A LOCAL community activist from Ballymun has made a heartfelt plea for support after being offered a rare chance to complete an MBA at Queens University in Belfast.
Student Sean Tyrrell couldn’t believe his luck when told he had secured one of only 30 places on the course at the prestigious institution, but his delight was bitter-sweet as he hasn’t got the
?¬24,000 needed to take up the offer.
However, the 21-year-old, who ran as an independent candidate in the local elections last May, is determined to do whatever it takes to raise enough money to start the course next month.
His fundraising begun last month when he sent a letter to every single TD, Senator and Irish MEP asking for a
?¬100 contribution to the cause, pointing out it works out at about 5.5 per cent of one week’s wages and promising to refund the money once he completes the MBA.
“I’ve written to businesses as well in the hope that I can get some kind of sponsorship,
? he told Northside People.
“It’s a fair few bob to do the course.
“I was absolutely delighted when I was offered the place. It came as a bit of a shock to be honest. It’s an internationally recognised course and there’s only 30 places. You can’t get much higher when it comes to a business degree.
“Obviously I knew how much it cost when I was applying but I honestly wasn’t expecting to get it. I’ve looked at different bank loans but unfortunately there’s nobody in my family in a position to go guarantor for me.
“Anyway, the repayments would be between
?¬500-600 a month, which when you’re taking travel costs getting up and down to Belfast is an awful lot of money that I don’t really have.
?
Sean grew up in Ballymun and had been saving since he was 16-years-old but spent most of the money on his unsuccessful election campaign last May.
He even sold his beloved Playstation in the effort to become a local councillor and despite his campaign being hampered by a broken arm and his mother being hospitalised for a month he wasn’t eliminated until the 11th count.
So far his plea to politicians has fallen on mostly deaf ears, with only Dublin North Central TD, Finian McGrath, responding positively with a
?¬150 donation.
“Ã?amon Ã? CuÃv said he reserves donations for constituents, Leo Varadkar says he is not in a position to make any donations and Senator Martin Conway said he is assisting a very gifted young lady who has been accepted this year into the Royal Academy of Music in London,
? said Sean who recently successfully completed a degree in BA Economics, Politics and Law at DCU.
“I have yet to get any official response from any other politicians.
?
Sean has also written to a number of top firms looking for sponsorship including PwC, Ernst & Young, Deloitte, KPMG, Lidl and Unilever.
He needs to raise at least
?¬6,000 to make the first Queens University payment deadline. He’ll then have to make three further
?¬6,000 payments by the end of November, January and March.
Sean believes he may qualify for a SUSI student grant of up to
?¬6,000, but that still leaves him needing
?¬18,000.
“I am desperate not to become another statistic, but to grow and develop into a person who can be of value to society and help his community, county and country grow and prosper, and I believe that with an MBA behind me I can achieve this,
? he says.
“I’m prepared to give back if I get donations or sponsorship. Once I’m up working and on my feet I’d be happy to refund or work off any donations.
?
Sean hasn’t given up on politics and is still involved in the local Ballymun community where he’s vice chair of the Tidy Towns committee and a member of several other local community groups. He’s planning on organising a number of fundraisers locally to help raise money for the course and is hoping his community will support him.
“I just said to myself I need sponsorship and I’m going to have to contact guys who might be able to help,
?
Sean can be contacted by email on seantyrrell@gmail.com or by phone on 085-7852842.