Down the years there have been many incidents and dramas associated with the ferry run. What follows is a flavour.

During 1798, it was claimed that British troops sent to assist with the attack on New Ross landed at Waterford and came via the Ballyhack Ferry to the Wexford shore.[xviii]  Conversely, it was nationalist fervour that saw local Wexford folk boycott the paddle steamer in 1887 and shank’s mare it to Waterford via the ferry to sell their goods rather than share the journey with Lord Ely’s agent, Taylor.[xix]

In the 1860s, there was a proposal to buy out the rights by a railway company.

“WATERFORD AND PASSAGE RAILWAY AND FERRY BILL. By this bill it is proposed to change the name of the Waterford and Passage Railway Company, incorporated by an Act of 1862, to “The Waterford and Passage Railway and Ferry Company,’’ and to enable the company to make a railway, length 11 chains, from the termination of their authorised line at Passage, to the quay on the River Suir, near “the Garrison’’ at Passage East; a tramway, length 23 chains, from the proposed railway near the Garrison,to point on the shore of the River Suir, midway between Blind Quay and Hell Point; piers No. 1 and No. 3, on the south west side of the River Suir, at Passage East, and pier No. 2 on the north east side of the River Suir at Ballyhack; such works to be completed within five years. The bill provides that the company may purchase compulsorily, and work the Passage and Ballyhack Ferry; and may work a ferry between their proposed piers No. 1 and No. 2 ; also that they may raise, for the purposes of the bill, sums of £20,000 by shares, and £6,660 by loan ; may cancel forfeited shares, and issue new shares to the amount unpaid thereon; and may convert any existing or future shares into preferred half shares, with a 6% percent dividend, and deferred half shares.”

As a regular on the ferry, it is wonderful to see the variety of people and modes of transport that make up the patrons.  Many are cyclists both foreign and domestic.  Interestingly, even in 1898, cyclists were being encouraged to tour Ireland, where it opined “…the roads are quite good enough to make riding on a pneumatic comfortable, and the scenery is charming,” and even then the “Ballyhack Ferry” was advertised as a vital connection point from Wexford to Waterford. [xx]

There were tragedies and near misses associated with the ferry.  The earliest mention I can find relates to a boat with four men and four bullocks coming across from Ballyhack in March 1775. The ferry filled with water and sank but someone with quick wits ashore put off and rescued the men from the water – the bullocks were lost, which was a major setback for some poor soul[xxi]

Another tragedy struck in 1805 – but with the loss of life. Very little detail is recorded, unfortunately.  As the ferry travelled over a sudden squall came on and upset the ferry – five men and a woman were lost.[xxii] A later article states that two of the men – I would guess the ferrymen – were named Edward Walsh and Anthony Crowley. “…their wives and 14 children have to deplore their loss…”[xxiii] Another loss of a ferryman was recorded in August of 1829 – just that he fell overboard and was lost.

Crossing to Ballyhack with Patsy Barron. Image courtesy of PJ O’Shea family collection

In more happier times – I found a little vignette of another ferryman from the early 1900s. It came from a maritime correspondent with a witty turn of phrase. He was heading to Duncannon to the races, and while others chose to journey by brightly decorated half deckers and yawls, he the ferry.

“…’Twas a strong ebbtide, and the south-east wind puffing in the opposite direction somewhat irritated our magnificent river, which was rapidly flowing seawards mingling in the immensity of the mighty Atlantic. I choose the old ferry as safe mode of travelling, because Pat Kennedy—the over-cautious Pat—has crossed and re-crossed the water in all weathers for more than forty years, and he never had the slightest mishap. His faithful companion, Paddy Cummins, sat in the bow, fondling and consoling the timorous little boy who was twitching and sobbing every recurring roll of the famous old Ballyhack two-oared Invincible. The child’s father, as matter of County Wexford courtesy, had relieved the affable Paddy of his massive oar…”[xxiv]

Jacqui Kennedy at the New Quay, being welcomed to Ballyhack. Image courtesy of courtesy of Niamh Kehoe

I’m sure the ferry has carried all manner of person down the centuries, good and bad, rich and poor, man woman and child.  But perhaps the most celebrated was an American lady named Jacqui Kennedy who was ferried across by the redoubtable Patsy in 1967. She took a car to the Kennedy Homestead, where they made a present of a salmon to the lady. Apparently the whole trip was a secret even to the Kennedy clan – although I’m sure Patsy took it in his stride.

An article about Patsy from Fintan Walsh

An image of Patsy bringing the DLS scout group over the estuary in the late 1960s from an 8mm camera film courtesy of Brendan Grogan

Although we know that the Normans recorded the ferry service in 1172 – its very likely we had a ferry before. They were once a vital means of travel and we had many to choose from across the land.  As bridge building became more advanced even the most daunting stretches of water were forded.  So in some sense we are blessed that the 6oo meters between Passage and Ballyhack was left alone.  In a way it helps preserve a rather unique and special aspect of our social history and trade. A proud, local tradition of ferrying. In every sense a journey back through time.

I want to thank Fintan Walsh for inspiring this piece, he has sent me numerous clippings and memories of the service, and indeed Passage for many years now. He has also loaned me several books that have yielded details for numerous blogs. Thanks also to Shane King of Ballyhack for letting me bore him with details and to PJ O’Shea for some of his family photos. Niamh Kehoe who shared some images with me previously of the Kennedy visit.  Liam Ryan for his ongoing support, information and images. I got some clarifying details on the 20th C from information posted by Paddy Roche on the Waterford Maritime History facebook page. The book I quoted on a number of occasions was Bernard Wood’s Ferries and Ferrymen. 1969. Cassell, London.  All the errors and omissions are on me.

Related stories

• Myself and my fellow guide Tim are at Ballyhack Castle Sat to Wed from 10am to 5pm up to the end of August 2025. Its a free site – and Waterford visitors can come across as a foot passanger on the Ferry for the princly sum of €2 return – throw in a trip to Byrnes and its a real treat.
• If you are interested in more Ferry stories – check out our ferry catagorisation
• We also have a Ballyhack catagorisation with 17 stories
• And lets not forget Passage East
• Passage Car Ferry website for more info here.

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