Fellowship award for Opera Festival artistic director
The outgoing Artistic Director of Wexford Festival Opera David Agler was awarded an Honorary Fellowship of the Royal College of Surgeons for his outstanding contribution to the arts in Ireland.
The Fellowship which is the highest distinction that the college bestows, was conferred at a ceremony in the RCSI building on St. Stephen’s Green, Dublin.
Mr. Agler joins a distinguished list of previous recipients of the award, including Seamus Heaney, Padraig Harrington, Sir Bob Geldof and Joe Schmidt.
The presentation was made by Wexford General Hospital consultant Kenneth Mealy who is current president of the Royal College of Surgeons.
Mr. Mealy said the RCSI recognises the contribution that the arts can play in improving physical health and wellbeing, providing ways to nurture creativity, tackle social and health conditions and support long, healthy lives.
‘We greatly admire David for his work in cultivating Wexford Festival Opera as a truly international festival’ he said.
‘With the unwavering support of the local community and the Arts Council of Ireland, the festival has flourished. David has led an ambitious festival that has explored the neglected and often obscure opera repertoire and continued to surprise and intrigue audiences.
‘We applaud him for those achievements and celebrate his vision, determination and success over his 15 years in Wexford,” Mr Mealy.
The Honorary Fellowship citation was delivered at the ceremony by David Quinlan, RCSI Council member who outlined the highlights of David Agler’s career and legacy.