Why I changed my mind

Music has always been my passion, but how do you forge a career in it? So I put what my heart wanted to one side and let my head rule. Apart from music, biology was my best subject in school. Science in Trinity was my first choice on the CAO form: it’s an excellent course with good career prospects and I thought that there would be a use for me in industry.

My second and third choices were in the biomedical field, with NUI Maynooth and DIT both making the cut. But at the back of my mind the music was playing.

I’d started thinking about college courses in Transition Year, and all through sixth year I thought about changing my mind.

I loved music but it seemed hard to make a living. The deciding factor was after my audition for the music degree course in NUI Maynooth. I’d gone in because I thought music might be a good back-up in the event of a bad Leaving.

Then, in May, just a month before the exams, a letter arrived from NUI Maynooth. Subject to meeting basic matriculation requirements, I’d been accepted to the college. I was sure I would get what was needed.

I realised I’d be far happier studying music than I could ever be struggling through four years of science. My parents were a little surprised but they backed me all the way. They were just happy that I found something I was sure I wanted to do.

I love the campus, the community feel, the student life, and most importantly, the course, which has a good balance of theory and performance.

As well as bass guitar, I play double bass classically in a few youth orchestras and other ensembles. Right now, I'm playing with Liam Geddes, who is supporting singer Mary Byrne this summer in dates across Ireland. It's an exciting time.