Buíon is co-funded by the Government of Ireland and the European Union 
About
RepairFest
Don’t replace it—repair it!
Come along to celebrate the joy of repairing instead of replacing, and discover how much can be given a new lease of life. Explore hands-on repair stations, take part in practical workshops, learn new skills, and share ideas with others who are passionate about making things last. Whether you’re repairing clothing, household items, bikes, jewellery, or getting help with software of IT, RepairFest is your chance to repair, learn, celebrate, and connect.
Join Waterford’s first RepairFest and discover how small actions can make a big difference for your wallet and the planet.
Repair Café Services
Got something that’s broken, worn out or just needs a little TLC?
Bring it along to one of our Repair Stations and see what can be saved. Whether you’re looking for a quick fix or want to learn how to do it yourself, our skilled repairers will be on hand to share practical tips, techniques and know-how. Come curious, ask questions, pick up a new skill, and discover how rewarding repairing can be.
See the FAQs for more details on items that are suitable to bring and general guidelines on how the repair stations work.
Clothes
Repair torn seams, holes, ripped hems, missing buttons and worn clothing, including knitwear. (Please note: alterations are not offered.)
Textiles
Give small household textiles a new lease of life by repairing items such as cushions, bags, soft furnishings and other fabric items.
IT & Software
Get help troubleshooting laptops, tablets and smartphones, installing software, solving common tech issues, or learning how to get more from your devices.
Toys
Repair well-loved toys with loose parts, broken joints or minor damage to help keep them in play for longer.
Household Items
Fix small household items like ornaments, kitchenware, picture frames, small furniture and other practical household goods. No electrical or large items.
Costume Jewellery
A broken link in a necklace or bracelet, earrings or custom jewellery that need simple repairs or advice.
Workshop Programme
Learn practical repair skills in our expert-led, hands-on workshops. Discover new techniques, build confidence, and help extend the life of your everyday items while reducing waste. Register below to book your place for the workshop of your choice. Places are limited so book early!
Visible Mending
Workshop delivered by: Sally de Witt
Time: 12pm-1pm
Mend It, Don’t End It — An Introduction to Visible Mending:
Discover the art of visible mending and learn simple techniques to give damaged clothes a new lease of life. Try patching, woven darning and sashiko-inspired denim repair. No sewing experience needed — just bring a willingness to learn and embrace beautiful, imperfect repairs.
Furniture Upcycling
Workshop delivered by: Revamp Tramp
Time: 12.30pm-1.30pm
Join this furniture upcycling demo; follow along as Marianne works on a small locker, showing how to prep, prime, paint, decoupage and more. There will be time for questions and answers throughout. A must for anyone interested in home furnishings, upcycling or sustainability.
DIY Skills
Workshop delivered by: Irish School of DIY
Time: 11.30am-12.30pm
Ever wanted to fix things yourself but didn’t know where to start? Learn essential DIY skills, get to grips with basic tools and discover simple ways to repair, reuse and maintain things around your home — building confidence to have a go yourself.
Why Repair?
Learn Practical Skills
“The ability, or lack thereof, to make repairs to everyday items is an enduring issue in Ireland.
A Circular.ie survey at Bloom during the summer found that a lack of skills is the dominant barrier to repair in Ireland. Cost featured highly among respondents also, but both these barriers can be overcome by the emerging Repair Cafe scene.” circular.ie
Low Carbon Emmissions
Each year, large numbers of household items are thrown away, often with very little wrong with them. Much of this waste can’t be recycled and may end up in landfill. Repair cafés offer a practical alternative. By repairing items and keeping them in use, they help reduce demand for new materials, lower energy use and cut carbon emissions.
Repair and reuse reduces CO₂e by extending product life by ensuring we can continue wearing or using items, and avoiding the emissions associated with manufacturing, transporting and disposing of replacement products, while also reducing virgin material use, energy consumption and waste.
Save Money
“As households across Ireland continue to feel the pressure of rising costs, more people are discovering the benefits of repairing everyday items instead of replacing them
From broken appliances to damaged clothing and electronics, choosing repair is a smart, sustainable, and cost-effective solution.
Every year, thousands of tonnes of usable items end up in landfill simply because people assume replacement is easier than repair. In reality, many products can be restored quickly and affordably by skilled local repair specialists.” repairmystuff.ie
Support Local Communities
Repair cafe Waterford is a place for people to connect once a month, drink tea and help each other fix things. By working with the Waterford Volunteer Centre we include people from all over the world who bring their unique skills and share a sense of community. This way we build shared skills and a collective sense of place.
