Sponsored
Sponsored content is premium paid-for content produced by the Irish Times Content Studio on behalf of commercial clients. The Irish Times newsroom or other editorial departments are not involved in the production of sponsored content.

Going back to school: Ian Beattie, actor

When you’re a child, it’s easy to see school as the worst thing in the world. It’s only later in life you realise what a wonderful time it was

Ian Beattie: Went to school at Methodist College Belfast
Ian Beattie: Went to school at Methodist College Belfast

Ian Beattie, Actor

When I was little, one of my father's friends owned a circus. For four absolutely incredible summers, I found myself being the only boy in Ireland who didn't dream of running away with the circus. I was in it! My parents brought me there every Monday morning and I would spend the week acting as a clown in Circus Dellabeck on tours around Northern Ireland. It was a blissful experience. As the end of August beckoned, I just didn't want to see the end of it. School felt like purgatory by comparison.

When I retired from the circus at the grand old age of 11, my parents thought it would be best to focus more on the challenges ahead and so I started at Methodist College Belfast.

There was one particular history teacher there, Dr Michael Foy, whose positive attitude and enthusiasm for his subject felt infectious. Teaching is all about transmitting a message, but this was on another level. It helped that he was a film buff, as that was something I warmed to, being a huge fan of cinema and a budding actor, even then. He was an absolutely wonderful teacher and someone for whom I have nothing but the fondest of memories.

When you’re a child, it’s easy to see school as the worst thing in the world. It’s only later in life you realise what a wonderful time it was. Looking back, I can’t believe I even wanted to leave.