ABOUT US
Our Core Team
CTL Ireland is an educational travel organisation founded by intercultural learning experts Anton Kieffer and Aisling Meade. We are supported by a small, multidisciplinary team of professionals who are passionate about learning mobility, global citizenship, and meaningful intercultural exchange.
Based in the vibrant and welcoming city of Cork in the south of Ireland, CTL delivers programmes nationwide. Through strong connections with local communities, organisations, institutions, and subject experts, we design high-quality, immersive programmes tailored to the needs of international schools and their students.
Who we are: a passionate, experienced and diverse team
When you choose CTL Ireland, you are partnering with a dedicated, creative, and experienced team. Founders Anton Kieffer and Aisling Meade bring extensive hands-on expertise in educational and experiential travel. Having travelled widely, we are deeply committed to fostering intercultural understanding and creating transformative learning experiences. We are passionate about sharing Ireland’s rich culture, heritage, and contemporary society in ways that are engaging, relevant, and impactful for young learners from around the world.
How we work: personal service & attention
All our partnerships and programmes are directly managed by one of our directors. We are proud to offer the expertise and experience that you can find in a large organisation together with the personal attention from senior management that only a smaller organisation can have. We prioritise trust, accountability, and long-term relationships with both our international partners and local communities. We’re big enough to deliver and small enough to really care!
Safety First
The safety and wellbeing of all participants is our highest priority. We implement a comprehensive risk management approach across all programmes, including detailed risk assessments guided by the principles of ISO 31031 best practices. This ensures that all activities, accommodations, and transport arrangements are carefully evaluated and managed, allowing students and educators to engage in their experience with confidence and peace of mind.
The protection and welfare of children is paramount to us. We have extensive experience in implementing robust safeguarding measures designed to create safe, supportive environments for children at all times. Our policies, procedures, and staff training reflect our strong commitment to child protection and best practice standards. In line with our safeguarding responsibilities, our Child Safeguarding Statement is publicly available and can be viewed here.
Sustainability & Responsible Travel
At CTL Ireland, sustainability and responsible travel are at the core of our programme design. We are committed to minimising environmental impact, supporting local communities, and promoting ethical, culturally respectful engagement.
Our programmes are underpinned by the principles of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), with a particular emphasis on service learning, global citizenship, and social responsibility. We aim to empower students to reflect critically on global challenges, contribute positively to the communities they engage with, and develop a deeper understanding of their role in creating a more sustainable and equitable world.
Anton Kieffer
Director
Originally from France, Anton has been living in Ireland for 20 years. Before settling in Cork - Ireland’s second city - Anton lived and worked around the world, spending extended periods of time in Latin America and West Africa where he worked in the field of development and youth empowerment. In France, Anton co-founded two youth organisations focusing on global and development education. Prior to CTL Ireland, Anton managed international volunteering and development education programmes in the not for profit sector. He has organised and coordinated immersion and educational programmes for hundreds of young people, both travelling to Ireland and going abroad. He has also carried out research on international learning mobility for University College Cork. Anton holds a first class honours Master’s degree in International Development Studies, and two other first class honours degrees: a Bachelor's Degree in Geography and a B.A. Honours Degree in Business Studies. He speaks four languages fluently and is the proud father of three children. Anton is passionate by hiking, road running and trail running. Each week end and each holidays, he recharges his batteries going outdoor with his family. He also runs at least one marathon per year!
Aisling Meade
Director
Born to Irish parents in America, Aisling spent her childhood between California, Montreal and Limerick. She has lived in Cork city since her university days. A senior manager for over 10 years in the not for profit educational travel sector, her first introduction to the world of educational travel was in a post university job bringing groups of lifelong learners around Ireland, meeting Irish people, making connections and learning behind the scenes. Aisling has devoted her career since to creating meaningful learning experiences for educational groups visiting Ireland. In recent years she specialised in making new partnerships and custom designing short term study visits to meet their needs. Aisling works with all kinds of groups; high school, university, lifelong learners and special interest and family groups. She loves to make connections between visitors to Ireland and the people and places that will inspire them long after they have returned home. Aisling holds a BA in Sociology and Economics and a Higher Diploma in Cooperative Organisation and Rural Development from University College Cork. In 2017 she was awarded a Special Purpose Certificate in Training and Education from Griffith College. She loves to travel around Ireland and to other countries with her husband and two growing children.
Chloé Lefebvre Bolger
Programme Manager
Originally from France, Chloé came to Ireland in 2006 for 6 months.... Leenane, a small village in the heart of Connemara in county Galway, stole her heart.
Prior to CTL, Chloé has managed a tour company for 10 years in the international leisure tourism industry, coordinating programmes for hundreds of visitors to Ireland.
She also opened a little café in the middle of the pandemic in her village and has managed to build a lovely workforce to keep it open ever since.
These experiences have enhanced her passion for interculturality, responsible travel, community and hospitality.
She holds a Master's degree in Sciences of Education Languages.
She is the very proud mother of her two young daughters and love spending her time with them hiking the hills of Connemara, cycling around the fjord, playing piano and reading French books while she is not at the gym training for her next Hyrox!
Fiona O'Leary
Programme Manager
Born and bred in the historic town of Cobh in county Cork; Fiona has worked in the educational travel sector for over twenty years, primarily coordinating and managing incoming groups of seniors, youth and university groups to Ireland. She has a passion for Irish culture and heritage, and enjoys when visiting groups experience the authenticity of real Irish cultural experiences.
Fiona has a BA in European Studies from the University of Limerick, and has lived and worked in Germany, France and Scandinavia. She has enjoyed travels to the US and Asia. She now lives in a rural community in north Cork, where she is an active volunteer with several local community organisations. In her spare time she tries to tackle her garden and also loves hiking in the nearby hills with her husband and daughter.
Mallory Slavin
Senior Programme Coordinator
Originally from the USA, Mallory holds bachelor's degrees from Michigan State University in both International Relations and American Criminal Justice. Throughout college and after, she spent time working, traveling, and volunteering across South and Southeast Asia, and East Africa. After her undergraduate degree completion, she spent time working as a global engagement specialist in the international development and volunteer sector, training as an international guide and earning a Wilderness First Aid certification. Mallory moved to Ireland to complete a Masters degree in International Development at University College Dublin. She has a passion for asset based community development, global citizenship, and immersive learning and loves traveling, especially when hiking is involved. Her favourite cities in the world are Cape Town and Kathmandu.
Dearbhla Molloy
Programme Coordinator
Dearbhla spent her childhood in County Meath and now lives in Cork city where she settled in 2022. Dearbhla holds a BA in
International Development and Politics from Maynooth University. Before starting with CTL, Dearbhla worked in the hotel industry as an Events Executive and as an administrator with a company organising camps for children. Dearbhla is passionate about youth empowerment and education, she is involved with some of Ireland’s most reputable youth organisations. Dearbhla is an experienced leader with the Irish Girl Guides, she organises educational travels and activities for teenagers. Dearbhla also volunteers with VOICE, an Irish environmental charity, she is actively involved in educating and empowering individuals and communities to take positive action to conserve our natural resources.
Connect with our Unique Network
The best part of an experience in Ireland is connecting with local people and getting immersed within local communities. This is what we have been facilitating for many years! We have built over the years a unique and diverse network of wonderful people and organisations across the country. Have a look at who we can connect you with:
