Ireland’s Summer Opera Festival
About Us…
Thanks to the backing of dedicated private philanthropy and the Arts Council of Ireland, Blackwater Valley Opera Festival (BVOF) has evolved from a 2010 pop-up event into an established Flagship festival for Waterford attracting 1,000’s of visitors each year. The festival celebrates opera, classical music events, and dining at stunning venues including Lismore Castle and the semi-restored Dromore Yard. BVOF is part of a new wave of renewed interest in opera in Ireland. We engage with local communities through free school performances, educational outreach programmes, multiple bursary initiatives, and free events. These initiatives help foster a passion for the music in the next generation and ensure opera remains vital to Ireland’s cultural identity.
The impressive grounds of Lismore Castle in County Waterford is the festival’s home and The Old Stable provides a magical backdrop for our bespoke opera production, with four evening opera performances and a free performance for local schools.
Our vibrant concert series takes place at Dromore Yard – a semi-restored 19th century farmyard building with sublime acoustics; and our recitals are hosted in historic homes and venues along the majestic Blackwater Valley.
Blackwater Valley Opera Festival is a leading light in the classical music and opera world in Ireland, and is designated as a flagship festival for Waterford – contributing significantly to the economic, tourism and cultural growth of the South East of Ireland.
Ireland’s Summer Opera Festival joyfully engages audiences through a creative and imaginative programme of opera and classical music in the beautiful Blackwater Valley. We showcase emerging Irish talent alongside established international artists and delivering memorable and inspirational experiences that enrich the cultural life of the region.
Outreach Programme
In all that it does, Blackwater Valley Opera Festival aims to promote excellence. As part of our commitment to championing emerging artists and fostering a love of music and opera in the next generation, we lead several key initiatives:
- Free Opera Performance for Schools
- Education Outreach Programmes
- BVOF Bursary Programmes
- Free Recitals for Local Audiences
- Community Initiatives: Free tickets for local community groups
- Concession tickets for senior citizens, full-time students, unwaged, and disabled visitors
“Music is such a powerful medium and the Blackwater Valley Opera Festival has been working tirelessly promoting the beauty and relevance of opera. It is wonderful to witness results of the drive and enthusiasm of such dedicated people making opera more accessible and connected to audiences in such an inclusive and authentic manner.”
Festival Director
Eamonn Carroll
Eamonn is an experienced development professional with a significant track record in high-level sponsorship negotiation, implementation and activation. Prior to becoming Festival Director he was Membership Relationship Manager at the RDS. Before this he directed the sponsorship and Friends strategy for Wexford Festival Opera and Wexford Opera House and managed key relationships for the company with leading Irish and international philanthropists. He has represented the cultural sector on the Minister’s Working Group on Arts Funding & Philanthropy. Formerly, Eamonn was Assistant Chief Executive and Head of Fundraising with the leading Irish research charity Fighting Blindness and Vice-President of the Students’ Union at NUI Maynooth. Eamonn previously served as a BVOF Board Member from 2017 and became Festival Director in April 2019 at Ireland’s Summer Opera Festival.
Artistic Director
Dieter Kaegi - Artistic Director
For 10 years Dieter Kaegi was director of productions at the renowned Music Festival in Aix-en-Provence. He became assistant to the general director of Monte Carlo Opera followed by for twelve years as Artistic Director of Opera Ireland in Dublin. Since 2013 Mr Kaegi has been General Director of TOBS, theatre, opera and orchestra of Biel and Solothurn in Switzerland.
In 2009, together with Jennifer O’Connell he co-founded the Lismore Opera Festival (which changed its name in 2018 to Blackwater Valley Opera Festival) and he continues to act as its Artistic Director at Ireland’s Summer Opera Festival.
Dieter has directed over 100 opera productions in important opera houses and festivals in Europe, US and Asia, such as: Grand Théâtre de Genève, Opernhaus Zürich, Maggio Musicale di Firenze, Rossini Festival Pesaro, Teatro Regio Torino, Teatro Real Madrid, Teatro Liceu Barcelona, Royal Opera Copenhagen, Opéra du Rhin Strasbourg, Chorégis d’Orange, Opéra de Nice, Opèra de Monte Carlo, Opéra Royale de la Wallonie Liège , Seattle Opera , Washington Opera, Macau Arts Festival, Hong Kong Arts Festival, Korean National Opera Seoul, Jekaterinburg Opera, Perm Opera, Opera Posznan, Latvian National Opera Riga and many others.
Key Staff
Breda O'Brien - Financial Controller
Breda has acted as Financial Controller since the 2018 Festival. Founder and principal of Lismore Accountants since 2015, Breda is a Chartered Accountant with over 20 years’ experience. Qualifying in 1999 while working with Deloitte in Cork, she has extensive experience dealing with businesses in this increasingly competitive and changing world and has a wide range of business experience. Breda served as Chief Executive at the 2019 Festival, overseeing the implementation of plans to meet the financial, commercial and operational objectives of the festival in line with BVOF’s ambitious 5 year growth plan.
Tara McKeown - Marketing Director
Tara stepped into her role as Marketing Director at Blackwater Valley Opera Festival in 2022, bringing a rich blend of experience in communications, sales, publishing, marketing, and events. Her journey before BVOF included helming Primary Times South magazine for 18 years, alongside providing marketing solutions for a range of businesses throughout Munster. Tara’s consulting work focuses on supporting clients within the arts & culture, education, and events sectors. With studies in film and communications from London, her career has spanned roles across the music and film industries, including positions with the Virgin Group in London and Amsterdam.
BVOF Team Members
Shermin Thompson (Box Office and Hospitality Manager)
With over 25 years of experience in hospitality, Shermin brings a wealth of knowledge and unwavering dedication to the team. Joining Blackwater Valley Opera Festival in 2024, her passion for quality, excellence, and skill-sharing is the driving force behind her career. Shermin excels in creating exceptional guest experiences, managing teams, and delivering outstanding service. Renowned for her diligence, conscientious work ethic, and adaptability, she remains committed to professional excellence and continuous learning.
Jacqui McLay (Patron Care Coordinator)
Jacqui joined Blackwater Valley Opera Festival in 2022 as Patron Care Coordinator with a varied background and experience in events management, travel and customer care. Jacqui has an appreciation for various genres of music, and has been a member of The Fleischmann Choir for 17 years.
