Blackwater Valley Opera Festival CLG

Blackwater Valley Opera Festival Company Limited by Guarantee operates Ireland's Summer Opera Festival, an annual week-long event held in Lismore, County Waterford, and the surrounding Blackwater Valley region. The festival presents a programme of opera and classical music, including performances at Lismore Castle and St Carthage's Cathedral, alongside concerts, recitals, talks and related events. The organisation showcases emerging Irish talent alongside established international artists, aiming to enrich the cultural life of the region. The 2026 festival attracted more than 5,500 visitors and included a dress rehearsal of Don Giovanni for primary and secondary school students and community groups. The company also runs education and outreach programmes, a bursary scheme, and offers support options including Friends and Patrons memberships, corporate groups, legacy giving, gift vouchers and volunteering opportunities.