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Ireland's Fittest Family - Season 13 Episode 7
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00:00:00Welcome to Ireland's Fittest Family 2025 semi-final.
00:00:05Tonight, we're dipping our toes in Droghia Port for the very first time.
00:00:10The tide is high, the pressure is rising,
00:00:13and I hope our families have packed their togs and their goggles
00:00:16because if they want to make it to the final,
00:00:18nobody is staying dry tonight, except for me.
00:00:22I am staying dry, right?
00:00:24We're not saying...
00:00:24You promised you weren't going to drop me in here again.
00:00:27Please!
00:00:28No!
00:00:30It's been a very long and very winding road
00:00:42for our families and coaches in this year's competition.
00:00:45Right, on the outside.
00:00:47With trucks, trenches, and total chaos.
00:00:50Then we hit the bog and things got messy.
00:00:54Come on, Peggy, come on!
00:00:55With the grown-ups leading the charge...
00:00:57Come on, Owen, come on, Blah!
00:00:58The kids did pretty okay, too.
00:01:00Last bit, last bit.
00:01:02Last week, we lost our newbie coach, Ellen Keane.
00:01:05I'm going home.
00:01:06Come on, push her up!
00:01:07Davey still has two families left in the game,
00:01:10and the other coaches are sweating.
00:01:12We're not losing the lead!
00:01:14Six families ready to compete, and one semi-final.
00:01:18Next week, our four remaining families are off to the head-spinning, scream-inducing heights of Avondale Forest Park for our grand final.
00:01:28But tonight, it's high drama on the high waters.
00:01:31Which family will hold on tight enough to get through and get the chance to win the title of Ireland's fittest family, 2025?
00:01:38Tonight, in our semi-final, six families will become four.
00:01:47There will be two heats.
00:01:49Heat one is a total OG coach affair with Anna and the cars versus Davey and the Smiths versus Dunica and the Linehans.
00:01:58Heat two will pitch Davey and his second family, the McDonaghs, against Michael Dara and the Walshes, against Andrew and the McKennas.
00:02:06Our semi-final will have two events in each heat.
00:02:12Event one will be a three-way boat race, Battle of the Boyne.
00:02:16Event two will see the return of our infamous Hang Tuff time trial.
00:02:21In each event, it's three points for first place, two points for second, and one point for third.
00:02:26The points are then added together and the top family will go straight through to our grand final.
00:02:31The bottom two families will have to face off in the Eliminator to see who gets a place in our final.
00:02:36Two heats means two Eliminators.
00:02:39This is going to be epic.
00:02:41We're diving straight into semi-final action and we're better than the legendary River Boyne.
00:02:47We're going head to head, paddle to paddle.
00:02:49Let's find out who'll stay afloat in Battle of the Boyne.
00:02:53Thank you, Laura.
00:02:56The Battle of the Boyne is a three-way race, starting from the Hugh de Lacey Bridge,
00:03:01passing under the Boyne Viaduct to the finish line, one kilometre down Drogheda's mighty Boyne River.
00:03:07Each family is in a boat and with the help of a cox, they must sink their strokes to power downriver as fast as they can.
00:03:14The first family down the river wins the race and those vital three points.
00:03:18This is the time of the competition that I relish.
00:03:27The bigger the event, the bigger the prize, the bigger the fall, and you can just almost see the final.
00:03:33But we have to start well this morning.
00:03:35I don't like these ones where you don't really have control over things.
00:03:38You hit a bit of a wave, you make a bad stroke, and it really can cost you.
00:03:43I've done a lot of water sports and swimming and surfing, but I don't know how much that will help with the rowing.
00:03:47It's in our hometown, so we have to go out all guns blazing on this one.
00:03:51Hopefully we'll get the wind behind us.
00:03:54I think anything can happen.
00:03:55You just never know, and I'm the eternal optimist, so we're just going to tear into it, see what happens.
00:04:00Don't know can we, our backs are literally against the wall.
00:04:02We have to come out fighting, or come out rowing, in this case.
00:04:07Hey! Go on, Laura!
00:04:09It's the OG coaches!
00:04:10Yes!
00:04:11How does it feel to be back together again?
00:04:12We're back together, and we're still talking for now.
00:04:14It's amazing, for now it's very important there.
00:04:17How are we feeling about this one again?
00:04:19Let's be completely honest, three of us are blagging this one.
00:04:22Well, I mean, you blag a lot.
00:04:23Yeah, well, I do, but it's rare they do it.
00:04:25You do all of the time.
00:04:26Yeah.
00:04:27So, hang on, one family, one family, two families, JB.
00:04:31Of course, of course.
00:04:32How are you feeling?
00:04:34Listen, it's great, but you don't know what's going to happen here.
00:04:38Like, once I can beat these two, I'll be happy enough, you know?
00:04:41That's so true.
00:04:42I am going to leave, because I'm actually quite nice and dry.
00:04:47Get in your boat.
00:04:48See you later.
00:04:48Best of luck.
00:04:49Don't worry about it.
00:04:49We'll just stand out in the elements.
00:04:50It's Grand Laura.
00:04:50Ready to go in the Battle of the Boyne.
00:04:54The cars wearing black.
00:04:55Elizabeth, Simon, Gareth, and Tom.
00:04:58Wearing purple.
00:04:59The Smiths.
00:05:00Adam, Sean, Mark, and Mum, Cathy.
00:05:03And in yellow, it's the Linehans.
00:05:04Diarmut, Sean, Rory, and Ava.
00:05:07Three, two, one.
00:05:09Paula Donovan gets the first event of the semifinal underway.
00:05:12A brand new event.
00:05:13The Battle of the Boyne.
00:05:15Five, let's use the leg.
00:05:16We're in Drogheda.
00:05:17And that is a spectacular start and a spectacular sight right at the beginning of this race.
00:05:22So, the Smiths are in the middle in purple.
00:05:27That's Cathy at the front of the boat.
00:05:31There's the cars.
00:05:33So, they've got to go 1,000 metres.
00:05:35And this is, as we know from the O'Donovans and all the Irish rowing heroes,
00:05:40this is so physically demanding.
00:05:42The lead at the moment for the cars closest to us.
00:05:44There you have it.
00:05:45Well done.
00:05:46Well done, Simon.
00:05:48Our coaches safely on board their boat.
00:05:51And they get a ringside seat, so to speak, for this.
00:05:56So, it's all about rhythm and tempo.
00:05:58So, the role of the coxes in each boat, hugely important.
00:06:02They will help as much as they can.
00:06:05So, the cars still leading.
00:06:07The Smiths in second.
00:06:08And the Linehans are in third.
00:06:11This is a brilliant race.
00:06:12It certainly is.
00:06:14And everything's starting to burn.
00:06:15The cars have a big lead, don't they, from the Smiths.
00:06:18But we're about halfway through.
00:06:22That's the Boyne Viaduct coming into sight.
00:06:26They will go under that.
00:06:27And the finish line is beyond.
00:06:29So, that's still a good rhythm for the car family.
00:06:34And it is a good, healthy lead for them, isn't it?
00:06:38And they can see exactly to their left what's happening with the Smiths in second.
00:06:41And now on board with the Linehans, who are in third.
00:06:43So, this is where it gets difficult.
00:06:48And the Smiths have kind of gone out of their rhythm.
00:06:51They had a lovely tempo.
00:06:51You can see them all moving in different ways.
00:06:55That beautiful rhythm that was there earlier on is gone.
00:06:58And that could open the door for the Linehans on the right to try and overtake the cars.
00:07:02Brilliant tempo.
00:07:04And they are holding on to that lead.
00:07:06And now the Linehans, it looks like they've gone in front.
00:07:08They have gone in front.
00:07:09And Doneco Callaghan will be delighted with this.
00:07:12So, the Smiths now in third.
00:07:14It's a big battle between these two.
00:07:16It looks like it's the cars race to win or to lose.
00:07:22So, the Smiths have kind of got back into a bit of a better rhythm now.
