A former Fair City star has swapped the world of entertainment for a very different career and joined An Garda Síochána.
Simon O’Driscoll played Paul and Nicola Brennan’s son, Oisin, on Fair City and was also Cathal in the film Veronica Guerin as a child.
After appearing onscreen, he found a love for music before deciding he wanted a job that had ‘a bit more meaning’ to him.
Chatting ahead of being officially attested and sworn in later this week, Simon explained his road to being a Garda in a video.
‘So my background is probably a little bit interesting,’ Simon said. ‘My claim to fame is I played Cathal in the Veronica Guerin film, so I worked alongside Cate Blanchett and Brenda Fricker and Colin Farrell.
‘I later then went in to spend five or six years in Fair City. I played Paul and Nicola’s son, Oisin, and then, following on from that, I did a couple of short films. One was called New Boy, it was a short story written by Roddy Doyle, and it was actually nominated for an Oscar.’
As for why he decided to be a Garda, Simon said: ‘I joined because I wanted a job, I suppose, that had a little bit more meaning, for me personally.
‘I wanted a job that required me to be physically fit and kind of mentally sharp, and I suppose fitness and health would be a big part of my lifestyle anyway.
‘I had family in the job, so I saw how much they loved it and their time in it,’ he said, adding that he loves the adrenaline rush of reacting to calls.
Simon also praised the camaraderie that he’s found. ‘The camaraderie that you have is very much unlike any other job that you’ll probably walk into and the kind of bond that you’re going to make with your unit there,’ he said.
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Simon added: ‘You’re working with them for long hours in very high stress scenarios, and you have to make sure that you have each other’s back.’
Sharing Simon’s video, the Garda Insta College account said: ‘While Babs Mullins might not be walking the beat, we recently sat down with another former Fair City cast member: Trainee Garda Simon O’Driscoll.
‘Simon shared his journey, taking us from his time working on an Oscar-nominated film all the way to the Garda College. It’s a massive week for Simon and his classmates in Intake 253!
‘This Friday, they will be officially attested and sworn in as full members of An Garda Síochána.’
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