Barry Keoghan has vowed to "drop in" one of the days to his former school in Dublin after staff and students praised the actor following his BAFTA win.
The 30-year-old Summerhill native wowed film critics with his performance in Martin McDonagh's acclaimed The Banshees of Inisherin alongside Colin Farrell, Brendan Gleeson and Kerry Condron. Barry scooped up the BAFTA for best supporting actor, and in his acceptance speech on Sunday night he dedicated his win to the kids in Summerhill where he grew up.
On Monday, Conor Flood, his former teacher at O’Connell Secondary School in the inner city, told RTE News that there is "great pride" in the school following Barry's big win. He said: “An individual like Barry, they have something in them that the school is not responsible for, can only maybe nurture, but there is great pride.
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Mr Flood added: "Every time I see him on television it is just slightly surreal but really enjoyable. What he’s doing and what he’s done for himself and for his family and for the local area is immeasurable."
Meanwhile, students at the school also expressed their delight in the Dublin actor's career success. One student Darragh Flynn Kenny told RTE News: "He’s just a normal young fella from around the area, and just to be able to say he comes from the same place as me, he did the same things as me growing up, and he is where he is.
“Even if it’s acting or football, or whatever, it’s like it gives you that bit of drive to push on say. He did it so it’s achievable.” Another student Tadgh O’Driscoll said: “He’s an inspiration to everyone in the school and an inspiration to everyone around the north inner city.
“He’s come from such a hard, tough background and really made something of himself." Taking to Twitter, Barry thanked his former teacher and the students at O’Connell Secondary School for their words of support.
He wrote: "“This is beautiful THANK YOU lads for getting on national tv and saying those lovely things.
“I will drop in as soon as I am back to have a big aul (old) chat Mr. Flood and @coolyer (another teacher) il (sic) drop over to the primary too.”
The Summerhill native is also in the running for an Oscar and will attend the 95th Academy Awards on March 13 in Hollywood.
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