00:07:27But that looks very impressive from the car family.
00:07:30Anna will be delighted.
00:07:32But we're not done yet.
00:07:33And it really is neck and neck between the Smiths on the left and the Linehans on the right.
00:07:37Second place is still up for grabs.
00:07:38And we all know that those points are so precious.
00:07:41Come on, loves!
00:07:44Laura is in a great place to watch this race.
00:07:47You can see and hear what the cocks are doing.
00:07:50And now there's been a problem.
00:07:51There's a problem.
00:07:51The oars come out of the water.
00:07:53Yeah, there is an issue for Adam Smith at the front of the boat.
00:07:55And now look at the boat starting to turn.
00:07:58And this is really bad for the Smith family.
00:08:00They're on home turf, home water in Drogheda.
00:08:02But they've got to try and get this thing back on course.
00:08:05And that is easier said than done.
00:08:08And Davey is not impressed at all.
00:08:10This is going wrong for them.
00:08:12And the Linehans very much in second place now.
00:08:15But the Smiths have got it pointed the right way.
00:08:17Well done.
00:08:17But the cars now have passed the orange marker.
00:08:20And they've won three points for them.
00:08:22That was impressive.
00:08:22They led really from the start.
00:08:24The Linehans are going to take second place.
00:08:27Overtaking the Smiths after their mistake with the oar coming out of the water.
00:08:31It's two points for the Linehan family for Donegal Callaghan.
00:08:34And the Smiths, well, they'll finish it out for their one point.
00:08:38Could yet be very important.
00:08:39But that's disappointing for them.
00:08:40But credit to the Smiths family for getting the boat back on course
00:08:43and pointed in the right direction.
00:08:45It could have gone really wrong for them.
00:08:46But they finish it out and they are third.
00:08:48It went wrong just near towards the end there.
00:08:51Adam lost his oar.
00:08:52But that's okay.
00:08:53It's not a big deal.
00:08:55We'll just take it and move on.
00:08:56What happened?
00:08:58We were doing so well at the start.
00:08:59And then we all just panicked.
00:09:01Well, I panicked, especially myself.
00:09:03I don't know if the rest of the family did.
00:09:04We tried not to stop.
00:09:05But there was nothing really I could have done.
00:09:06I tried to pull it out.
00:09:07And then I had to get Sean to help me pull it out.
00:09:09I had to know I was misfortunate more than anything else.
00:09:11So it's all about surviving and getting through to the next day.
00:09:14And that's all we'll be trying to do.
00:09:15Adam, there was nothing you could do, all right?
00:09:17You really tried your best.
00:09:19Well done, lads.
00:09:19I'll chat to you soon.
00:09:21Feels like it's the pick on Adam story here, doesn't it?
00:09:24Linnehan's, second place.
00:09:26Congratulations.
00:09:27And where's your coach?
00:09:30I've been in all day.
00:09:31Apologies.
00:09:31Sorry, sorry, sorry.
00:09:32You know you're not on your holiday.
00:09:33I was on a boat with Anna and Davey.
00:09:35It was great fun.
00:09:36I had a great time, lads.
00:09:37So doing as well as you guys did, I'm sure you have to be incredibly proud of that.
00:09:41Yeah, no, we are.
00:09:42It's fair.
00:09:42I think we all tried our best and we all did well.
00:09:44So we're delighted.
00:09:46Congratulations, all right?
00:09:47Best of luck now this afternoon.
00:09:48I'll chat to you then.
00:09:49Anyway, so there I am, right?
00:09:50Davey's on the boat.
00:09:52Oh, you were great.
00:09:53What's going on?
00:09:54That was unbelievable.
00:09:56I love how calm, cool and collected you are.
00:09:58You're like, yeah, no, but we've been here before.
00:10:00So, you know, hold it together.
00:10:01How are you feeling?
00:10:02Yeah, we're feeling good.
00:10:03Delighted.
00:10:04Yeah, it couldn't have gone any better.
00:10:06It went really well.
00:10:07We couldn't have.
00:10:08We won handy enough.
00:10:10It was a phenomenal performance.
00:10:11You have been here before.
00:10:13So how are you feeling right now?
00:10:14Well, I think we're a bit calmer this time than we were in the previous round.
00:10:19Top points now, but we've been in the exact same position in the quarterfinals.
00:10:23We took top points in the first race and then everything fell apart for the second one.
00:10:26So now it's about, okay, job done, round one.
00:10:29Let's move on now.
00:10:33Now it's time for the scoreboard.
00:10:35After our first event, Anna's cars are top of the table with three points.
00:10:41Dunnock has Linehan's of two points.
00:10:43And Davey Smith's are in last place with just one point.
00:10:47But it's all to hang for.
00:10:48Normally, being told you're too clingy is a bad thing.
00:10:56But in Hang Tough, it's the only way to win.
00:10:59It's time to watch our families desperately cling on to their chance to make it to the finals.
00:11:06Hang Tough is a test of willpower and endurance.
00:11:10The clock starts when everybody's feet leave the ground.
00:11:12All family members must hang over six metres or 20 feet above the freezing water for as long as they possibly can.
00:11:20Remember, this isn't about being the last person up there.
00:11:23The times of the four families will be combined.
00:11:25So every second counts.
00:11:31First up are the Linehans.
00:11:32Now they came second in Battle of the Boyne.
00:11:34So they'll need to come first in this if they want to avoid the Eliminator.
00:11:38If any of the other coaches can manage to bluff, hang tough, best of luck to them.
00:11:44It's a complete unknown.
00:11:45Like the coaching point, grab the bar, hold on to it for as long as possible.
00:11:49And that's it really, isn't it?
00:11:51Look, I'm not going to be shouting and roaring at you.
00:11:53But the big thing for us, we have to keep the four of us up there for as long as possible.
00:11:58So claw in.
00:11:59Again, I'm the fall guy.
00:12:01I'm the weak link here.
00:12:02The lads have been training in fair play to them.
00:12:05Have you guys been practicing this one?
00:12:06Yeah, I'm doing a bit of practice at home, really.
00:12:08Finding anything to hang off and doing our best to get our times up.
00:12:11We have a hang tough bar at home, so we've all been using it.
00:12:14I can't lie, I haven't been training too much, but I was kind of hoping this wouldn't come up.
00:12:17Don't care.
00:12:18We win this, we're avoiding an Eliminator.
00:12:20Yeah, honestly, Laura, there is a great incentive.
00:12:23I'm hoping for the Lennons to do something special here.
00:12:25We could do with keeping the bit of good luck going, and hopefully we get it here.
00:12:29For the Lennons, from left to right, it's Sean, Rory, Ava, and Dermott.
00:12:35In the zone now.
00:12:37Family, take your grip.
00:12:40So here we go.
00:12:41I absolutely love this event.
00:12:43I'd be really bad at it, but I love it.
00:12:44Here we go.
00:12:45Raise the crane.
00:12:46So, this is always the odd bit for the families.
00:12:52They can hear the crane, the engine starting up, and then they're lifted out over the water.
00:12:59And the crane will come to a stop when they are six metres above the river Boyne.
00:13:06That's 20 feet.
00:13:07So there is Ava, and that's Sean with his brother Rory beside him, and Dermott closest to us now.
00:13:14He said he feels he's the weak link.
00:13:16I don't think he will be.
00:13:19The kids have been training for this.
00:13:22Training is all well and good, but to try and replicate these conditions, there's a breeze there.
00:13:28It's very, very tricky.
00:13:31But they look good.
00:13:32It's a good, solid start.
00:13:34Dermott focusing on his breathing.
00:13:38Rory with his legs crossed.
00:13:40And Danica just nice and calm.
00:13:43They're approaching a minute.
00:13:47Remember, the four times will be added together.
00:13:51So there's a minute done.
00:13:52And everybody looks good.
00:13:53Really good.
00:13:54Nobody changing hand position on the bar.
00:13:59This is a good start.
