Karen Nolan

Karen is dedicated to providing courses and services to students wishing to broaden their horizons and study abroad in Ireland. 

She has studied at Secondary School in France and has participated in post graduate programmes at the University of Michigan and the Institute for Management Development (IMD), Lausanne. She studied French, Spanish and Italian at University College Dublin and has a Masters in International Business (MSc Mgmt) from Trinity College Dublin.

In addition to being a keen linguist, she earned the title of Business Woman of the Year in 1995 and was the founder Director of International House Dublin which she sold in 2011 to INM plc. 

Karen has experienced first-hand the benefits and challenges of studying abroad and has created Zara Education Ireland with your child in mind


Larry Finnegan  

Larry’s career in education spans 5 decades. A former secondary school teacher, Larry became Headmaster of Sutton Park School, Dublin, one of Ireland’s most prestigious private international schools, where he remained for 25 years. Sutton Park School is a private international school and is a member of the Council for International Schools (COIS) and NEASC (New England Association of Schools and Colleges). Larry holds an M.Ed (Hons) from Trinity College Dublin

Larry took early retirement from Sutton Park School in 2002 to join his wife, Karen Nolan, at International House Dublin as CEO. 

In 2012, the company was sold to Independent Colleges, a private Third Level college and a subsidiary of Independent News and Media plc. Larry stayed on as CEO and Director of IH Dublin and Independent Colleges until 2015

Larry has lectured on International Education systems on several MAT Programmes at TUFTS University Boston. As an international education consultant, Larry has worked with partners in Russia, China and Africa in the setting up and accreditation of International Schools in these countries

Larry has devoted his lifetime to International Education where he has a unique depth of knowledge and trusted contacts with schools and Universities in Ireland and overseas.


Claudia Nolan

Claudia is a graduate of Dublin City University with a BA (Hons) in Marketing, Innovation and Technology. She has traveled around Europe and spent her summer in Asia, learning about and understanding different cultures. Claudia is responsible for creating digital content, editing communications materials and running ZE’s social platforms.