With an exciting shake-up to the format, new star coaches, adrenaline-pumping challenges, and stunning new locations, this promises to be the most competitive series of Ireland's Fittest Family yet.
For the first time, the series welcomes three new coaches to the fold. Paralympic swimming champion Ellen Keane, former Dublin GAA star Michael Darragh, and Irish rugby legend Andrew Trimble will join Anna Geary, Donncha O'Callaghan and reigning Fittest Family Champ Davy Fitzgerald for Series 13.
Taking place in the rugged Gormanston Army camp, the Heats will unfold over the first three weeks. Tonight's episode will see Anna Geary and Michael Darragh MacAuley go head-to-head, each with two families.
Anna's Teams
The McClement Family
A farming family from Ballyhalbert, Co. Down, at the most easterly point in Ireland, the McClement family are incredibly fit, with a morning routine that sees them getting up from bed at 4.30 every morning, working the farm and then going training at 6am before heading to their various jobs/school.
Dad James is 47 years old and a full-time dairy farmer and fitness fanatic. He just completed the Cardiff men's Hyrox and is doing the men's pro-doubles later in the year. He has run marathons in the past, and in the last couple of years has completed both the Cork half Ironman and Portugal full distance.
Mum Sharon is a 45-year-old teaching assistant who has set herself a record of nearly 2,000 days in a row of sea swimming. Not a single day missed. She loves strength training and running, and enjoys Hyrox.
18-year-old Jude is a full-time student and TikTok creator known for creating "Jude’s Life on Bush Farm". He is also a Hyrox convert.
17-year-old Sarah is in school and is currently studying for her GCSEs. She holds the school 800m running record and enjoys Hyrox training.
The Carrs
This family of six each have a history in individual and team sports, namely GAA, running, triathlons, golf and tennis. Taking part in the games are Dad, Tommy, and three of his children.
62-year-old Tommy is a strength and conditioning coach and former Gaelic footballer who once played for the Dublin county team. He is also the CEO of Pallet Express.
Elizabeth is 30 years old and a high-performance triathlete who ranks number one in Ireland. She is a Captain in the Irish Defence Forces and is currently studying for a Masters in Science.
Gareth is a 27-year-old Corporate Finance Analyst. He used to play intercounty football and is now a keen golfer.
Simon is 25 years old and works in Sports Management. He was an Irish former professional tennis player who also played Gaelic and rugby.
Darragh's Teams
The Byrnes
The Byrne family consists of Anne, who is mother to John and Paul, and auntie to Jack. A few years ago, Anne's husband died suddenly, and since then, the whole family have focused on improving their health and fitness.
60-year-old Anne is pretty fit from walking her four dogs every day, along with her various Zumba, Aqua
Aerobics, and Salsa classes. She is also a complete whizz at hula hooping.
John is the eldest in his family and is the one who applied to take part in the show. At 18, he started training in mixed martial arts and never looked back. He's won multiple titles across the UK and Ireland and was once ranked the number one fighter in Europe. Now 34, he runs a gym called UC Fitness and teaches self-defense to women.
32-year-old Paul is a married father of two boys. Over the years, he trained in mixed martial arts and
jiu-jitsu, and played rugby, soccer, and GAA throughout school. He is also an avid runner.
The youngest family member, Jack, is just 19. Growing up with three brothers and a fitness-focused dad, sports have been a big part of his life. Throughout secondary school, he competed in rugby and various athletic events. These days, his main focus is on consistent gym training.
The Walshes
The Walshes are an avid GAA family from West Cork. Mum Amy will be competing with her three young sons, who compete on the same GAA team in both hurling and football and have quite a haul of medals.
49-year-old Amy is a Physio and Pilates instructor and an avid sea swimmer. She is also a qualified kayak instructor and runs a cancer rehabilitation Kayak group called 'Women Who Launch', which merges the physio aspect of breast cancer rehab with the fun sporting side of kayaking.
Eldest son Michael is 21 and a Mechanical Engineering student at MTU. He is a gym goer, footballer, and
hurler. He has also recently won a ‘Seiko just in time’ award from Water Safety Ireland for saving the life of a woman from drowning.
20-year-old Aidan is also a Mechanical Engineering student at MTU. He is a Gaelgoir who plays football and hurling, loves the gym, and spends time swimming and surfing.
Alfie is the youngest of the can. At 18, he is still at school and is currently studying for his Leaving Cert. He
also plays football and hurling for Barryroe. He goes to the gym, swims and surfs.
Watch Ireland's Fittest Family on RTÉ One on Sunday, 2 November, at 6.30pm.