00:14:02Sean and Rory look very steady.
00:14:05So does Dermott now grimace on Ava's face.
00:14:08The pain is starting to kick in.
00:14:12And this really, really hurts.
00:14:14And Ava is gone in a minute and 24.
00:14:17So she's the first to go down.
00:14:19And as we know from past years, that can possibly put some of the other family members off.
00:14:24And Dermott's gone, too, just three seconds later.
00:14:261.27.
00:14:28It's now down to the two lads.
00:14:3016-year-old Rory and 19-year-old Sean.
00:14:35Stay on it, Rory.
00:14:36We need you, Rory.
00:14:36Don't be changing too much.
00:14:38We need you big time.
00:14:40Which ain't a good sign.
00:14:42It's calmed down again, though.
00:14:45And in its own ways, impressive Rory.
00:14:46More movement from him.
00:14:47Stay in, boy.
00:14:48We're on.
00:14:50Stay in there, Rory.
00:14:50So approaching two minutes.
00:14:51And I just wonder how long more Rory has in him.
00:14:55Sean now with the eyes open.
00:14:57Staring down into the water.
00:15:00It's very cold water.
00:15:01And Rory is really battling with this for all he has worked.
00:15:05He's done well to steady it down again.
00:15:08And now some movement from Sean, too.
00:15:10Oh, and Sean's gone.
00:15:11He tried to just take, and he did take his right arm off the bar.
00:15:16And that didn't work at all.
00:15:17Went straight in.
00:15:18It's now down to Rory, the youngest member of the family.
00:15:20We need every second, Rory.
00:15:21And Rory.
00:15:22Oh, and he's gone, too.
00:15:23Two minutes and 22.
00:15:25Add it all together.
00:15:26It's 7.24.
00:15:27We'll find out over the next few minutes just how good that is.
00:15:30It feels good.
00:15:32I'm absolutely delighted.
00:15:34Sean took a big risk.
00:15:35He went big, and it didn't pay off for him.
00:15:37I'm kind of gutted for him, because if it had come off, it would have been worked out,
00:15:40but it didn't.
00:15:41You went to change your grip, and we've seen this happen so often, where you're like,
00:15:44no, I can do it, and then gone.
00:15:46Yeah.
00:15:47I saw one fellow a few years ago do it.
00:15:48I was like, I'll be able to do that, but I couldn't.
00:15:52I prefer not to talk too much about me trying to do one-handed.
00:15:55It'll be a long journey home for him to clock anyway.
00:15:57He'll hear all about it.
00:15:58Do you want to go, how do you think they did?
00:15:59Yeah, I'm delighted.
00:16:01The Lenehans are there every second we bought.
00:16:03Obviously, there's brilliant families, and if they can do better than that, fair play
00:16:06to them.
00:16:07One thing I'll take from the two events today with the Lenehans, we've given them everything.
00:16:11We're moving along nicely.
00:16:12We're confident.
00:16:13If we're in the Eliminator, we'll take it on.
00:16:1660 seconds of hard work is your milestone.
00:16:20Keep with it.
00:16:20Sean, stay there.
00:16:21Another 10 seconds, Sean.
00:16:23Welcome back to Ireland's Fittest Family Semi-Final.
00:16:37Now, before the break, we saw Donegal's Lenehans family lose their grip, eventually, on Hank Tuff.
00:16:43Well done.
00:16:44Lenehans great.
00:16:45But there's still two more to go before we'll find out who's in the first of tonight's Eliminator.
00:16:50So, let's get cracking.
00:16:53Next up in Hank Tuff are Anna's car family.
00:16:57They sailed into first place in Battle of the Boyne, so if they hold on for long enough
00:17:01here, they guarantee themselves a place in the grand final.
00:17:05I'm hoping that they're all used to doing chin-ups and pull-ups, because that's the
00:17:07kind of muscles that they need to engage.
00:17:10And the biggest, most crucial golden rule of Hank Tuff, do not adjust your grip.
00:17:16Take a feel of the bar.
00:17:18Have a think about where the hands are.
00:17:19Think about in relation to your shoulders, where you want those hands to go.
00:17:21Because once they stick, they stick.
00:17:24You do not move at any stage then.
00:17:25How are you feeling about this?
00:17:27I think we're feeling good.
00:17:28It's like that, ready to go through the pain barrier.
00:17:29I think everyone here is going to be in pain in a couple of minutes' time, so it's about
00:17:33how long we can sit in that.
00:17:35Not really feeling confident.
00:17:36We're all kind of big-bodied, so we're carrying a lot of KGs.
00:17:40I want the KGs to go straight to the finals, for me, if nothing else, because I can't handle
00:17:44the stress today.
00:17:47Ready to go for the KGs from left to right.
00:17:49It's Elizabeth, Simon, Gareth and Tom.
00:17:51Family, take your grip.
00:17:58Raise the crane.
00:17:59The KGs were first in Battle of the Boyne.
00:18:03Once the feet leave the ground, the clock starts ticking.
00:18:07Excellent.
00:18:08Well done.
00:18:11So out they go.
00:18:15As you can see, it's a lovely day, Andrade.
00:18:17But there is a breeze there, and they will sway a little bit, which in its own way is off-putting.
00:18:26That's Gareth staring up at that bar.
00:18:29Get your breathing right now.
00:18:31So Anna's big message was, do not adjust your grip.
00:18:3630 seconds done.
00:18:38Elizabeth, deep in concentration.
00:18:40Tom, very aware of where he is.
00:18:43Strap that mind.
00:18:47Excellent.
00:18:52So they all look good.
00:18:54Well done.
00:18:54Heading towards a minute.
00:18:56We're approaching a minute.
00:18:58Okay?
00:18:58The second to take on Hang Tough.
00:19:017.24 was the Linnahons' time.
00:19:03Now.
00:19:04Oh, now some movement from Tom.
00:19:06He's steady down again.
00:19:08But is that a sign that he's struggling?
00:19:09I think it is.
00:19:10And there's more movement from Tom Carr.
00:19:12And its first down is Simon.
00:19:14That's a surprise.
00:19:15Simon went down first.
00:19:16I thought it was going to be Tom.
00:19:19Tom is hanging on for all he's worth at this point.
00:19:22And he goes four seconds later.
00:19:23One minute and 11.
00:19:25It's down to Gareth and Elizabeth.
00:19:29Tom, keep swimming out of the way.
00:19:31So Gareth has looked steady all the way through.
00:19:34In the final.
00:19:35Paula Dunham is just telling Tom Carr to move out of the way.
00:19:37Move out from underneath Gareth if he comes down on top of him.
00:19:41Shoulder blade.
00:19:42Elizabeth, the number one ranked triathlete in the country.
00:19:46But this is not a triathlon event.
00:19:48Oh, I wonder here.
00:19:50Gareth.
00:19:50Oh, the grip goes.
00:19:51and he is in in 1 minute 37 so it's all down to elizabeth carr
00:19:58so 7 24 is a long way away and elizabeth has gone too
00:20:01one minute and 42 seconds a combined total of 5 37.
