Galway GAA brothers gunning for RTE Fittest Family title
They will be coached by Anna Geary but they have the tough task of facing the reigning champion from the get go
A Galway GAA-mad dad, his two children and his brother are gunning for the title of RTE’s Fittest Family.
The fan favourite programme among fitness fanatics is back on our screens this Sunday with the Tierney family, coached by Anna Geary, hoping to secure a place in the Quarter Finals.
47-year-old builder dad Niall is a former hurling and soccer player who now spends his time golfing and dancing to stay fit. Head honcho of the group, he is Ella and Colm’s dad and Tom’s brother.
Tom, 42, is a contract manager for KMG mechanical services. He played hurling all his life for his club and is still actively involved. Like Niall, he is also a big golfer and enjoys swimming to keep fit. His seven-year-old son Tom Óg is a huge fan of the show but sadly is just a little too young to compete just yet.
Niall’s son and daughter Colm, 17 and Ella, 15 are in fifth and second year of Secondary School respectively. Following in their dad and uncle’s footsteps, they both play hurling and camogie and while Colm is into basketball and volleyball, Ella is more interested in athletics and swimming.
An RTE spokesman said: “Taking place in the historic Haulbowline Navy Base, the Heats will unfold over three weeks. Each week, two coaches will go head-to-head, each with two families. This week it’s the turn of Anna Geary and last year’s champ Andrew Trimble.
“Anna has the McCourt family from Cork and the Tierney family from Galway, while Andrew has the Ó Cathasaigh family from Dublin, and the McGilligan family from Derry.
“This year the events are demonstrated by members of the Irish Navy. The families must each take on a new twist to Raft Rage. Starting in the cold naval basin, this is a head-to-head race finishing with a rope climb from the sea onto an enormous Naval Patrol Ship.
“The four families then have their stamina tested by our new event Buoyzone. The four family members have to transport buoys from one side of the basin to the other using a paddle board.
“With the scores of the first two events are combined, the two highest-scoring families go through to the next round, and the two families at the bottom have to face off in the Navy Eliminator.”