Tours and Corporate Experiences
About us
CTL Ireland was founded by travel experts Aisling Meade and Anton Kieffer. CTL is based in the friendly and vibrant city of Cork in the south of Ireland and runs programmes nationwide. CTL is supported by a small multidisciplinary team of professionals who are passionate about making visitors experience Ireland in a unique and meaningful way. We work with reputable international partners and provide their participants with inspirational and authentic Irish experiences
Our background in educational travel, cultural exchange, volunteering and wellness travel and our connections with communities, providers, local experts and qualified instructors throughout the country allow us to design unique programmes.
Who we are: a passionate, experienced and diverse team
When you choose CTL you are tapping into a dedicated, creative and hardworking team. Founders and leaders Anton Kieffer and Aisling Meade have many years of hands-on experience in organising travels in Ireland. We both have travelled extensively around the world and are truly passionate about what we do. We want to share our passion for Ireland and its vibrant communities with our participants.
How we work: personal service & attention
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 believe in creating trust, accountability, and friendship with our local and international partners. We’re big enough to deliver and small enough to really care!
Our commitment to Responsible Tourism
Developing an approach that respects the natural environment and host communities we visit is at the core of our mission. We are committed to making positive contributions the the conservation of the natural and cultural heritage while enhancing the well-being of the local communities we visit. We aim at creating meaningful connections with local people and a greater understanding of local, social, cultural and environmental issues among our participants and partners. For more information on our approach to Responsible Tourism, read our Responsible Travel Policy.
Our Core Team
Aisling Meade
Co-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, Aisling has devoted her career since to creating meaningful experiences for groups visiting Ireland. Aisling loves to make connections between visitors to Ireland and the people and places that will inspire them long after they have returned home. Aisling has been practising yoga for over 30 year, she enjoy beach walks and and swimming in the sea. 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. Aside from Cork city, her favourite place in the world is Ballinskelligs Beach in Co Kerry.
Anton Kieffer
Co-Director
Originally from France, Anton has been living in Ireland for about 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. Prior to CTL, 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 people, both travelling to Ireland and going abroad. 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! 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.
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!
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.