Greenans have a mountain to climb

Ireland’s Fittest Family has been dominating our television screens since it began on October 31.

Particular excitement surrounds the programme this year due to the presence of a Cavan family, with Mark (60), James (31), Sinéad (29) and Niamh (24) Greenan competing in the show.

Under Derval O’Rourke’s guidance, the Cootehill family stunned in their performance in the eliminator on Sunday night, securing a place in this week’s final.

When asked about their inspiration for applying for the show, Sinéad Greenan immediately replied: “Our mam encouraged us.”

Their mother, Andrea, has wanted the family to apply “for years” but between James’ hectic schedule as a lead dancer in Riverdance, Sinead’s physio therapy business and Niamh’s personal training, the family found it difficult to be at home all at once.

“It’s a massive commitment and there was never the right time,” Sinéad explained.

That is until the pandemic hit and the family had more time together. Dad Mark, who sports the titles two time Tug of War World Champion, builder and “strongman of the family”, decided it was time to apply.

“This year Dad said ‘guys, I’m sixty now this is your last chance to get me to do this.’”

“We said right, let’s do it.”

The family set up a gym in their garage during lockdown and got training.

“We went into it thinking we were fairly fit, we had trained a lot.”

Sinéad explained the first round was a “shock to the system” for the family.

“The standard was so high,” she said of her competitors.

“We were very close to being knocked out in the eliminator,” she said, explaining they decided it was time to “step up” their game.

The family did very well in the quarter final, leading them to Sunday night’s semi final in The Swamp, facing the Devil’s Creek Time Trial.

The Cootehill clan found the trial “really tough,” especially when they were faced with the eliminator.

“We knew it was a long shot to beat them,” Sinéad said, referring to Donncha’s Fordes from Kildare.

The Fordes maintained a solid lead over the Greenans throughout the trial. Despite this, Sinéad remembered they “didn’t even look at them.”

“We just kept ourselves going and we didn’t panic,” she explained.

The family “eventually made up a little bit of ground,” and, coming into the wall, the two families were neck and neck.

“We absolutely just went for it,” remembered Sinéad, who couldn’t see due to the loss of her contact lenses in the ice bath.

“I just kept running, I could see Niamh was at the wall about to throw me up.”

“Just keep going, that’s my motto,” she added.

Getting up the ramp with ease and raising their hands signalling they had won, the family “were in absolute shock.”

“We realised that we were ahead as soon as we all stood up.

“We couldn’t believe it.”

The Greenans will face ‘The Mountain’ this Sunday (December 19) in the final of Ireland’s Fittest Family on RTE One at 6.30pm.

“Everyone is behind us and absolutely gunning for us in the show,” Sinéad said, explaining the support from the Cavan people “has been great.”

Sinéad revealed her highlight from the experience.

“The most special thing about it was striving for that common goal with our dad and with each other as siblings.”

“It was just a brilliant experience,” she concluded.