Dyson's house and estate to open to the public for Blackwater Valley Opera Festival
Sarah Slater
Ballynatray House estate, owned by Dyson creator James Dyson, is to be opened to the public for the annual Blackwater Valley Opera Festival.
The English billionaire spent €30 million to purchase the 850-acre estate in 2024.
The inaugural recital features Irish mezzo-soprano Tara Erraught, with the festival running from May 26th to June 1st.
The festival will be held across 13 historic homes and venues in Lismore, Youghal, Dungarvan, and Castlemartyr.
The festival includes concerts at Dromore Yard with performers such as Finghin Collins, Dearbhla Collins, and Niamh O'Sullivan, alongside dining experiences and recitals at various historic houses.
The electrical goods magnate was recently granted planning permission to construct a tennis court on the grounds close to the 18th-century classical-style house and an associated farm complex, which sit on the Waterford and Cork border.
He has also planned for the addition of a helicopter landing pad.
Some estimates place Dyson’s personal and family fortunes at over €20 billion. He owns extensive farms and estates in the English shires, along with homes in London, France, and Singapore, as well as a 300ft superyacht.