00:20:08it was probably about as difficult as we expected it to be we weren't that confident
00:20:12coming into a hang tough just all of our strengths don't really lie with with grip strengths how are
00:20:17you feeling uh not good yeah to be honest that didn't really go according to plan kind of got
00:20:22tough a lot earlier than i was expecting the one thing you can practice is when they lift you off
00:20:26the first 20 30 seconds you're not really sure what to do once you're up there it's kind of just
00:20:30try and take your mind out of it it's kind of expecting a little bit of a lull where i could
00:20:34just kind of settle into it but i was feeling it from the start it's over and if we're in an
00:20:39eliminator that's when we need to get focused on because we're still in with the chance of making
00:20:43the final just i know it's not what they wanted if we're in the eliminator we'll deal with it we've
00:20:47been there before i know the cars have what it takes to be in the final now we just need to fight
00:20:51for it last up in our first semi-final heat tonight is davy and the smith family there's a lot riding
00:20:59on this as they came last in the race earlier and they need a good time in this event tell me how
00:21:04are you feeling nervous do you yeah i do feel nervous but i'll just do my best it's all i can do you
00:21:11really need to win this so like we got to set time in our heads of what we're doing are you
00:21:16going to tell me any of this kind of stuff yeah well davy's giving us the time yeah but i think
00:21:20that stays among the five of us okay fair enough i'm not in the click i need the boys to hang on
00:21:24probably a minute and a half to two and a half in that bracket someplace anything can happen so we're
00:21:30just going to take this event for what it is and we'd be the best we can be and you'd never know
00:21:34lining up for the smith family again from left to right kathy adam mark and sean remember talk to
00:21:43me if you're under pressure or a bit out just talk to me and we'll get you there so you can hear the
00:21:46instructions in the background from davy fitz the smith family it just took them about five minutes to
00:21:53get here today they're from drogada on home ground but they were last in the battle of the point and they
00:22:00need a big time here 7 24 still the longest time in hang tough by the linehan family they were first
00:22:12to take it on and the smiths are now out over the water crane will come to a stop and then it's down
00:22:23to these four so kathy on the left half a minute done just now well done just stay in there good stuff
00:22:35so sean and there's kathy again you can see that the wind rippling on the shirts there is a breeze there
00:22:44adam we'll just get another turkey party second though but good lad davy focusing on adam now
00:22:50as they approach a minute kathy deep in concentration and sean just well he seems to be in bother already
00:22:59that is a surprise really good now just stay in there so they've all done a minute so far so good for
00:23:05the smiths so oh kathy seems to be struggling now and she's gone into the water one minute and nine
00:23:14seconds it puts the pressure on adam mark and sean
00:23:18davy focusing very much on adam and i think he's in trouble he is in bother
00:23:23adam drops in one minute and 20 seconds just two to go now movement from mark up there
00:23:30trust me sean beside him sean is really fighting with this doing all he can marks only 15 years of
00:23:38age this has been some experience for him but now he's gone into the water one minute and 32.
00:23:43this doesn't look good for the smith family unless sean can do something really remarkable and he's
00:23:48trying his very best he is hanging on there but he can't hold on any longer sean goes in one minute
00:23:5542 it's a combined total of five minutes and 43 seconds i'm really proud of myself actually i
00:24:00lasted longer than i thought i would it was actually better than expected you must be so proud of
00:24:05yourself right myself i really did amazing really better than i expected the most difficult part for
00:24:10me was when your hands start slipping your grip strength sort of loosens a little bit and once you
00:24:14start that's going it's it's gone davy how are we fixed i think we'll be in the eliminator but i think
00:24:20we did well there i think we're facing the eliminator and that's not a bad thing that's okay
00:24:25to win for this family the more them you do the better
00:24:31and here's how the scoreboard stands after the second event the linehans came first and hang
00:24:36tough bringing them into the lead with five points the cars came last which brings them to four points
00:24:44and the smiths came second which gives them three points this means that the linehans go straight
00:24:49through to the final leaving the cars and the smiths to battle it out in the dreaded eliminator
00:24:55with heat one events over it's time for me to tell the families the final result
00:25:05hi families hi coaches well done you've done absolutely unbelievable so far today but it is
00:25:13finally time for me to reveal the family who will be the first to go through to the final of ireland's
00:25:20fittest family 2025. congratulations to dunica and the linehans you're going through to the final
00:25:30i'm absolutely delighted everyone performed the best they possibly could i'm happy with the family
00:25:35performance i'm proud of the lads to be fair to them they put in a good effort which means anna and the
00:25:41cars and davy and the smiths get ready for our first eliminator of the semi-finals best of luck i feel
00:25:48that we've done this interview already except it was in the quarterfinals this is a total deja vu moment
00:25:54i'm not sure how many eliminators are left in my lifetime hopefully this will be the last one
00:25:58we're a bit devastated that we're going into the eliminator but we're well able to do it
00:26:02so we're just going to have to push on and get it done
00:26:10now anna's cars and davy smiths are about to go head to head in the first eliminator here at
00:26:16draw de port one last push for that place in the final but who will triumph when all these shipping
00:26:22containers contain is pain the port eliminator begins with a bang both families have to pull
00:26:33a 5.5 ton forklift for 20 meters then they have to pick up a 30 kilogram log and run down the length
00:26:41of the 200 meters course next it's a climb up and over a series of containers each of those are 2.6
00:26:48meters in height some single height and some double height next it's a sprint to the three meter wall
00:26:55which they have to climb over before they run on and face our signature wraps
00:27:00the first family with all four members at the top win a place in the grand final
00:27:04there's a lot of things that could actually go wrong in this race but the ultimate prize is at
00:27:16stake one of the coveted places in ireland's fittest family final that's why they've made this hard
00:27:21because you're now having to fight and prove that you're good enough to be in the climate we're not
00:27:26out yet but we absolutely now have to fight with everything that we have to make sure that we are one
00:27:32of the families there this is a big one for us we know we're against probably one of the favorites
00:27:36for the competition let's go let's let's see how we're at everybody thinks we're going over this
00:27:42guys just absolutely please just let's go at this okay i feel very nervous for this yeah the containers
00:27:47seem a bit daunting this is your last shot of making it to the final i know i just don't want to go
00:27:55home okay i really can't stress it enough i don't want to go home the stakes have never been higher
00:28:01but the reward has never been greater ready to go and black are the cars elizabeth gareth tom and
00:28:07simon wearing purple it's the smiths sean adam mark and mom kathy three two one our heat one
00:28:18eliminator is underway and this is going to be quite the start because that forklift truck
00:28:23weighs 5.5 tons and they have to pull it 20 meters so the smiths well there was a little bit of
00:28:30movement there and now the cars have got that moving this really shocks them into action right
00:28:37at the start of the eliminator a place in the grand final at state the smiths now have their forklift
00:28:43moving as well jady and anna both roaring at their respective families the cars have a lead
00:28:53they really are driving through and they have a good rhythm and tempo now but the smiths have got stuck
00:28:59they did have it moving a few seconds ago but now it's stopped completely an opportunity for
00:29:05the cars they have moved the forklift over the 20 meters and they're away and the smiths are stuck
00:29:10here there is a tiny bit of movement there you can see it but not enough and the cars can open up and
00:29:16build a healthy lead now they're taking this at a steady pace but the smiths this is going wrong for
00:29:23them so davy just changing the approach a little bit but with every second the cars are pulling away
00:29:31from the smiths so they're able to do that just really at their own pace aren't they now so davy
00:29:38changing the order a little bit the rope wrapped around the back and off they go come on or do they
00:29:46so the cars have got rid of that 30 kilogram log and now they come down to these containers
00:29:53strategy clear thinking is the message from anna geary but the smiths are still struggling to get that
00:29:58forklift over the 20 meters kathy taking off the gloves now maybe that might help
00:30:03davy is just trying to cajole them encourage them their arms will be really fatigued as well after
00:30:11the battle of the boyne event the cars just going at their own pace at the moment they can't even see
