Glengarriff barber to the stars of golf and football is in their circle of trust, writes EMMA CONNOLLY.

GROWING up directly across from Glengarriff Golf Club, Ciarán ‘Kiwi’ O’Sullivan had no idea of the role the sport would play in his career.

While the 28-year-old enjoys playing a round socially, what takes more of his time and expertise is being the official barber for golfers and caddies on the DP World Tour circuit, along with the Irish soccer team.

And he says he has his mother Angela to thank for encouraging him into the profession. 

‘From early on my mom spotted that I was creative and had great attention to detail. I was always into style and presentation – whether it was clothes, hair, or even just how things looked around the house,’ he recalled. ‘She encouraged me to try hairdressing because she thought I had the patience, the eye, and the people skills for it.

‘She was right – mothers tend to see these things before we do ourselves. Later on, she and my dad Peter explained that two of my grand uncles had actually been barbers in Bantry many moons ago – so in some ways, it must have been in the blood.’

After doing his TY work experience with Wayne Lloyd in Ballydehob age 15, Kiwi - so called because his primary school pal couldn’t spell his name on a birthday card and went with the fruit instead - was hooked.

Sports mad as a youngster, he played underage rugby with Munster until he was 16, and admits he was initially nervous of how his friends would react to him embarking on a career in a typically female-dominated industry.

‘I suppose, at the start, yes – it was always in the back of my mind, “what will the lads think?” Hairdressing wasn’t the most obvious career path for a fella back then. But once I got stuck in and realised how much I loved it, that worry disappeared. And when my friends saw I was serious about it, and that I was doing well, the slagging quickly turned into support. Nowadays people respect passion and drive, no matter the industry,’ he said.

After Leaving Cert he worked in Cork city, opening his own business KiwiCutz there in 2018, and moved to a premises in the Ballycurreen Industrial estate last April.

‘When I moved to Cork, I started to build up a really loyal following and I felt I’d got into the barbering game there early. I knew I wanted to do it my way, create an environment that reflected my personality, and build a brand. That’s how KiwiCutz was born.
For me, it was never just about cutting hair – it was about creating an experience and building something lasting.’

That same drive is what led him to create his own haircare range KiwiSalt in 2023.

‘As much as I love barbering, there are only so many hours in a day that I can cut hair. With KiwiSalt, I can create something that works for me even while I sleep, and that has the potential to grow far beyond what I could ever do with a pair of scissors alone.’

This September was his second time working as the official barber to golf’s biggest stars in the K Club, having had his first outing there in 2023.

‘Cork golfer John Murphy was the first connection into the golf world – he’s been a brilliant friend and supporter. It’s a really handy service as many of the players and caddies have been living out of a suitcase while on the tour so it’s very convenient for them,’ he said.

He bases himself in the locker room and typically does up to 25 cuts a day for the three days he’s at the K Club, working from 8am to 7pm.

His connection to footballers came through John Egan – the Cork-born centre-back who currently plays with Hull City in the EFL Championship.

‘John has been a great friend and was brilliant for opening that door. From there, word of mouth did the rest – once one or two players trusted me, the circle grew naturally.

‘Cutting the hair of well-known figures has shown me that, at the end of the day, they’re all just genuine, down-to-earth people once they’re in the chair.

‘Of course, you have to deliver a great haircut every time, but it’s also about trust. What’s said on the chair stays on the chair – that’s an unspoken rule of barbering, and I think that confidentiality and respect is a big reason so many high-profile names feel comfortable coming back.’

Kiwi also underwent a hair transplant a few months ago and with his trademark matter-of-factness, has shared the journey on his social media platforms. 

‘My hairline was receding and while it wasn’t affecting my confidence I wanted to do something about it,’ he said.

After two and a half years research he underwent the transplant in Manchester, which took over eight hours under local anaesthetic.

‘It’s a slow process but I’m delighted with it so far,’ he said.

Is there anything he wished he’d known starting out in business? ‘Plenty. The biggest thing is patience – nothing happens overnight. Another big lesson is that you can’t do it all yourself – you need good mentors, good people around you, and the humility to listen.’

One ambition is to be the official barber for the Ryder Cup in Adare Manor in 2027. And opening a business in West Cork is something he’d never rule out.

‘I definitely wouldn’t be where I am without [my parents]. Growing up in Glengarriff really shaped me – the village is small, but it gave me a huge sense of belonging, pride, and ambition to make something of myself.

‘I’ve always been very proud to be from there. It would mean a lot to bring things full circle and open something back home in the future.’

Below: Ciarán  cutting hair in his studio, Ciarán with golfer Thomas Detry, footballers Matt Doherty, Jason Knight, Liam Scales and Gavin Bazunu.