An Irish Girl in the Big Apple
At the Tribeca Film Festival premiere of the Irish language film Kneecap this July, Vivienne Sayers O’Callaghan realized she was finally living her American dream.
Watching a groundbreaking Irish hip-hop group from Belfast speak Gaelic on the big screen, Sayers O’Callaghan never felt more at home in her surroundings—even in New York City. And after being invited to the premiere, it was undeniable: she had finally arrived.
Growing up on a farm in the fields of Ireland, Sayers O’Callaghan has been captivated by the U.S. her whole life. As a kid, she fell in love with the American shows that shone brightly on her screen, including the popular series Glee, a musical comedy following high schoolers in Lima, Ohio.
After seeing the show’s characters thrive and achieve that fabled American dream, Sayers O’Callaghan said Glee helped her love of music grow stronger while cementing the drive to make it to America herself and live out her greatest dreams.
“It’s always been in the back of my head,” she said. “I wanted to go to the States and learn how people work there. There are these huge success stories that come out of the U.S. I was like, ‘Gosh, I’d love to go over.’”
Fast forward to more than a decade later, and Sayers O’Callaghan has surpassed even her wildest expectations.
With over 150,000 followers on TikTok, she has taken the world of social media by storm, skyrocketing to fame just after a year of creating content. Through her Instagram and TikTok accounts, she chronicles life as an Irish girl in New York City, while educating her viewers about Irish culture—everything from snippets of Gaelic to little-known facets of Irish culture and even common misconceptions.
“I didn’t understand how or why I was going viral,” she admitted. “It was a big surprise because I didn't think people would take that much interest in it.”
But for her, everything began when the world went into lockdown. At the time, Sayers O’Callaghan was pursuing an undergraduate degree in music from Munster Technological University (MTU), Endicott’s sister school in Cork. After scrolling through Instagram one day, she noticed a lack of mail-order companies for houseplants in Ireland. With everyone stuck at home due to COVID-19, plant purchases soared. Seeing this niche market, she soon launched her own online houseplant company, Prickly Plants, which eventually grew into a brick-and-mortar store in Cork.
“I loved my studies, and my academics were always first. But what was also a priority was setting my life up,” she recalled.
That plant shop soon formed a direct line to the U.S.—and Endicott.
After participating in an entrepreneur accelerator program at MTU’s Rubicon Center, she learned of an opportunity to study abroad at Endicott. In January 2021, she ventured to Beverly.
“When I got to Endicott, I saw ambition in these students’ eyes that I’d never seen before. I was like, ‘Wow, these people are so driven, this is the place for me,’” she said.
As a music major, the Manninen Center for the Arts became her second home. With the support of faculty Rebecca Kenneally and Katie Clarke-Robertson, she worked to create her senior thesis, which centered around early classical music composers. This, she explained, was one of her proudest moments at the Nest.
After returning to Ireland in October 2022 and while working at Dublin’s Institute of Project Management, she applied to the Mountbatten Program, which connects top global businesses with young professionals, and was selected for a one-year corporate placement in New York City.
Wanting to dedicate her entire life to New York, Sayers O’Callaghan decided to close her plant shop. When she arrived in New York in May of 2023, she jumped into her role as an event manager for Moody’s Corporation at the World Trade Center.
Though she’d received her undergraduate degree in music, Sayers O’Callaghan realized that event planning was quite similar to her experience owning and managing a business. She had to be very organized throughout the process, and had to adapt to a lot of different circumstances.
“It marries my creative side perfectly with my business acumen,” she said. “With event management, you have your creative side where you’re doing strategy, but then you’re also thinking about what you want the event to look like. Then you have the business side of looking at your budget and working with stakeholders.”
Even with her new life in the Big Apple, her Irish roots were never far. Surrounded by a vibrant community of Irish-Americans on the East Coast, she found herself meeting many people eager to learn about their heritage and ask questions about Ireland.
“At Endicott, I realized people wanted to know more about this. People don’t know about the Irish language,” said Sayers O’Callaghan. “When I got to New York, I saw the opening of being the Irish girl in New York, but also being ‘the Irish language girl’ in New York.”
In July 2023, she started to create short videos on Instagram and TikTok, teaching common Gaelic phrases and sharing tidbits of Irish culture. Within just a few months, her views and followers skyrocketed, revealing a genuine interest among people in learning about Ireland.
“My aim with it all is to create conversation and accessibility around the Irish language and show people that, ‘Hey, if you’d like to use this in your daily life and you don't feel comfortable yet, here’s how you say it and here’s how you might write it,’” she said.
With her newfound fame came new opportunities. Sayers O’Callaghan began to get invited to Irish cultural events throughout the city and collaborate with large Irish companies managing their social media accounts. In June, she traveled with the Metropolitan Opera Orchestra, overseeing their social media content creation during their tour throughout South Korea, Japan, and Taiwan.
She also joined the board of Irish Network NYC, a social and professional organization that connects the Irish, Irish-Americans, and friends of Ireland through monthly events across New York City.
“I see the way that this is growing, and the potential that it could turn into a full-time job, as well as social media management and starting my own agency,” said Sayers O’Callaghan.
Though her visa expires in November, Sayers O’Callaghan still has her eye on the Big Apple, hoping to extend her stay.
Studying abroad in Cork next semester? Here are Vivienne’s tips, tricks, and recommendations!
Enjoy the food capital of Ireland!
Cork has some of the best farm-to-table food in the country. Everything is extremely fresh and is usually sourced locally. You must visit the English Market for cheeses, seafood, and bakeries! A must-try is Izz Café—it is by far my favorite restaurant! If you’re feeling fancy, check out Goldie, a Michelin-rated restaurant that’s surprisingly affordable and so worth it.
Explore West Cork
Take a trip outside the city to discover more of Ireland. Taking a tour or renting a car are excellent ways to see West Cork. Places like Beara Peninsula, Garnish Island, and Mizen Head will astound you with their surreal coastlines. Have a look at TikTok—lots of locals are showing off hidden spots on the app.
Prepare for rain
Be advised that it rains a lot in Cork. Make sure you bring one (or more!) high-quality waterproof jackets!
Cork slang
“Banjaxed,” “sound,” “allergic,” “bazzer,” “gas,” “manky”—Irish slang is practically its own language! But perhaps it is best to begin with “grand,” a term used by all Irish people. It can imply anything, depending on how you say it, from terrific to terrible. Just roll with our language quirks and remember, we’re all about having the craic (having fun), and we’ll gladly help you along the way!
Free accommodation tips
If you want to travel on a budget, download apps like TrustedHouseSitters or Worldpackers to get free accommodation in exchange for house-sitting or volunteering. It’s an awesome way to see more of Ireland without breaking the bank!