'It’s horrible to think that if you don’t have the money, you are just left to die'

Eímear Byrne with her sister Níamh Byrne, who has started a GoFundMe page to raise funds for a life-saving operation for Eímear. File picture 

To first class pupils at Gaelscoil an Inbhir Mhóir, Eímear Byrne is just like many other teachers, dedicated to her work and the children she teaches.

What they are too young to understand is the terrifying reality she faces every day as the community of Arklow battles to save her life. The 30-year-old was recently informed by doctors of three aneurysms that require an extremely complex form of open-heart surgery.