Life after the Leaving: Derek Palmer has a first-class honours degree from the University of Wales. It all started with a PLC

“I was born in Bray, Co Wicklow but grew up in Scotland. When I finished school I was offered a place in English and geography at the University of Glasgow. Even then I knew it wasn’t for me so I took a year out and moved back to Bray.

“I never went back to education. I started working, in cafes and then in financial services, and I suppose I became accustomed to the money. I got involved in amateur drama, writing and performing. Thinking back, that’s what I should have done after school but I didn’t have the confidence.

“I was made redundant four years ago at age 29 and I was thinking about taking a year off and then maybe taking a performing arts course. The local citizens information office referred me to the VEC (now ETB, Education and Training Board) who phoned Bray Institute of Further Education (BIFE) and found a place for me on their performing arts course if I could start the following day. Normally you’d have to audition but, given my experience, the head of the course was willing to give me a chance.

“It was very hard work, a lot more academic than I expected, and it took time to become accustomed to work not necessarily finishing because you were at home.

“I continued to second and third year in BIFE. I was glad I had the first year to re-acclimatise to education. Some people go straight into second year but I was happy to do a foundation year.

“After the course in Bray, you can apply to other colleges, but they have a connection with the University of Wales in Swansea. If they accept you, you go into the third and final year of their degree, which I did.

“The first three years in BIFE left me feeling more prepared and confident than a lot of my peers who had been on the degree programme all along. It was a really excellent course.

“Swansea was great in lots of ways but particularly for making industry contacts. Getting first-class honours was incredible.

The aim for the summer is to earn some money – four years of study is expensive –and write. Then it’s back to Swansea to make the most of those contacts. I want to do a bit of everything, but mostly I want to produce my own work. That’s the aim anyway. It’s an exciting time.”

– In conversation with Gráinne Faller