In 2004 after a bad car crash doctors told me, “your running days are over”, and yet here I am years later working as a fitness instructor, specialising in strength and conditioning training and competing in various cross country and obstacle races. After being told my running days were over I came back fighting fit and shocked my Doctors. I’m living proof that with a positive attitude and hard work you can achieve anything you want.
My love of all things sporty started at an early age and coming from Portuma, Co. Galway, a legendary hurling town and hurling was bred into me. I played for a few years, but it wasn’t for me. My real sporting passions are boxing and motorbike racing.
I took up boxing in my teens, joining my local boxing club. I trained hard and competed in many fights over the years but my love of motorcycles and speed took over. I wanted to race competitively and in order to do this I needed to get into the best shape I could. I began a strict training regime and soon I was in optimum shape, flying fit. This proved to be beneficial to both the racing and life in general, but due to the nature of the beast I discovered rehab. After spending many hours in the presence of physiotherapists, I decided it was a path I would like to follow.
Leaving racing behind me for a while I decided to travel. It was during this time I re-discovered boxing. I was involved in different boxing clubs on my travels and decided I would like to coach and give something back to boxing. After my travels, I joined the coaching team with Galway Boxing Club and it was here I qualified as an I.A.B.A. boxing coach. I decided to continue my education and qualify as a fitness instructor and personal trainer. This is where I met Brendan, and after a year of running Phoenix Fitness in Galway. I decided to make the move to Midleton, and so The Train Station Gym was born.
I continue to learn as much as possible about various training methods, travelling within Ireland and the UK always wanting to benefit my clients further. In this time I also established Midleton Amateur Boxing Club (the first in Midleton).
I have also went back to college and qualified as an ITEC level 4 physical therapist. I now offer such services as physical therapy, Sports massage, dry needling, taping and strapping and full body assessments.
I currently work with the Midleton senior hurlers as their physical therapist and strength and conditioning coach.