00:30:16the smiths behind them anna had a check down the course but the smiths are still stuck and this is
00:30:21going very badly wrong for them they've been absolutely brilliant in this competition now they've got
00:30:26it going there's a bit of movement there a good rhythm a little bit of a fall there but that is
00:30:31simon he's okay so each of these 2.6 meters high and there's two of those double stacks they've all
00:30:39got rid of the gloves now at this point and they are very nearly at the 20 meter mark with this forklift
00:30:45truck tom carr goes up to the top of that container they've just got to keep doing what they're doing
00:30:51it's all very methodical so now the smiths have finally completed that challenge with that forklift
00:31:00truck they'll never want to see another one again and now they've got to run down here grab this 30
00:31:04kilogram log and run 200 meters with it the cars just slow and steady they've paced themselves all
00:31:12the way through that's one of those double container pyramids so davy is running with his family
00:31:20down the 200 meters he looks in shape too doesn't he so that's elizabeth car
00:31:29so they get down to that barrel they have a lot of ground to make up but we've seen them
00:31:34do it in this competition this year they have made up big deficits before this is the biggest of
00:31:42the lot but the smiths can't get it done and here they are at the first container that was a brilliant
00:31:47leap wasn't it up to the top so they've just got to hold their concentration hold their nerve and keep
00:31:54going and hope that there's a mistake from the car family they haven't made one so far so that's the
00:32:00the first container done by the smiths a bit of a fall from kathy and she's held back to her feet
00:32:05what a day she's had what a brilliant competition they have had and so have the cars and they are
00:32:11closing in on the place in the grand final tom carr up to the top so there's two of those double
00:32:17container pyramids the smiths at the first of those now now that's it you just never know
00:32:25the cars go back to the quarter final they had a big problem at that high wall and this wall
00:32:34you'll see shortly is three meters high so the smiths still doing their stuff it's all very connected
00:32:40there's a clear plan from the smith family but there is from the cars too so tom's up at the top of the
00:32:46wall can the smiths be absolutely perfect here they've looked very good on these containers so far
00:32:52they are but they are under pressure there's two of the car family up at the top of that wall
00:32:59they've had plenty of time to plan out a strategy here after the mistake of the quarter final which
00:33:04very nearly cost them here come the smiths that's kathy and now that's a brilliant leap up to the top
00:33:11that's simon who's got up there so only elizabeth is down the other side and then it's just the ramp
00:33:17after that davy has a look down the course he can see where the cars are the smiths have another
00:33:23double container stack to do first time up for simon card that was absolutely brilliant
00:33:29and the pressure grows on the smith family the cars have been pretty perfect all the way through
00:33:34second to go is the algarath that is absolutely brilliant as well two out of two here come the
00:33:39smiths though but it seems it's too little too late the cars have two up at the top of the ramp the
00:33:46smiths are doing all they can to try and close the gap here is elizabeth carr and she's up first
00:33:52time as well is she yes she is they have been absolutely flawless around this really difficult
00:33:57course the smiths well it went wrong right at the start with the forklift here goes tom carr to make
00:34:03it four out of four they each got up first time and tom carr is very nearly there and he is there that is
00:34:10such a performance from the cars a statement victory and they are through to the grand final they led
00:34:16right from the start never in doubt superb well done yes
00:34:26disappointing it's just a truck bullet the start was tough our upper body wasn't as good as the
00:34:31cars but that's for the family something suits you some things don't obviously we're a little bit
00:34:35disappointed but i think we can be super proud of ourselves for how we've done over the last three
00:34:39rounds and yeah it is what it is kathy i'm gonna miss you so much lads how was it to do that with
00:34:46your mom it's an experience like a handful of people in the country yet and i think it's just
00:34:50something that we look back on in years to come that she's proved not only to herself now but to
00:34:55everyone that but she can absolutely smash everything and she's absolutely amazing so we're super proud of
00:34:59as a whole family stop i'm actually gonna cry davy please say something oh my god they're dead right
00:35:07and i mean that you know you just give yourself a tough time you're actually incredible i'm very
00:35:11proud of myself for doing it it's totally out of my comfort zone way out of my comfort zone it's not
00:35:16something i'd ever do again but i done it and i'm delighted i don't know with the three boys
00:35:21i know here again over here i can finally smile for the first time today you can breathe again oh
00:35:30my god three words relieved relieved relieved what was lucky for us was that we had the pull at the
00:35:38start so when we were able to take the lead with the log it gave all of them a chance to get their
00:35:42breath back so then they could attack the containers at pace lads talk to me how does it feel to secure
00:35:48your spot in the final yeah it feels great it wasn't to be fair the start was big for us felt bad for
00:35:53the smiths that element of the course kind of went against them but happy with the effort everyone put
00:35:58in anna the cars are true to the final of our linds and his family and come on now you can give me a bit
00:36:04more than that lads you don't have a great winner well done i'm so proud of you okay you know what
00:36:10that was an explosive eliminator and i enjoyed it so much that i think you should stick around and we
00:36:15should do it all over again
00:36:20wait a look at your time they are going to be tipping each other fairly soon that's the job
00:36:24into the rally go come on
00:36:29oh this is the life the sun in my face and the wind in my hair on the boyne riviera
00:36:47oh oh is that davie
00:36:52welcome back to ireland's fittest family the tension is rising as we're about to find out who's going to
00:36:58grab those last two spots in our grand final
00:37:12hey lads what are you doing we have a whole afternoon a day ahead of us so we need to center
00:37:18ourselves before the storm yeah the intensity is great and all but we just like to kind of
00:37:22take out a little bit of the shouting and screaming okay it's going to take a lot more than that but
00:37:26best of luck yeah cheers
00:37:30come on right there come on come on come on let's go keep going i'll pull it back more
00:37:35lads we have to keep going get up that one
00:37:39breathe out the davy that's far better namaste namaste
00:37:47we're about to kick off heat two and here's the lineup it's davy and the mcdonough's
00:37:52versus michael dower and the walsh's versus andrew and the mckenna's
00:38:02happy days we're in the water this is the space they're comfortable in and that's all you want
00:38:05especially for amy the man like this is her bread and butter when i kayak if i'm going backwards
00:38:09there's something wrong so the fact that i'm going to be in a boat going backwards is going to be really
00:38:14bonkers i haven't a clue what's going to happen here feeling confident going into it a little bit
00:38:19nervous but mostly just wasn't like wasn't to get going it is going to be a challenge we accept
00:38:24every thing we do in this show is going to be a challenge so we'll embrace it as we have all the
00:38:28rest of them if we stick together as a team and work as a team we'll hopefully stand a good chance
00:38:32i'd be surprised if the mckenna's get panicked at all they seem like the picture of calmness so
00:38:36they'll be fine i'd say welcome to your first semi-final on ireland's with his family lads yeah
00:38:42so far so good yeah we're here to to take part and do a little half day so very excited about half
00:38:47day david's exhausted yeah i feel like davie's aged terribly this morning i feel great two families is
00:38:55probably one too many so down to one team like the rest of the coaches so i need to get them through
00:38:59can you believe that you've actually made it to the semi-finals of ireland's with his family michael dower
00:39:04uh yeah yeah it's been a bit of a roller coaster we kind of got there by their fingertips to get
00:39:08our last mammy up that ramp so we're looking forward to this one our kind of the walsh is
00:39:11having a bit of a history in the water like so uh hopefully hopefully it'll go well wait what's
00:39:15their history in the water amy is like a big kayaker and the two boys were when like a rowing club for
00:39:19three years okay you're welcome that i got that information out of them so you're my confidence
00:39:24going from here to here immediately anything you'd like to share back with michael daren no no keep that
00:39:29we're better on land i think the mcdonough's to be honest in green it's the walshes michael alfie
00:39:35aiden and mom amy the mcdonough's wear orange it's past matthew daniel and leah
00:39:42the mckenna's are in red sharon kaylon cormac and colleen
00:39:45one thousand meters three precious points for the winners and off we go
00:39:57and well the mcdonough's you can see in the center there have come across towards
