Another week, another Sunday evening spent crowded around the television for families across the country, cheering on neighbours, planning their own Ireland's Fittest Family strategy or simply staring in awe at the incredible fitness on show.
As weekends get shorter and more precious, Ireland's Fittest Family is once again bringing families together, proving that even when you're not competing, the show has an uncanny ability to bond people.
And what do people love? Fire. This week's episode didn't skimp on the drama as six families took on the obstacle course at the abandoned tannery in Portlow, Co Waterford, with Donncha and Anna's teams tackling the firetruck pull and tyre challenge.
With three families each, Donncha and Anna led their teams through the same gruelling course that eliminated two families last week. Donncha's teams attacked the tyre challenge, while Anna's grappled with the firetruck pull, with the quickest family from each team going straight to the quarterfinals. The other two teams, however, have to battle it out on the brutal obstacle course.
On Donncha's team were the Lallys from Dublin, the Lawlors from Limerick and the Furlongs from Donegal. The Lallys proved a fascinating family, with the three brothers all working as postmen and mother, Susan, having lost six stone in the past few years. And they were even more impressive, as they completed the tyre challenge in the fast time of the entire show.
The Furlongs, however, struggled early on but mostly due to their own perception of their strength - having three girls versus three boys seemed to intimidate the team, and they ended up going home.
On Anna's teams were the Finnegan Hogans from Cork, the Coneys from Tyrone and the McDonnells from Mayo. Viewers finally got to see the show's oldest competitor, grandfather Martin Finnegan Hogan, in action, and he did not disappoint. "Obsessed with" tug-of-war, they sailed through the challenge, although not quickly enough to beat the Coneys.
The difference between the two coaches' approach was clear immediately, with Anna drilling her teams like a rugby coach and with Donncha running around with his teams like primary school children.
Next competitors had to run around a burning car, into an obstacle course that included an 8ft wall, more flaming walls to jump over and an ice bath. After that, another wall, this time 10ft high and then the eliminator ramps, which each family must run up.
In the end, the Furlongs and the McDonnells went home, though not without a fight and some well-earned family memories.
Twitter was as ablaze with support, criticism and good-humour as always last night, here are the best of the lot...
Ireland's Most Eligible Family?
I think I’m in love with Jonah Lawlor. #irelandsfittestfamily
— Aisling Weldon (@AisWel) November 11, 2018
Don't give up on your dreams
7yo gone to bed devastated that her namesake and the Furlong team aren't going through on #IrelandsFittestFamily she cried more than they did. #LeoniesAbú
— Deborah Carroll (@NotBadParenting) November 11, 2018
Female empowerment
I really don’t appreciate the way The Furlong Family kept saying that they couldn’t do it because their team was mostly girls and the other teams have more boys. Girls are just as strong as boys😑 #irelandsfittestfamily #INSULTED
— Ugh, nvm (@ugh_nvm) November 11, 2018
Pure tangle hazard
Ahhhhh come on @AnnaGCork & @docallaghan4......rip the camera off the helmet! Pure tangle hazard like #inches #eliminator #irelandsfittestfamily
— Donal (@Sullyod) November 11, 2018
Same, same
Watching #irelandsfittestfamily with a running commentary. pic.twitter.com/veNtJZOF2f
— Aisling Ní Shlatara (@AislingS90) November 11, 2018
Every day heroes
Soooo, we may have taken her for an ole shhhpin 😂!!! Never a dull moment with this gang!! Firetrucks, flames and fury TONIGHT as the families battle it out for a coveted spot!! You don’t want to miss it... slightly later time of 7.30pm on @rteone 👌#i… https://t.co/kXq6k5UsRh pic.twitter.com/A8e9xDi06b
— Anna Geary (@AnnaGCork) November 11, 2018
