He has a full clean driving licence.

Ciarán was schooled to Leaving Certificate standard in Cobh, studied Zoology in the University of Aberdeen, Scotland, and Navigation & Seamanship at the National Maritime College of Ireland. He has subsequently completed a Diploma in Field Ecology and a Postgraduate Diploma in Ecological Assessment at University College Cork.

In the mid 1990's he worked as a field surveyor with the Joint Raptor Study Group, based in Langholm, Scotland, gaining experience primarily in field based studes of Hen Harriers and Red Grouse. Detailed observations of Peregrine and Merlin were also undertaken. This project also provided many opportunities for nest finding, territory mapping, habitat mapping and usage studies, radio tracking, wing tagging, and hide based prey identification.

Following Langholm, Ciarán spent a year living on the Isle of Islay, Scotland, working on a number of projects, including nest site observation and foraging territory mapping of a pair of Golden Eagles, Hen Harrier fieldwork, and general upland bird and seabird surveys.

In the late 1990's Ciarán spent 2 years working with the JNCC on the marine based 'Seabirds and Cetaceans at Sea' project, based in Aberdeen, Scotland. Spending long periods of time in deep sea areas, he acted as cruise leader on many occasions. These years gave him extensive experience of marine survey methods, and identification of marine mammals (including Europes first live-at-sea sightings of Sowerby's Beaked Whale). During this time he also took part in cetacean surveys in the Bay of Biscay, and represented JNCC on a number of international surveys around the Faeroe Islands. He was also involved in setting up the Aberdeen branch of the SeaWatch Foundation.

In 2000 Ciarán was involved in the formation of a new Seabirds and Cetaceans branch in the Coastal Resources Centre at University College Cork. He trained the team in bird and cetacean identification at sea, and developed survey methodologies. He also created the database for the projects data and developed the data recording and data entry methods.

Ciarán then trained as a Merchant Navy officer, achieving Chief Officer status in 2005, and using this time to become utterly familiar with marine birds and mammals in the wider European area, as well as all aspects of seamanship, and the commercial aspects of this very competitive business. As Radio Officer and Safety Officer he was responsible for radio work, as well as all aspects of Health & Safety on board. Whilst working as Chief Officer he was responsible for the day to day running of the vessel, and all aspects of safety including safe cargo loading, all fire and emergency equipment and procedures. He is appropriately certified in a number of areas including Navigation, Seamanship, Radio Operation, Medical First Aid, Advanced Firefighting, Sea Survival, Signalling, and Meteorology.

In 2006 Ciarán moved to Oileán Chléire (Cape Clear Island) in west Cork, where he managed a bar/restaurant/holiday home business, gaining experience in business and commercial affairs. He also worked on the island 'Fish Farm' (Abalone farm), and regularly worked on the island ferry. During this time he was also engaged in regular survey and data handling projects. In 2004, he initiated the revitalising of the Cork Bird Report (1996-2004), which was published in 2006, and the following issues.

In 2008 Ciarán established Wildeye as a full time business serving the Environmental Consultancy market in Ireland and the UK.

Since the formation of Wildeye he has been involved in numerous windfarm assessments, seabird and cetacean surveys, report editing and data entry projects.

Ciarán is a member of BirdWatch Ireland, the Irish Whale & Dolphin Group, Botanical Society of the British Isles and Bat Conservation Ireland, and takes part in many national surveys.