Davy Lynch awarded Ecclesiastical/Wexford Festival Opera Volunteer of the Year
Wexford Festival Opera proudly announces Davy Lynch, who has been volunteering with WFO since 1991, as the 2025 Ecclesiastical/Wexford Festival Opera Volunteer of the Year. Davy was chosen through a public vote by fellow volunteers, board and staff of the Festival.
Davy Lynch joined Wexford Festival Opera as one of three drivers in 1991. Over the past number of years, he has expanded and led the festival’s team of voluntary drivers. Davy always greets you with a big smile and has a no task is too difficult attitude and is a very popular member of the volunteer family.
The announcement was officially made by Artistic Director, Rosetta Cucchi and David Lane, Managing Director Ecclesiastical Insurance Ireland from the stage of The National Opera House on the night of the first public dress rehearsal, Le Trouvère.
Ecclesiastical Insurance, a specialist insurer of the Arts, has supported Wexford Festival Opera’s volunteer programme for 12 years. Recognising and telling the stories of over 400 current and past volunteers who work in all areas of the Festival, from front of house to driving to costume and backstage.
A large part of being a volunteer is creating unforgettable memories. To celebrate volunteerism, the Festival launched an archival project – ‘The Festival Memory Bank’ - with Ecclesiastical a number of years ago in which they are collecting memories through interviews with members of the volunteer team. The project recognises and tells the stories of over 400 current and past volunteers who work in all areas of the Festival, from front of house to driving to costume and backstage.
Pictured: Loughlin Deegan, Interim Executive Director WFO, David Lane Managing Director at Ecclesiastical Ireland, Davy Lynch who has been awarded the 2025 Ecclesiastical/Wexford Festival Opera Volunteer of the Year, and Eleanor White, Chair of the Volunteer Committee.
Photo: Patrick Browne
Wexford Festival Opera is an incredible celebration of music, culture and community. It takes these dedicated and enthusiastic volunteers to make sure everything runs smoothly, so take a moment to say hello and acknowledge their hard work when you see them.
The ‘Festival Memory Bank’ is an ongoing project dedicated to preserving the history of the Festival through the eyes of its dedicated volunteer team. WFO are actively collecting stories and memories from current and past volunteers across all departments. Please get in touch to share your memory. You can also view existing video interviews on the WFO YouTube channel.
Speaking on behalf of Ecclesiastical, David Lane, Managing Director Ecclesiastical Insurance Ireland said: “We are delighted to present Davy Lynch with this year’s Wexford Festival Opera Volunteer of the Year award. Davy embodies the true spirit of volunteerism — dedicated, positive, and always willing to go the extra mile to make the Festival such a special experience for everyone involved. Volunteers like Davy are at the heart of Wexford Festival Opera’s success, and their enthusiasm and generosity of spirit are what make this event such a fantastic celebration of music, culture and community. At Ecclesiastical Ireland, proudly part of the Benefact Group, we are proud to support and celebrate the volunteers whose passion and commitment bring so much to Irish cultural life."
Ecclesiastical is Ireland’s leading specialist insurance company serving the arts, education, faith, heritage and charity sectors. It provides insurance and services for those who care about their communities and the environment in which they live and work. As a company that donates all available profits to charity, Ecclesiastical’s long-standing association with the Volunteer of the Year Award is a perfect reflection of its commitment to supporting and nurturing the communities it serves.