David Maguire named as Wexford Festival Opera’s 2021 -Volunteer of the Year
Wexford Festival Opera awards long-time volunteer, David Maguire with the Volunteer of the Year Award 2021, in partnership with Ecclesiastical
David Maguire was awarded the 2021 Ecclesiastical/ Wexford Festival Opera Volunteer of the Year Award at the opening of this year’s Wexford Festival Opera after a public vote by fellow volunteers, board and staff of the Festival. A long-time volunteer and supporter of Wexford Festival Opera, David is extremely popular among all Festival staff and volunteers, as well as the wider Wexford community.
David began his volunteer journey with the Festival in 1977 and has since worn many hats, including sitting on the Board of Directors for a time, supporting 10 volunteer departments in his role as Head of Volunteers, and managing a very busy Front of House each Festival.
Volunteering runs in the family for David, as his father, brother and three sons all have served or are serving as volunteers for Wexford Opera Festival. He is also an active member of the local RNLI crew and the Wexford Maritime Festival, all besides his day job with Wexford Credit Union.
The announcement was made by Artistic Director, Rosetta Cucchi and Executive Director, Randall Shannon from the stage of The National Opera House on the night of the first public dress rehearsal, Edmea, attended by an audience of volunteers.
Chair of the Festival’s Volunteer Committee, Eleanor Modler, said “David is a real pleasure to work with, always calm and good humoured and his dedication and commitment to Wexford Festival Opera is to be commended. David is following in his father’s footsteps, who was a volunteer in the eighties, therefore it is fitting in our 70th anniversary year to see this award go to someone who has such a history with the Festival.”
Ecclesiastical Insurance, proud sponsor of the Festival’s Volunteer Programme, is Ireland’s leading specialist insurance company serving the education, faith, heritage and charity sectors, providing insurance and services for those who care about their communities and the environment in which they live and work. Ecclesiastical Insurance is a company that donates a significant proportion of its profits to charity, so it is fitting that they are associated with the award.
Speaking on behalf of Ecclesiastical, John Devitt, Sales Manager, said, “The very survival of many charitable institutions is dependent on the volunteer sector and the dedicated volunteers at Wexford Opera Festival are no exception to this. Their professionalism is a perfect complement to the world class performances that we witness during every festival. I’d like to congratulate this year’s winner David Maguire for the incredible work he has done throughout the years and for achieving this prestigious Volunteer of the Year Award 2021. At Ecclesiastical, we are delighted to be associated once again with this award and our particular congratulations also go to Eleanor and her team for their invaluable contribution to the Festival.”