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BRESSIE’S IRONMIND *New Two Part Series*

Bressie's Irond Mind at Registration Image Name: Bressie's Irond Mind at Registration
Bressie1 Image Name: Bressie1
Bressie cycling Image Name: Bressie cycling
Bressie and co Image Name: Bressie and co
Bressie swimming Image Name: Bressie swimming
Bressie, Niall Breslin, at the RTÉ2 Autumn launch 2015 Image Name: Bressie, Niall Breslin, at the RTÉ2 Autumn launch 2015 Description: Bressie, Niall Breslin, at the RTÉ2 Autumn launch 2015

Bressie is probably Ireland’s best known advocate for Mental Health Awareness. Having struggled for most of his adult life with anxiety, he found benefit from excercise when he started training for and competing in triathlons and now in Bressie’s Ironmind, he’s trying to find out if it can have the same positive affect on others. Enlisting the help of experts in everything from psychology to nutrition he’s taking on the task of training four ordinary people with their own mental health challenges to compete in a gruelling half-Ironman event, having never trained for one before. It’s an emotional and physical rollercoaster as the four candidates go from the couch to competing in one of the greatest endurance challenges known to man.

Episode 1

Bressie’s Ironminders begin their arduous journey as they undertake challenges which will affect them mentally and physically. To the uninititated every step is a major task, from learning to swim, and swim in Open Water to completing their first sprint triathlon, at just a third of the distance they must complete at series end. For each it means facing fears, and working in a taxing training regimen in around their already busy daily and family lives. Bressie leads the way by signing up to the Dublin Ironman event, but he too suffers a setback and the pressure to lead, weighs heavily on his broad shoulders.

About the participants

Colm McCormack is a thirty year old from Bunbrosna, Co.Westmeath. He decided that he would like to take on the Ironmind challenge following a very bad depressive spell at the end of 2014 and start of 2015. An avid sports fan he has followed Rugby and Golf all his life, but his true passion is for Gaelic Football and he has won three championships with his club in 2001, ’06 and ’10. Colm’s other passion is music and he has collected vinyl records since he was 12 and began Djing at 15, and continues to DJ frequently. Colm began the Ironmind process overweight, unfit and unable to swim. He himself stigmatised mental health disorders at the outset and was suspicious of any link between physical health and mental health.

 

Jade Hoynes is twenty-one years old and lives in Killaloe, Co.Clare but was born and lived initially raised in Bedfordshire in England. She lives at home with her sisters and parents where they have a business making palm free soap. Jade suffers from General Anxiety Disorder(GAD) and trichotrillomania. For Jade, the Ironmind journey has at times been painful both emotionally and physically – she has always felt guilt about her condition, and had no formal background in sport before taking the challenge on.

 

Orla Connolly is a twenty-seven year old single mother who lives in Bundoran, Co.Donegal with her daughter Niamh. She runs a Studio where she teaches Pilates to children and adults in the town. Orla applied to be part of Ironmind as she assumed she was still struggling with the effects of post-natal depression and the devastating loss of her mother and sister in 2011. While working in fitness, Orla had little experience of any of the triathlon disciplines prior to beginning the process.

 

Mark Foley is 40 years of age and lives in Sligo with his partner Gillian, their 18 month old Son Luke and Gillian’s two children Emily (17) and Sean (15). Mark works as a Physical Therapist and Fitness Coach.Mark was a competitive cyclist in his early 20’s when he was knocked down by a car, sustaining several injuries, one of which was a severe head injury, having survived he was left with severe depression in the years following his accident and a struggled to get back into normal life.Due to the nature and the particular area of where his head injury occurred Mark at times struggles with his motivation and confidence and this presents him with internal struggles.

 

About The Support Team

Dr Clare Kambamettu – Clinical Psychologist

Based in Galway, Clare has worked throughout the making of the programmes to provide clinical support to the Ironmind candidates in conjunction with their local GPs. She has intervened when required as the tests on the show both mentally and physically became too much for them and she has delivered a courses in Cognitive Behavioural Therapy and Mindfulness to them, all of which has ensured that their mental wellness was at the forefront of everyone’s thinking throughout.

Gerry Hussey – Performance Psychologist

Gerry is one of the best known Sports and Performance Psychologists in Ireland – having worked with the Olympic boxers and sailers, Munster Rugby and the Galway Gaelic Football team. Gerry’s role with the team has been to identify what motivates them and assist them in achieving their goals mentally and physically.

Mark McCabe – Triathlon Coach

Mark McCabe and his team at SportsMed Ireland in Dublin have had the responsibility of devising and overseeing a physical training programme for the candidates that is as punishing as it is long(six months). Every day of training has had to be devised and tailored to each individual using a unique software – injuries, rest and competition have all had to be accounted for and Mark and his team – Cillian O’ Reilly, Kieran Nolan and Xela Steenberge – have had to ensure that no stone is left unturned in preparing the candidates for a physical test like none they’ve experienced before.

Carole Walsh – Swimming Coach

Swimming in open water is one of the biggest challenges in contesting a triathlon and Carole has been known as one of Ireland’s best swim coaches for many years. She has coached Irish swimmers at World and European Championships and Olympic Games, and currently works as a swim coach to all levels in the Westwood leisure centre in Clontarf.

Daniel Davey – Performance Nutritionist

Daniel Davey is co-founder of Food Flicker a specialist nutrition business which advises athletes, corporations, restaurants and food brands on healthy eating for better performance. A former Sligo Inter County footballer, Daniel currently works with the Dublin Football team and the Leinster Rugby team as a performance nutritionist.