00:40:01the walsh family they're very close together there's clear water for the mckenna's but the
00:40:07walshes well i wonder would you make them favorites here two of the lads had experience
00:40:11with their local rowing club the mcdonough's for davy fitz quietly confident beforehand as were the
00:40:18mckenna's so a big shout out to inverculpa rowing club who gave us the use of their boats and also
00:40:27gave the families a tutorial a very important tutorial before the race started they each have
00:40:34crocs in the boat to help them with the tempo and the rhythm which is so important
00:40:41so there's very little between them really sure there's not look at that keep it up
00:40:46she's there a wee bit all over the place here the coaches are enjoying this but that is something
00:40:51else early stages but they can't be separated all going very nicely all going at a good pace
00:40:58the mcdonough's in the center they're veering across i want to be tipping each other apparently
00:41:01but the mcdonough's had the lead there but they are drifting over towards the walsh's boat
00:41:06and they're right beside each other the oars are titty and davy's loving that
00:41:12six you have them seven keep going eight on board with the mcdonough's
00:41:19so michael darrah is coaching the walsh's and now the mcdonough's have opened up a lead
00:41:23on the walsh's and they're leading at the moment the mckenna's in second
00:41:26the mcdonough's still veering off course a little bit now they're trying to just straighten it up
00:41:32and get a bit of clear water between themselves and the walsh family
00:41:39andrew reacting to his mckenna family they've dropped to third at the moment
00:41:45so look at that the walsh is kind of veering off course as well they've straightened it up again
00:41:51but the mcdonough's are leading for davy fitz michael darrah happier with the rhythm that the
00:41:59walsh family are in now so the mcdonough's are leading and the tempo is really good but the walsh is
00:42:10not giving up we haven't seen them give up at all in this competition and now they're moving nicely
00:42:15and they're closing on the mcdonough's on the left-hand side there the mckenna's still very much in third
00:42:19place come on well you need some power in this boat the cox in the mckenna boat wants more power
00:42:26and they're applying the power now so andrew delighted with the reaction from his family as
00:42:34they respond to dropping to third and they're closing on the mcdonough's in the center there
00:42:40they're still leading the walsh is on board with them they are third
00:42:44come on serious test of fitness and endurance
00:42:52the finishing marker is in sight really intense battle between these families and the mckenna's
00:42:58have gone from third to first they're now leading over on the far side the mcdonough's
00:43:02trying to respond their lead has been wiped out and it was a healthy lead just a few hundred meters
00:43:08ago but the mckenna's are powering forward now the mcdonough's have reacted their level with them again
00:43:12it seems maybe the mcdonough's fractionally in front but they've lost control of the boat a bit
00:43:16they've gone a little offline this going right down to the final meters michael taramacaulay enjoying
00:43:24this maybe more than he should his walsh family are in third but there's nothing between the mcdonough's
00:43:30in the center and the mckenna's on the right this is really intense a fantastic race it has been
00:43:36right from the start the mckenna's have opened up a big lead again they found the energy and the effort
00:43:42from somewhere they are trying to dig in and look at that the mckenna's now pulling away
00:43:49they really have come good and here we are in the last 20 meters you heard the cops call that out for
00:43:54them just these final meters for the mckenna family to try and win the battle of the boy the mcdonough's
00:44:00had the lead not so long ago in second the waltzes are in third
00:44:06but the waltzes are closing on the mcdonough's it seems if you look on the left of your picture
00:44:12the mckenna's heading towards the finishing marker and there they are they win and take three points that
00:44:18was some performance another victory for the mckenna family three points now it's down to second and
00:44:24third the mcdonough's driving and pulling for all their work the waltzes are closing on them it's
00:44:30very very tight between these two and it's tight towards the bank as well and it's second place for
00:44:36the mcdonough's only just the waltzes gave it everything and they really put a huge effort in
00:44:41but they finished third uh sure look we just got a bit squeezed and a bit squashed and we're not sore losers
00:44:48but we're just frustrated that it didn't go away really obviously not the result that you wanted here so
00:44:53tell me what was it like being in the water i think look we just got the wrong lane and we
00:44:59just got pinned too much to the side we couldn't get our oar in it is what it is there's nothing we
00:45:03can do it's in the rear view mirror now this didn't go well for us but if round two goes well we can get
00:45:09a half day here we can go home into the finals so like it's you're ready on a dinner plan we can have a
00:45:15great hang tough and then come out and we're laughing so as like let's just like draw a line
00:45:21and move on we have to pat get over here to me right now okay because i need to talk to you first
00:45:25how did it feel to have your name chanted so much by davy fitz me heart was so loud i couldn't hear
00:45:32myself never mind davy fits to be quite honest we give it our best shot to be quite honest i emptied the
00:45:37tank you know personally my focus was just keep breathing keep breathing and that was it i thought we'd
00:45:41struggle in it but we did pretty well we were in the lead for a lot of it and great results for us
00:45:45but it all comes down to hang tough oh my god you must be absolutely delighted are you thank god we
00:45:55have that over us i think this was tough mentally as well it was definitely physically but just to
00:45:59keep going because it's very long they did really well they stuck at it and a little bit of stress
00:46:04around here and then they just got it back on track and got it across the line in terms of how the
00:46:08mckenness have done another event it's probably a bit of an ugly win but a win's a win and they're
00:46:12in a good position going through the next one now time for the scoreboard after our first event in
00:46:20heat two andrews mckenness has sailed to the top of the table with three points davies mcdonough's who
00:46:27came in second place at two points and michael darris walshes are in last place with just one point
00:46:38time to dive into hang tough again and who will be diving into the freezing cold water of the river
00:46:44boyne first our families will want to hang on for dear life and a place in the grand final
00:46:53first up in heat two for hang tough are davies mcdonough family from mayo
00:46:57they're in second place after battle of the boyne so they'll need to really hang on to avoid the
00:47:02eliminator i don't know what they expect to hang tough mentally they're strong but normally the
00:47:08lighter you are the better it is for you if you're under pressure at any stage talk to me okay i'll
00:47:12be working with leah and the numbers i'd love to say that i'd be hanging on the longest but i really
00:47:16won't be it's probably going to be between me and dad first one to go we all know how much you want
00:47:21this and i know that you're going to hang on for dear life is that the plan here oh till the tide
00:47:25goes out i love it i'm confident enough that we can we can be there or thereabouts this would be
00:47:31great if we could get first on this i'd be out the door in the final happy days we'll try i'm open
00:47:36for anything let's let's let's be optimistic and try and get that first place that's it from left to
00:47:44right for the mcdonough's it's past leah daniel and matthew the mcdonough's a big boxing family
00:47:50lots of upper body strength that should help them here raise the crane so in our second heat
00:47:58they are first to take on hang tough you can hear the engine start in the background and you can see
00:48:05the clock ticking they're underway see themselves very much as underdogs in this competition
00:48:13davy fitz certainly doesn't see them that way get your mind someplace else and davy
00:48:23there's a little adjustment from matthew there but it can be unsettling until the crane actually
00:48:30stops and it's done so now leah will count down so the arms will be tired there's some movement
00:48:36from leah already oh my word lee has gone in after 34 seconds
00:48:40so down to the lads matthew daniel and pat
00:48:48pat is daniel's granddad of course
00:48:52daniel with the eyes wide open leah just been told to move away from
00:48:57the area where the lads will eventually drop down into the water i think guys just stay there
00:49:04they've a remarkable record they've never been in an eliminator and that is pat he's gone in after a
00:49:09minute so this not going according to plan and there's some movement now from matthew he hasn't
00:49:17looked happy from the start daniel just doing those pull-ups with the bar
00:49:25so it's down to the two guys and more movement from matthew and he's gone one minute and 16 seconds
00:49:30that is a surprise all they've got left the mcdonough family from county mayo is daniel 18 year old
00:49:37daniel and now there's some movement from daniel he's gone as well he tried to adjust the position
00:49:42on the bar one minute and 24 4 14 is the total that is a surprise that wasn't our best performance you
00:49:50know but you know what that gives us a right kick and i know the other two families are really strong but
