Our wonderful Local Heroes gathered last Saturday 25th March in Ballyin House & Gardens, Lismore for the annual Blackwater Valley Opera Festival Local Heroes Tea Party. There could not have been a better setting for our Afternoon Tea event than this beautiful Georgian home looking directly across to Lismore Castle, and where we were looked after so well by our host Caroline Fletcher O’Connor.
Festival Director Eamonn Carroll kicked things off with an address to our Local Hero guests about the upcoming Blackwater Valley Opera Festival, now in it’s 13th year, and the wonderful festival programme for 2023. This was followed by an insightful group discussion about local promotion of the festival, with plenty of praise and shared memories of magical experiences we have had in Blackwater Valley Opera Festival’s unique range of venues such as Dromore Yard and Lismore Castle. Our local heroes were given this year’s festival brochures with details of the exciting programme and artists for 2023.
We were then seated in the Miss Anson Suite and treated to a wonderful musical recital by harpist Una Whyte. The music was not the only treat available and shortly after, we were invited to help ourselves to the most fabulous afternoon tea spread. Nobody does afternoon tea quite like Caroline from Ballyin House, Lismore, who presented tiers of savoury and sweet treats all homemade using local or own produce, accompanied by tea and coffee in delicate china.
Before leavingm our Local Heroes took promotional material including posters, flyers and brochures with them to circulate in each of their localities. We are so grateful to the steadfast support of all our Local Heroes, who are so central to the Blackwater Valley Opera Festival community and contribute so much – helping to promote our events all across Waterford and Cork.
Ballyin House & Gardens, Lismore will be offering ‘Opera Weekend Afternoon Tea’ during this year’s Blackwater Valley Opera Festival. This will take place on Saturday 3rd and Sunday 4th June – limited availability, pre-booking essential.
