'We were all running before we could walk': Cork clan in final of Ireland's Fittest Family
The super-fit clan are competing in the final of on RTÉ1 tomorrow at 6.30pm.
Dad Diarmuid, sons Sean, 19, and Ruairi, 16, and their sister Aoibhe, 18 will fly the flag for Cork alongside their coach, rugby great Donncha O’Callaghan.
“We were all running before we could walk!”, jokes Sean, who is studying Business in UCC and also involved in mixed martial arts, (MMA).
“It seems like all of us have been forever involved in sports, in GAA, soccer, rugby and camogie. The three of us are all members of Inniscarra GAA and Camogie Club. Our family is very sporty!”
What about mum, Bríd?
“Mum, like dad, is into the golf, and loves her walking,” says Sean. “She is always busy.
Brid has been their enthusiastic cheer-leader in their sporting lives. “She’s always on the sidelines cheering us on,” says Sean, adding: “There is always a mountain of laundry and sports kit belonging to us to be washed and dried so we are good to go.”
How did the Linehans get on Ireland’s Fittest Family?
“Dad entered us, we didn’t even know!” says Sean. “We always watched the programme and dad said that he thought about entering us to compete in it two years ago. I was doing my Leaving Cert, so it didn’t happen. Then, one evening after watching the show, dad announced, ‘Hey lads, let’s give this a crack!’”
“He asked us, ‘are we all up for it?’
And they were.
“We said, why not? We are all competitive and it was a bonus having Donncha as coach,” says Sean. “The man is incredible and he is great craic too.”
The Rebels gave it their all, and the Linehans are now hoping to win the €15,000 prize money.
“Family determination and a good sense of humour can get you through anything,” says Diarmuid, who is a paediatric dentist and commutes to Cahir, Co. Tipperary, for work.
“On weekends, he is out on the golf course ready to tee off at 7.30am,” says Sean. “Dad always makes time for golf! He is a really keen golfer. He manages and coaches the Munster Golf Team. Their upcoming inter-provincial series starts in July.”
Diarmuid manages a lot of things.
“He’s a runner,” says Sean. “He goes to the gym, and recently did his first Hyrox challenge with me.”
Sean came third in that fitness competition.
Diarmuid, 59, has a hectic family life.
“There’s the school runs, the sports training, and the usual household chaos,” he says.
“The house is always buzzing!”
The Linehans are buzzing with the grand final looming and hoping to over the finish line in first place. They are all in it together.
“It is 100% teamwork,” says Sean.
“We slipped up in the first event. We were all over the place. We’ve worked on that since.”
Does the family who live together, play together, and compete together, ever argue together?
“We sometimes have a few words on the journey home from Gormanstown Army Camp,” says Sean. “Nothing serious!
“Everyone pulls their weight. Ruairi is speedy and Aoibhe is strong.
“Spending the day with the other families is great. The Walshes, also from Cork, are great fun.”
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