About me
Ciaran Barry
ICF-accredited Life & Career Coach based in Cork, Ireland
My personal journey
I went from no college degree and no direction in life to a career I'm proud of. Now I help others do the same.
At 17, I left school and moved to Germany with no plan, no degree, just a gut feeling that there was more out there for me. I spent four years working in a pub, learning more about people and resilience than any classroom ever taught me.
At 22, I came home to Ireland with no qualifications and very little confidence. I knew I wanted more, but I had no idea how to get there.
Despite that, I landed a role in the corporate world. Within four years, I had more than doubled my salary and was doing work I was genuinely proud of.
Looking back, I know that shift wasn't just hard work. It was mindset. It was clarity. It was having a vision for my life and the belief, that I deserved it.
That realisation is what led me to coaching.
How I work
Coaching with me is built around three things:
Clarity
Before you can move forward, you need to understand where you actually are. We start by getting honest about what's working, what isn't, and what you truly want — without judgement and without rushing.
Strategy
Clarity without a plan is just wishful thinking. Together we build a structured, realistic roadmap using my proven six-step framework so you know exactly what to do, in what order, and why.
Action
Knowing what to do is only half the battle. I'll hold you accountable, challenge your limiting beliefs, and make sure the momentum you build in our sessions carries into your real life — week after week.
My credentials
Proudly accredited and mentored by world-class institutions in coaching and personal development. Coaching is an unregulated industry. Anyone can call themselves a coach. My accreditations exist so you don't have to take my word for it.
Kingstown College, Dublin
Advanced Diploma in Personal, Leadership & Executive Coaching
Kingstown College, Dublin is one of Europes most respected coaching institutions, delivering evidence-based coaching frameworks recognised internationally.
International Coaching Federation, Kentucky, USA
ICF Accredited Coach (ACC)
I'm a fully accredited member of the International Coaching Federation — the global gold standard in professional coaching. This means I am held to the highest ethical standards, committed to ongoing development, and accountable to a body that puts clients first.
Cork College of Commerce
Additional Qualifications
Supporting my coaching practice with formal studies in business management, positive psychology, and cognitive behavioural therapy — so our sessions draw on proven, research-backed approaches, not guesswork.
What clients say
"If someone had told me when we began coaching that five months down the line I'd have landed a role at a global PR company in London, I wouldn't have believed them. Ciaran helped me identify my values, rebuild my confidence, and prepare for the toughest interview process of my life. Having someone completely focused on your success is invaluable."
Rachel, Cork | Career transition & confidence coaching
"After 30 years in the Irish Defence Forces, I had no idea where to start or what direction to take. I was truly lost. Working with Ciaran changed that completely. By the end of our sessions, I walked confidently into only the second interview of my life — and was offered the role."
Eamon Mitchell, Irish Defence Forces | Career transition coaching
Book your free Consultation
Take the first step today by booking your free consultation. In this 45-minute call, we’ll explore your life and career goals in depth and clarify what direction makes the most sense for you, while also seeing whether one of my coaching programmes is the right fit to support your next chapter.
Make Yourself a Priority™
Ciaran Barry Coaching
