Reptile Expo Ireland at SETU Arena

What to Expect

Reptile Expo Ireland takes over SETU Arena at Carriganore on Sunday 27 September 2026, running from 10am to 4pm. The hall fills with breeders and specialist shops showing snakes, lizards and amphibians, along with the equipment side of the hobby: terrariums, heating gear and specialist lighting from the main brands, plus insect food, frozen rodents and prepared diets at show prices.

For families the appeal is straightforward. Six hours of open floor means children can get close to animals most of them will only have seen on a screen, and the keepers behind each table are generally happy to explain what they are looking at. The organisers run educational sessions across the day on husbandry, habitat design and species-specific care, which is the part that matters if anyone in the house is starting to make a case for a first reptile. Welfare is handled on site, with veterinary experts checking that animals meet the show’s safety and wellness criteria before they go on display. There is a food hall and cafe in the arena, along with additional reptile-related vendor stalls. Tickets are booked through Eventbrite and the listing carries a no-refund policy, so check the date before you buy.

Good to Know

• Date: Sunday 27 September 2026
• Times: 10am to 4pm
• Venue: SETU Arena, Carriganore, Waterford, X91 XD96
• Snakes, lizards and amphibians from breeders and specialist shops
• Talks on husbandry, habitat design and species care through the day
• Food hall and cafe on site
• Vet checks on all animals exhibited
• Booking through Eventbrite, no refunds

Getting There

SETU Arena is at Carriganore on the west campus of South East Technological University, about ten minutes’ drive from Waterford city centre on the Kilkenny side of the river. Drivers coming in on the N25 should follow signs for the Outer Ring Road and then Carriganore or the SETU West Campus; there is a large free car park at the arena. From the city, the route runs out past Ferrybank and the Waterford Greenway trailhead at Bilberry. Local city bus services run to the SETU campuses, and Plunkett Station is about fifteen minutes away by car. Anyone travelling by Bus Eireann from Dungarvan, Kilkenny or Wexford will need a short taxi hop from the Quay.