Cork hairdresser makes the cut at K Club as barber to golf’s stars

A Cork man made the cut in style at the prestigious Irish Open golf tournament over the weekend.

Ciarán ‘Kiwi’ O’Sullivan, 28, was the official barber for golfers and caddies at the K Club in Kildare.

And he also landed the job of styling the Irish soccer team in their hotel before they played Hungary in Dublin on Saturday night.

Little did Ciarán know when he was growing up beside Glengarriff Golf Course that this was where the course of his career was headed.

As an avid sports player, he played underage rugby with Munster until he was 16, and originally planned to pursue physiotherapy.

When his mum Angela suggested he might consider hairdressing, he wasn’t convinced, but after doing his TY work experience with Wayne Lloyd in Ballydehob when he was 15, he was hooked and rugby was relegated to the sidelines.

He didn’t have any trepidation at entering what it perceived as a more female-dominated industry either.

“I’m a pretty confident person and I suppose I’ve always been a bit different and wouldn’t have followed the flock,” said Ciarán, whose nickname of ‘Kiwi’ came about because his primary school pal couldn’t spell his name on a birthday card and went with the fruit instead.

Ciarán worked in Wayne Lloyd’s city salon after his Leaving Cert, before opening his own business, KiwiCutz, in 2018 in the city, moving to a premises in the Ballycurreen Industrial estate last April.

This was his second time working as the official barber at the K Club, having had his first outing there in 2023.

“It came about when my client, professional golfer John Murphy, suggested I get in touch with the organisers,” said Ciarán.

“It’s a really handy service as many of the payers 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.

A good breakfast is important, he agrees, as you have to be on top of your game.

Ciarán also has regular clients in Cork footballers and hurlers locally and has been cutting hair for the Irish soccer team since giving Irish and Sheffield United soccer captain John Egan a haircut in 2018.

Golfers, he says, are typically more conservative, looking for a neat and tidy look, while the soccer players would be more up for trending haircuts. And yes, the mullet has had its day!

Displaying a strong entrepreneurial spirit, Ciarán also launched his first hair product, KiwiSalt, a pure and natural Irish spray made with Achill island sea salt which provides volume and texture to hair, in 2023.

He admits it can be hard at times to balance all aspects of the business, but he’s up for the challenge.

“People think they can climb Mount Everest in a week, but it takes time, years to build something up, and I’d describe myself as very driven, very hard working,” he said.

“Rome wasn’t built in a day and it’s not about being an overnight success, it takes time, trust and experience to get there and it’s about surrounding yourself with people who can support you.”

Another example of Ciarán’s ‘can do’ attitude, was undergoing a hair transplant just 18 weeks ago.

“My hairline was receding and while it wasn’t affecting my confidence, I wanted to do something about it,” he said matter-of-factly.

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.

We have to ask: what does he talk to the elite sports stars about when they’re in the chair?

Anything but sports, he insists!

“At the end of the day, it’s about building friendships and trust with the golfers and soccer players, just like all my clients. We don’t talk about sport - or religion or politics!

“I keep it nice and personal and try to remember details from previous conversations we’ve had which helps to make bonds closer.

“You have a moral obligation as a barber and what’s said in the chair, stays in the chair,” said Ciarán.

“At the end of the day, these are just ordinary, genuine people who happen to be excelling in their careers.”

Just like Ciarán.