Galway English Academy is an independent English language school based in Galway, dedicated to helping learners from across Europe and beyond achieve their language goals. Our experienced, internationally qualified team brings decades of classroom expertise and genuine passion for language and culture.

Rhys Edward Fitzpatrick — Founder & Director

Galway English Academy was founded by Rhys Edward Fitzpatrick in 2019. Rhys is an experienced language educator with a passion for connecting people through language and culture. He has been teaching English and languages since 1993, working across a wide range of levels — from Kindergarten and High School through to University and Adult Education.

Qualifications & Background

Rhys holds a Bachelor's Degree from Albright College, Pennsylvania, where he was a proud member of the National Spanish Honours Society. He completed his English as a Second Language (ESL) training at English International in San Francisco, California, and holds a K–12 Teaching Certificate from the Connecticut Board of Education.

International Experience

Before settling in Galway, Rhys spent five years living in Madrid, Spain, where he developed deep cultural ties to the country and its people — an experience that continues to inform his empathetic, student-centred approach to language teaching. He has been teaching in Galway for over 20 years, building the Academy into a trusted destination for English language learners. His international background, multilingual awareness, and decades of classroom experience make him uniquely placed to help students achieve their language goals.

Seán O'Suilleabhán — Senior Teacher

We are delighted to have Seán O'Suilleabhán at the school since 2019. Seán is a native English and Irish speaker who also speaks German. He holds an International Honours Degree in English and German and achieved first class honours for his Masters Degree in Medieval Studies.

Seán holds the highest tier of industry qualifications, including the DELTA (Diploma in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages) and the CELTA (Certificate in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages). He has also completed an AIT Teacher Training Course and previously worked with the English Department at the University of Galway. Seán has been teaching in private language schools since 2011.

Sandra McManus — Teacher

Sandra McManus joined Galway English Academy in 2024. Sandra is a native English speaker who holds a Bachelor's Degree in Psychology and a Bachelor's Degree in Spanish, and is also qualified with the CELTA (Certificate in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages).

Sandra brings a rich and varied professional background to the classroom, having worked as an Assistant Psychologist and Research Psychologist, with a number of published papers to her name. She has lived in France, Germany, and Belgium, and has managed her own childcare business. Sandra has over 10 years of experience teaching English in private language schools.