Ireland’s Fittest Family heats to take place at Haulbowline with Cork family to feature 

Ireland’s Fittest Family is set to return at a brand-new location — Cork’s Haulbowline naval base.

Series 14 kicks off next Sunday, November 1, with coaches Cork’s Anna Geary and Donncha O’Callaghan joining Davy Fitzgerald, Ellen Keane, Michael Darragh MacAuley and Andrew Trimble.

The heats will take place this year at Haulbowline naval base, over three weeks. 

Each episode sees two coaches going head-to-head, leading two families each.

Cork Camogie legend Anna Geary will be up first, along with last year’s champ, former Ireland and Ulster rugby star Andrew Trimble.

One of Ms Geary’s families are the McCourt’s from Cork. Dad Morgan, 57, is a consultant colorectal and general surgeon working in CUH. He’s a Dublin native but has been living in Cork for 19 years with his family.

He does triathlons, surfing, and kite surfing and has represented Ireland in university rugby as a medical student.

Daughter Lauren does athletics (400m) and has represented Ireland on numerous occasions as a juvenile athlete. 

She currently trains six days a week.

Lauren studied a bachelor’s in English before pursuing a career in medicine, and is a second year medical student in UL.

Son Callum plays hockey and has been on the Irish U18 panel. 

He is studying electrical engineering in Dublin and recently volunteered at a sports camp in Toronto for three months.

The family’s other son, Harry, who is in fifth year in secondary school, also plays hockey. 

He made his first debut with the Irish U18 hockey team this April and hopes to pursue a career in finance.

Events will be demonstrated by members of the Irish navy, and include a head-to-head race from the cold naval basin, a rope climb from the sea onto a patrol ship, transporting buoys using a paddle board, and a jump from a ship into the water.

The quarter-finals will be held in the bogs of Hell and Back in Co Wicklow, the semi-finals in Drogheda Port, and the grand final in Avondale House.

Series host Laura Fox will oversee the battle for the title of Ireland’s Fittest Family and the €15,000 prize.

Ireland’s Fittest Family begins this Sunday at 6.30pm on RTÉ One and the RTÉ Player.