Repair Cafes also support local repair businesses and social enterprises by collaborating and not displacing other businesses.
Extend Product Life
“Extending the life of a garment by just one year reduces its environmental footprint byover 25%. In Ireland alone, around 170,000 tons of textiles are thrown out annually (that’s 35kg per person!), making us the top clothing waste producers in Europe per capita.
Repairing clothes used to be a basic life skill. But fast fashion? It changed the game. With racks full of cheap clothing, we’ve been pushed into a cycle where we own twice as many clothes and spend half as much on them compared to a few decades ago.
Brands have made it easy—and sadly more economical—for us to wear something a handful of times (seven, on average!) and toss it out. This disposable mindset comes at a cost: the fashion industry is the third most polluting in the world.” fabricofchange.ie
Partners & Supporters
Frequently Asked Questions
Entry to RepairFest is open. Workshops require advance booking, while Repair Stations operate on a first come, first served basis.
You can bring items such as clothing, textiles, jewellery, toys, small household goods, and devices needing IT or software support. Please check the Repair Station descriptions to see what each station can help with.
For safety reasons, we cannot accept large household items, electrical appliances, or items that require specialist repairs. RepairFest focuses on small, everyday items that can be repaired safely at the event.
To give everyone a chance to take part, we ask that you bring no more than two items per person.
Our Repair Stations will have a selection of basic supplies and tools, including thread, needles, elastic, glue, nails, and other common repair materials.
If your item requires specialist parts or materials, please bring these with you. This may include matching buttons, fabric patches, jewellery clasps or links, spare parts, or any manufacturer-specific components. Bringing the right replacement parts will give your repair the best chance of being completed on the day. We cannot offer replacement zips, as this is a more time-intensive repair than we can accommodate during the event.
Our repairers will do their best to help, but not every item can be repaired. Sometimes a diagnosis, advice, or a simple repair tip is the best outcome. Remember, it’s about making items wearable or usable again rather than having to throw them out.
If we can’t repair your item on the day, we may be able to suggest next steps, specialist repair services, or ways to recycle or dispose of it responsibly. Remember, the repair services are provided by volunteers who are extremely generous in giving their expertise, time and support to help repair and re-use your items.
Yes. We ask that you stay with your item during the repair. It’s a chance to learn new skills, ask questions, and see how the repair is done. It’s about learning and sharing with our wonderful volunteers, it’s not a drop off or professional repair or alteration service.
RepairFest is free to attend thanks to the generous support of our sponsors and the support of wonderful volunteers. The Waterford Repair Café has been supported over the past year by SSE Airtricity’s Generation Green Community Fund and Waterford City & County Council’s Local Circular Economy Grant. We are also very grateful to The Rediscovery Centre and the Community Foundation for Ireland for their support in helping us bring Waterford’s first-ever RepairFest to life.
Not at all! RepairFest is for everyone, whether you’ve never picked up a needle or screwdriver before or you’re an experienced fixer.
Yes. Our workshops are designed to be practical, friendly and suitable for all skill levels.
Yes, families are welcome. However anyone under 18 years of age needs to be supervised by a parent or guardian at all times.
Health and Safety Guidelines
- Please follow the instructions of Repair Station volunteers and workshop facilitators at all times.
- Stay with your item while it is being repaired—this is a chance to learn and ask questions.
- Use tools and equipment only under the guidance of a repairer or workshop leader.
- Wear appropriate clothing and closed-toe shoes where practical, especially if taking part in hands-on workshops.
- Keep walkways clear and store bags and personal belongings safely to avoid trip hazards.
- Children are welcome but must be supervised by a parent or guardian at all times.
- Report any accidents, injuries or hazards immediately to an event steward or organiser.
- Not all items can be repaired safely on the day. Repairers may decline a repair if it poses a safety risk. Electrical items cannot be repaired or checked.
- Please respect our volunteers, other participants and the venue by following event signage and instructions.
- Enjoy the day, ask questions, share your skills, and help create a safe, welcoming and sustainable RepairFest for everyone!
RepairFest Waterford
Saturday 17th October, 10am – 2pm.
The SETU Arena, Carriganore, Waterford.
RepairFest is hosted by Buíon Phort Láirge.
If you would like to join, take part, or learn more details about RepairFest, please Contact Nell Ward
SETU Arena, West Campus, Carriganore, Co Waterford. X91XD96. Contact SETU Arena