This year’s Blackwater Valley Opera Festival launch saw Lismore Heritage Centre packed with local dignitaries including Cllr Damien Geoghegan representing Waterford Mayor’s office, Waterford City & County Council, Chief Executive Michael Walsh, and festival director Eamonn Carroll. Local communities and businesses included representatives from Lismore Castle, Foleys on the Mall, Fuller’s Bistro, Cairde Credit Union Dungarvan, Barron’s Bakery Cappoquin, Lismore Food Company, Ballyin House, Dungarvan Tourism Office, Dungarvan & West Waterford Chamber, WP Cork, MCG Kayaks, St Declan’s Way, Towers and Tales, Munster Vales, Dromana House, Kilcannon House, and Castlemartyr Resort.

Youghal harpist, Una Whyte played an enthralling selection of Irish traditional musical arrangements and classical pieces for the event in the Courthouse Theatre. This year, Lismore Heritage Centre will also host a recital event in the theatre as part of the festival, on Sunday 4th June at 12pm featuring soprano Kelli-Ann Masterson and pianist Mairead Hurley.

With less than one month to go to Ireland's Summer Opera Festival, preparations are well underway for the 21 festival events which will take place at 12 venues over eight days, from 29 May – 5 June 2023.