00:49:55it'll give us a chance and let's see what story is yeah i can see that you're very upset there let
00:49:59me in beside you there for a second raging to be honest like i didn't soon as i got up there i don't
00:50:04even know i got into my own head said i'm moving my grip and i know the one thing davy told us to do
00:50:08was not change your grip but it's so hard when you're up there and you can feel your hands slipping
00:50:11and you're like oh i'll have another grab at it and then you're gone pat yeah how are you feeling
00:50:17look at hey we knew it was going to be tough we haven't had the pleasure of having an eliminator this will be
00:50:21our first one we have no doubt about it if we want to progress these are challenges that are going to
00:50:25come up against us in the next in the next two rounds ahead of us so we need to we need to familiarize
00:50:30ourselves with it too so i don't see it as being a negative to be quite honest
00:50:36up next on hang tough and desperate to turn their fortunes around after coming third in battle of the
00:50:41boyne it's michael darrah and the walsh family this is all about just getting ahead in the game like like
00:50:47don't don't mind cameras don't mind anything it's you and this this little bar right here
00:50:51when they're up there eyes closed get comfortable being uncomfortable and one of the biggest cliches
00:50:55ever used by a sports team plus that's where you have to go to lads how are you feeling about it
00:50:59uh we're kind of excited okay um like it's not going to be fun it's not going to be enjoyable kind
00:51:04of excited for it no i won't be saying that to anyone else but uh i've always wanted to try it you
00:51:08know you've been watching telly there for years white it is a lot harder than it looks but i might make it
00:51:12look easy second to take on hang tough the walsh family from left to right mum amy michael alfie and aiden
00:51:21they were third in the battle of the boyne and they need a really good time here
00:51:30a lot of tension alki was dying to do this let's see how he gets on
00:51:35so amy just closes her eyes and up they go that's it four minutes and 14 is the time to beat
00:51:43so aiden is on the right of the screen you and the bar that's it
00:51:52michael darrett well it's his first time to see this the newbie coach that he is
00:52:00crane has stopped
00:52:01and they have all done half a minute
00:52:11amy and that's aiden
00:52:17so they're swaying a little bit there's not a huge amount of wind out there it's quite
00:52:21calm 45 seconds already flying in and the time is flying
00:52:28so they all look good don't they all very steady and there's a little grimace now on michael's face
00:52:37he does not look happy at all aiden taking a position he's happy he's just staring well he's
00:52:44not staring he's got the eyes closed there's some movement from michael but amy goes and she's gone in
00:52:50in one minute and 11 seconds i have to say i was more concerned about michael and michael now
00:52:56oh he's gone as well one minute and 15. alfi and aiden are left up there for the walsh family
00:53:04they need a big time here now aiden doing those chin-ups with the bar that's incredible strength
00:53:15seen that before where people do that and it does seem to help
00:53:20again another one from aiden
00:53:23and he's just adjusting the grip and that's never a good sign and he's gone in aiden walsh in one
00:53:29minute and 39. alfi said he was dying to do this but let's see how long he can last he's starting
00:53:35to battle with it a little bit there's been no adjustment with the grip
00:53:40stick with it stick with it michael darrow working very closely with him and trying to encourage him
00:53:44but alfi walsh is gone one minute and 53 seconds you add it all together 558 we'll see if that's good
00:53:51enough
00:53:54if i told you i'd be the last one up there the fact is i like peace and quiet and i was singing away a few
00:53:59songs in my head pink pony club by chapel ron personal favorite of mine amy you did incredibly
00:54:05well are you proud of yourself i was fine play up in my eyes and then i saw how high up it was and i
00:54:09dance up shake and then i was waiting then for the drop and you wait for that heat when you hit the
00:54:15water but yeah done and dusted how do you feel after that yeah look it's one of these ones we haven't
00:54:20seen the time file what everyone else did so like it felt good let's let's see what happens we did well
00:54:25did we do well enough uh i don't know i don't know um i'd have my suspicions right deep breath you're all
00:54:32good sharon you're strong hold on there sharon
00:54:49welcome back to ireland's fittest family
00:54:51before the break we saw andrews mckenna's leave the others in their wake to claim victory in battle
00:54:57of the boy then things got even wetter when michael darris walshes and davies mcdonough's tackles
00:55:04the legendary hang tough up next are the mckenna family from monaghan can they hang on to their first
00:55:12place position and sail into the grand final i think hang tough's gonna be pretty suitable to them
00:55:18there's like a level of competition within the family that's going to serve us pretty well
00:55:22especially with the brothers it's perfect because they want to outlast each other i suppose me and
00:55:26connor could be the strongest but that doesn't necessarily mean we'll stay up longer colleen's
00:55:30very light and mommy's as hard as nails too so how are you feeling about this we're a bit nervous we
00:55:35have like a milestone we're hoping to reach okay am i am i allowed no am i privy to this information
00:55:41we might not make it we've practiced it a bit at home but we never expected to be doing that rowing
00:55:47so the arms are going to fail this one fairly tired it's tough workout so hopefully we get a bit of a
00:55:52banana into me here and go again last to go the mckenna family from monaghan from left to right
00:55:59colleen kaylon cormac and mum sharon they were first in battle of the boy let me take your grip
00:56:04they have this remarkable record in the competition this year they finished every event they've taken
00:56:12part in but they haven't done this before they have been practicing at home
00:56:20but as we said earlier you just can't replicate and recreate these kind of conditions the freezing cold
00:56:28river point underneath you and that swaying as they move into position this is so different okay the
00:56:38mechanics of it are the same there's some movement already from cormac just as he gets into position
00:56:43they are swaying a little on the bar all four of them actually but that was just as the crane came
00:56:48to a stop so they've done 30 seconds already
00:56:50so the longest time was the walsh's five minutes and 58 seconds so sharon with the eyes open kaylon he's
00:57:02been looking around a bit i think he's just checking on the rest of his family it doesn't seem to be any
00:57:08issue for any of them really this is a very strong start cormac has the legs crossed
00:57:15now kaylon with the eyes closed another move from cormac mckenna
00:57:2460 but he's steady down again andrew trimble as always very calm
00:57:30on the bank now cormac is just readjusting slightly you know normally it's not
00:57:38a good sign but he's steady down again
00:57:41back in there so sharon looking around as well and now uh cormac seems to be in quite a bit of
00:57:49difficulty he's changed the grip now very risky to do that when you're hanging up there cormac mckenna
00:57:56and he's oh he's gone one minute and 39 seconds it's still a good time and they've three still up
00:58:03there 90 90 seconds so now colleen oh and she's gone one minute and 47
00:58:12just a few seconds after her brother cormac it's down to sharon and kaylon as they head towards two
00:58:18minutes they're all good they both look strong they both look steady there's a grimace now as i say
00:58:24that on sharon's face and she is in difficulty and sharon drops in two minutes and two seconds it's still
00:58:30a very very good time and kaylon doesn't look like he's going anywhere you're going great deep
00:58:36in concentration oh and now there's some movement from him just right at the end he's been so steady
00:58:43and calm all the way through this hang tough event but he's calmed down again it's such an impressive
00:58:52show of strength from kaylon mckenna and he's gone in two minutes and 26 seconds a combined total
00:58:59of 754 they've won both events it looks like they are straight through to the grand final
00:59:04i think they're disappointed they were hoping for nine minutes i reckon they're probably in
00:59:08around seven minutes 50 but i thought they did well they're just used to smashing events like
00:59:13everything they've touched has turned to gold at this stage how are you feeling well i'm a wee bit
00:59:18smug because i wasn't the first one down i was expecting the first one down but unfortunately
00:59:22it was we're cormac my hands get a bit sweaty i'll try to pull myself up a bit re-grip but it just
00:59:27slipped it doesn't matter if we still get past it i'll still hear about the dinner table or something
00:59:32kaylon that was a super performance from you can you sit for your arms after that yeah but when you're
00:59:37practicing at home you're doing better oh that wasn't easy no the first minute and a half
00:59:41i was comfortable enough and then kormick dropped i sort of felt like i had to stay up longer to try and bring the
00:59:46average up we're trying to avoid the eliminators but if we do have to be in it we want to win it we
00:59:50want to get to the finale with all the events completed it's time for me to pass on the results
00:59:57to our nervous families hi families well done today you all put in a phenomenal performance but it is
