'Incredibly wise and always glamorous': Echo reporter pays tribute to Montforts founder 

I am devastated by the news of the passing of Eileen Nolan, but feel blessed to have known her for 18 years.

I first met Ms Nolan when, as a nine-year-old, I had just moved to West Cork from Douglas and was struggling to figure out how I fitted in.

I started drama classes with Montforts in Clonakilty and auditioned for their Christmas pantomime in the city, where I was cast as the fairy godmother in Cinderella.

I was introduced to Ms Nolan and found her inspiring. 

She requested to speak to my mother and told her that I was to attend drama classes with her personally from then on, also suggesting I take dance and musical theatre classes.

“She’s a fantastic actor, but she must learn to sing and dance,” she said.

I was struck by her bluntness and the potential she saw in me. Throughout primary and secondary school I attended drama classes with Ms Nolan every Friday, and took direction from her in our annual school musical.

These classes and shows and the friendships I made there changed my life and inspired me to study drama in Trinity, where I found a love of writing.

An incredibly wise and always glamorous woman, she could offer the most insightful direction one minute and laugh riotously at a joke the next.

Though she had hundreds of students, she remained interested in everyone’s lives and had seemingly endless time for students across the county. Praise from Ms Nolan was something to be treasured, a sign that you had done something very right.

I have often said that her guidance, vision, and friendship made me the person I am today, and I know for a fact that Cork is a worse place without Ms Nolan in it.