Ciara has worked as a built heritage conservation specialist in Ireland for 20 years, four of which were spent as Architectural Conservation Officer for Cork City Council. She has worked on nationally and internationally significant as well as vernacular structures, assisting building owners and developers with sensitive design, on-site supervision of conservation projects, grants, management plans, fundraising and planning consents.

She lectured on the built heritage module of the Masters in Planning and Sustainable Development in UCC 2017-2019.  She has a 100% planning success record, and has served on The Heritage Council’s Advisory Panel since 2023.