Aspiring Limerick actor launches GoFundMe appeal to help with drama school tuition fees

A YOUNG Cappamore actor has started an online campaign to help towards her tuition at the Oxford School of Drama.

Eleanor O'Brien has acted alongside Colm Meaney and Brian Cox among others, and she wrote to actors for support before turning to the GoFundMe website.

Ms O'Brien has core memories of loving being on stage from as young as five and is passionate about Irish culture, the Irish language and being close to home, in her heart, if not physically.

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She acted in Báite, which won the Best Irish Language Feature Film at the Galway Film Fleadh and will be travelling to California, where it will be showcased.

“This has to be my one ask, people often fundraise for a short film or play, but I don't think anyone has ever done it for an education,” she said.

“Limerick and Ireland have been fantastic to me. To do this as a career, it needs to be sustainable and you need to be able to support yourself mentally, spiritually, financially and this is me trying to figure it out and how to continue it. I'm very excited about the year ahead.”

“I could talk for Ireland and I would if they asked me to,” said Ms O'Brien.

“The Oxford School of Drama Masters programme is a full-time course which runs for 12 months. It’s an incredible opportunity but also a big financial commitment. I feel incredibly lucky to have been accepted, and I’ll be truly grateful to anyone who helps me along this journey.”

Anyone who wants to support Ms O'Brien's GoFundMe can do so here (https://www.gofundme.com/f/eleanor-o-brien) and the actor is going to be updating people on her progress, as well as practical information for other actors who might wish to pursue the same path, via social media.