Our Story
Our journey began with The Plant Based Café, which opened in 2018. Over four years, we crafted and refined a menu to offer clean, organic, whole plant foods focused on optimal nutrition. It was a practical expression of an ancient truth: “Let food be thy medicine”. The café became a space for those curious about the benefits of plant-based nutrition and optimal health.
But food is only part of the picture. True, lasting vitality depends far more on how we live. Our daily choices, habits, and connection to nature matter just as much as what’s on our plate. That insight inspired us to expand beyond the café and into something deeper.
Today, The Plant Based Life offers more than just plant based nutrition. We guide people to reclaim their health and energy through whole food practices and a return to nature’s rhythms. Simple living, time outdoors, and seasonal practices. Rooted in nature, this is the heart of what we do.
Profile
SHANE FLYNN
Plant Based Nutrition, Lifestyle Medicine & Raw Food Mastery Teaching Diploma with the Plant Based Academy.
Hippocrates Health Institute Lifestyle Medicine Coach
Construction Economist
Creative Director of The Plant Based Life
In 2010, Shane moved to Toronto, Canada to work as a consultant in the construction industry. While in Canada, he was deeply influenced by the emphasis on a balanced, healthy, and outdoor lifestyle. Embracing this new way of life, he took part in Ironman triathlons and ultramarathons. During this time, he observed that many endurance athletes were thriving on an organic, plant-based diet—so he adopted the same.
In 2015, Shane returned to Ireland to explore his creative side, undertaking two years of intensive training at The Gaiety School of Acting. Throughout his training, he remained fully fuelled by a plant-based lifestyle. However, he noticed a lack of spaces offering organic, plant-based food and drinks in Dublin, especially in comparison to other cities around the world. He decided to be part of the solution.
In 2018, after completing his drama training, Shane chose his first role and creative project: launching a plant-based, raw, and living foods juice bar and café.
The Plant Based Café was born.
He began by selling organic wheatgrass, fresh juices, and sprouted salads at his local farmers market in Tullamore. After some training, a lot of questioning, and endless inspiration from customers, staff, and the creative community around him, Shane developed his evolving vision for The Plant Based Café.
Shane’s focus on mastering vitality led him to a powerful insight: living an optimal life isn’t just about what’s on our plate—it’s far more about how we live. This deeper understanding gradually pulled him beyond the walls of The Plant Based Café.
2025, The Plant Based Life was born.
An evolution of the original vision, it continues to explore and embody a life of vitality, rooted in nature, nourished by intention, and guided by the rhythms of life itself.
One of Shane’s favourite quotes captures his approach to life:
“Don’t ask what the world needs. Ask what makes you come alive, and go do it. Because what the world needs is people who have come alive.” — Howard Thurman