Carnivals were a popular event in Carrigaline in the past.  After a lull of close on forty years a local group of enthusiasts got together during the winter of 1988 in an attempt to establish an annual summer event to entertain the people of Carrigaline. 

Following many months of planning, the inaugural Festival was held in June 1989. That initial committee of Kevin Meaney, Helen Forde, Conor Phelan, Don Harte-Barry, Charlie Cullinane, Sheila Walsh, Joe Healy, Betty Murphy, Tim Murphy, Geoff Levis, Greg Meaney, Tom Spillane, Denise Thompson, Gerard Aherne, Peter Collins, Jackie O'Keefe, Barry and Fionan Cogan, Jack Aherne and others eventually succeeded in putting together a superb list of events.

The crowds turned up and the week went off without a hitch.
Carrigaline Festival was up and running!