01:00:05time for me to reveal who will be going straight through to our grand final and the family who will
01:00:13be going straight through and avoiding our eliminator is andrew and the mckenna's congratulations to you
01:00:23which means davy and the mcdonough's and michael dara and the walshes it is time to get ready for
01:00:31our last eliminator for that final place in our grand final best of luck
01:00:35all roads and rivers have led to this moment davies mcdonough's versus michael dara's walshes
01:00:49in the last eliminator of our series the prize that remaining spot in our grand final bring it on
01:00:57you have to get over the ramps to get into the final so i think we've accepted it and yeah let's
01:01:05go we're one event away from the final i mean wow nobody can drag me down
01:01:13all i want is my family to give everything just give everything and that's it we're not happy with
01:01:18this morning we're not happy doing things genuinely davy's not happy davy wants in the final so i need to be
01:01:24the spoiler you've been here already today yeah are you feeling a bit nervous right now everything's
01:01:29on the line here for me and for michael dara like it's one of us going home like one of us and getting
01:01:33to the final this is my last chance but i embrace that and this is the thing it's both of your last
01:01:38chances like one of you are going to be leaving the competition today surely you'll just give me a
01:01:41pass and let me like just be the gentleman bring you around for vibes for the good of of uh people's
01:01:47eardrums around the country i'm gonna try and beat them there's one place left in the grand final for
01:01:53the mcdonough's in orange it's pat matthew daniel and leah and for the waltz is in green it's alfie
01:01:57aiden michael and amy three two one they're underway and it's the forklift truck right at the start
01:02:085.5 tons the waltz is closest to us it's just all about getting it going but there's a lot more to it
01:02:15than that but the mcdonough's have it moving now and moving pretty steadily davy will know all about this
01:02:21from his experience with the smith's family earlier on in this semi-final but the mcdonough's have a
01:02:27bit of a lead at the moment and davy wants them to drive on not literally
01:02:35the waltzes have it moving now as well but the mcdonough's heading and inching towards the finish
01:02:43line which when they started trying to move this forklift truck was 20 meters away it's quite a shock right
01:02:49at the start of the race isn't it really happy with what his waltzes are doing that's mom amy at the
01:02:58bottom of the rope the mcdonough's very nearly there the wheels just once they cross that line they've
01:03:05done it and they are leading and away they go the waltzes have that truck moving which is the main thing
01:03:11but the mcdonough's can build a lead here
01:03:13come on they all have to be connected to that log it weighs 30 kilograms and they're going to be
01:03:19running for 200 meters down the course let's go let's go let's go let's go every second the waltzes
01:03:26are losing ground on the mcdonough's in this eliminator come on come on follow donovan running
01:03:35alongside the mcdonough's and the waltzes almost there once the front wheels touch that metal line
01:03:41they can go and they're gone so now they have ground to make up the mcdonough's have got rid of
01:03:49the 30 kilogram log and now they're back down to take on these containers here come the waltzes though
01:03:56they can make up that deficit over these containers because we've seen families have issues with these
01:04:04before baby fits wants them to settle into that rhythm there will be a very clear plan
01:04:12so amy waltz just holding on to her son's top you can see that there
01:04:18so well they're actually going to run by the mcdonough's that's probably a little bit
01:04:22disconcerting for them but there'll be no panic at this stage
01:04:26because they are now on this run to the first container
01:04:33the mcdonough's are at the first double container pyramid so each one of them 2.6 meters high
01:04:43here come the waltzes they really are not that far behind they have made up ground perhaps the mcdonough's
01:04:50haven't been as flawless as they would like so that's passing on the top of that container he's got
01:04:56some help up there as well they're kind of split up a little bit at the moment the mcdonough family
01:05:01that's not an issue the waltzes all together all helping
01:05:09so davy fits the mcdonough's are his last family same as michael darry mccauley the waltzes are his
01:05:16last family so one of these two will not be in the grand final
01:05:23so the mcdonough's good steady pace that's leah help to the top of that container
01:05:29down she goes here comes pat mcdonough
01:05:33davy will be hoarse at the end of the day michael darry just offering whatever advice he can
01:05:41to the waltz family this is the second container stack double container stack for the mcdonough's
01:05:49and leah again right to the top should be too mad about that
01:05:54so alfie aid michael and amy waltz doing all they can
01:06:00mcdonough's holding on to this lead
01:06:03oh the past stood up there lee is up at the top you can see the gap between them
01:06:12so it's a healthy lead for the mcdonough's but you just never know
01:06:18it's taking a huge effort to get all eight of our competitors here davy wants pat to get down off the
01:06:25top of that container there's no let up with davy fitz or with michael darry mccauley this is just a
01:06:30single container for amy and the rest of the walsh family so the mcdonough's are up at the wall
01:06:37again more climbing that's matthew mcdonough who's gone up to the top leah now joins him
01:06:45great material in that shirt the lads have certainly pulled attracted all over the place today
01:06:50so the waltzes have one final double container pyramid to take on the mcdonough's in a great
01:06:58position here though so a little bit of a mistake there that might open the door for the walsh family
01:07:05michael darry has a look around the corner to see how the mcdonough's are doing it can go wrong on
01:07:10the wall we've seen that before but it's not going to go wrong now that's daniel who's helped to the top
01:07:15very impressive strength and daniel is up there and all four of the mcdonough's are away from the wall
01:07:21it's just the ramp to go the waltzes try and close i think that expression of michael darry's face
01:07:27said an awful lot he knows will the mcdonough's have a go at this first time here goes matthew
01:07:32yeah he's got to the top he's very tall he just drags himself up and the walsh family can see
01:07:37exactly what's going on matthew mcdonough is up there now daniel has a go too what a day he's had
01:07:43the walsh is trying to go as fast as they can but time is running out for them now leah is helped up
01:07:48there that's brilliant from leah she gets up there first time three out of three for the mcdonough family
01:07:53and it's down to pass as the walsh's battle on now pat mcdonough and he's dragged up to the top
01:07:59that's superb they made that look easy davy over the moon the mcdonough's are into the grand final the
01:08:04last place is theirs but unfortunately the walsh's are out nothing went to plan today everything went
01:08:09wrong we were very confident going into it late but it came back and beat us
01:08:13ah lads lads what a shift
01:08:20oh come here i'd say you're quite happy but you're not like i'm really emotional i'm just so proud of
01:08:29my three small boys and i got to run and jump and climb and splash them again it's been really special
01:08:35although we're out and although it's disappointing there's an awful lot more positives than negatives
01:08:40my heart is full michael darrah how was it to get the washes all the way to the semi-final they keep
01:08:46looking at me as if i know what i'm doing i'm like i'm like i'm like i'm a newbie as well it's like
01:08:50and so we all went on the journey for the first time together
01:08:56highlight of the show oh first thing that flashes up my head is and getting up the ramp in gormanstown
01:09:02was pretty amazing reach reach reach reach reach reach you get so invested in but you can't not
01:09:07be invested in people in this because it means so much to the families and people tell me it's
01:09:11going to be a lot of fun but it definitely like exceeded my fun spectations is that a new word it's
01:09:15my word now trademark go go go go all the way all the way all the way all the way grab her yes
01:09:25i'm heartbroken what i would like to get to even see the final would be nice yeah
01:09:29oh my god you pulled it out of the bag you have to be delighted with that yeah i'm really thrilled
01:09:38that was a massive effort there and against the odds they keep coming up trumps and fair play at
01:09:43them i'm delighted i'm absolutely delighted for you well done the three guys were unbelievable and
01:09:50when i say i carry them here but they carry me around the course we want to go all the way we
01:09:54want to claim that title and we're into the last four now it's ours to take as much as anybody else's
01:09:59well i think i can say it one more time the mcdonough's are in the final of ireland's fittest family
01:10:06well done what a day what an explosive finish and now we know who our four finalists are in the grand
01:10:13final we'll see you next week next week it's the ireland's fittest family grand final 2025
01:10:23go go go come on push we're faster it's not good enough
01:10:32keep it going
01:10:39come on
01:10:53go
01:10:58go
01:10:59go
01:11:03go
01:11:07go
01:11:11go
01:11:13go
01:11:15go
01:11:19go
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