Meet Our Founder

Galway English Academy was founded by Rhys Edward Fitzpatrick, an experienced language educator with a passion for connecting people through language and culture. Rhys 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.

Galway English Academy

Rhys has been teaching in Galway for over 15 years, building Galway English Academy into a trusted destination for English language learners from across Europe and beyond. His International background, multilingual awareness, and decades of classroom experience make him uniquely placed to help students achieve their language goals.