Kieran was born and spent his childhood in Kilkee before his family moved to live in Mayo and subsequently Dublin. He returns to spend time in Kilkee every year and in 2011 on the death of his aunt, Irene Doherty, became co-owner with his brother of Sykes House.

His retirement in recent years has facilitated his keen interest in history (both local and otherwise) and genealogy.

He is a Clinical Psychologist by profession and worked for most of his career in County Donegal where he was head of the H.S.E. Psychology Service.