My Life with Gheorghe Palcu: 'When I'm not working in Spar I am rehearsing for operas'

Being a full-time singer is something I have craved from childhood.

Gheorghe Palcu works in Spar by Day, Opera Singer by night, on MacCurtain Street, Cork. Picture: Jim Coughlan

For the most part I am just like any other convenience store worker, with the exception of one detail customers might find surprising.

During my 11 years in Spar on MacCurtain St in Cork city, I have served thousands of people. What the majority of them don’t realise is that I moonlight as an opera singer. People might ask what has kept me in Spar for such a long time. The truth is, as a multilingual speaker, there are plenty of other jobs available to me. However, my boss, Willie O’Brien, is really supportive and gives me the flexibility I need to pursue my dream.