Help Me Study Irish Folklore at Queen’s University Belfast

Hi, I’m Ceci (but if you're here you probably know me). I’m turning 33 this year!! For my birthday this June, I’m asking for something that means the world to me: help reaching my dream of studying Irish folklore and culture at Queen’s University Belfast.

I spent 2020-2023 finally finishing my undergraduate degree. I graduated from Columbia College Chicago with a 3.9 GPA and a renewed love of learning. I've been re-focused on my interest in writing and folklore. After my family visited Ireland in April I applied to Queen's on a whim, assuming I wouldn't be accepted. I was accepted in 3 days. So, because this was spur of the moment I was past a lot of deadlines and needed to defer that acceptance to 2026 so that I can apply for as many grants and scholarships as possible because, well... FAFSA calculates my student loans would be $1400 a month minimum once I got home and frankly that's not an option.

I’ve been fully accepted into the postgraduate program at QUB, one of the top institutions in Ireland for Irish Studies. It’s not just a school to me—it’s a place deeply connected to the history I want to preserve and share. I’ve also been awarded $4,000 in scholarships already, and I’m actively applying for more, including grants and awards focused on enabling US students to study in Ireland and the UK. But as a postgraduate student funding options are limited—only unsubsidized loans are available to me in the U.S., and international tuition, living costs, and fees bring the total cost to roughly $60,000.

That’s why I’m launching this fundraiser. With your support, I’ll be able to attend QUB this fall and pursue my passion for under-recorded Irish folklore—especially regional traditions from the conveniently nearby focus of my research, Rathlin Island, that are at risk of being forgotten.

This isn’t just about getting a degree. It’s about dedicating myself to research that uplifts marginalized cultural voices, language, and oral histories. QUB’s Irish Studies department is uniquely suited to support this work, and I hope to live in their Irish Language Housing to fully immerse myself while learning the language.

If you’ve ever believed in preserving stories, in lifting up the past to enrich the future, or in someone chasing a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, I hope you’ll consider helping me get there.

Every dollar helps—whether it’s a donation, a share, or words of encouragement!

Go raibh míle maith agat!!!!!!!!!