The Limerick Opera Festival

About Us


Established in 2019, The Limerick Opera Festival was created to bring opera to all through a wide variety of live performances, operatic renditions, exhibitions and community events.

With a splendid operatic history, Limerick has produced many iconic figures of the operatic genre - from European idol Catherine Hayes, to Joseph O’Mara, to (in more recent times) Suzanne Murphy.     Through this initiative, we seek to foster a community that celebrates our past and brings beautiful creations into our future.

The Limerick Opera Festival hosts a number of events ranging from performances to workshops during our annual festival weeks in May of every year. However, we are always planning & presenting other events through out the year.

So be sure to keep in touch so that you will not miss any of our exciting opportunities to enjoy great music.  For more information about dates and times, please visit our Upcoming Events page and social media. 

2024 Festival Launch & Book Launch

We had a great night at our recent launch in the courtyard at Green Yard Cafe  
The mayor of Limerick Gerald Mitchel & festival director Ger Reidy said a few words and we were treated to some amazing arias from        
Eve Stafford accompanied by Irina Dernova.
Sharon Slater, the author of Limerick Opera Festival's new publication River Notes ~ Opera in Limerick was with us also.

                       Limerick Opera Festival Publication of

      River Notes ~ Opera in Limerick

     Our wonderfully interesting book is now available to pre-order at the                       following link ~ https://eventmaster.ie/event/6B85UEpT5G
      This is a coffee table must and is the culmination of much research on              behalf of Sharon Slater. Be sure to get your order in as soon as possible.

The City Theatre

Do you all remember spending many a night or afternoon in this old iconic venue? I am sure there are people out there who do not know where this theatre was! Did you know that it was once a well established venue for Limerick Opera? 
The Limerick Operatic & Choral Society held a week long operatic festival here every year.                                                                                
Today though, you would be buying furniture in this iconic venue.
This is only a taste of the intriguing and fascinating information available in
River Notes ~ Opera in Limerick

Our Opera Trail Saturday May 4th
A great success & what a buzz

Ami Hewitt, Sean Tester & Matthew Mannion accompanied by Irina Dernova gave outstanding performance to crowds at Colbert Station, The International Rugby Experience, Arthur's Quay & Thomas StreetAll our audiences were truly inspired by the performances.  It was great to see all our existing LOF followers & to make so many new opera friends.

Opera at The Model School

We were delighted to visit The Model School, An Modh Scoil here in Limerick to entertain and speak with fifth and sixth classes about opera and take questions from the students. David Howes - Bass Baritone and Irina Dernova - Accompanist spent a wonderful hour and more singing, playing music and introducing opera in all it's glory to this young audience.
And who knows, we may have inspired the young singers and musicians in the audience !!  
This amazing group certainly had lots and lots of questions. Our visit to an Modh Scoil finished with the sixth classes singing a beautiful rendition of The Cranberries - 'Dreams' as gaeilge of course. Absolutely magical!! There are lots of pictures of this wonderful event on our Facebook page and An Modh Scoil social media.
Thank you so much to the principle and teachers for having us.

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