Today, Ray was joined in studio by OT expert Aoife Hearne and on the line was Kathryn Thomas live from Kiltimagh, Co. Mayo as together they revealed Mary Diamond as the first leader of Operation Transformation 2018.
On Monday, Ray joined the Operation Transformation team for their assessment day which saw 19 hopefuls put through their paces, emotionally and physically.
Describing our first leader, Kathryn told Ray that you might call her, ‘an absolute gem’.
And today, mother of three Mary Diamond was surprised at home in Kiltimagh. A Montessori teacher and owner, Mary’s main motivation for applying this year was her eldest son Gary who has Down Syndrome, wanting to be the best mother she can be for him.
Speaking to Ray this afternoon, Mary told Ray that she was more determined than before after coming away on Monday from the assessment day.
‘This is really what I need’.
Mary (52) is 13 stone and 2 pounds, and she told Ray that before the weight used to fall off a lot easier, but thinks maybe she loves the food just a little bit more now than she did before.
‘I’m a bit worried about the challenges, but I’m in it now, and I’m going with it… I know I’ll have loads of people behind me here in town!’
‘I’m just so excited Ray!’
Ray suggested that maybe Mary will be able to get Kiltimagh’s famous son, Louis Walsh, to join in in her challenge ahead.
LISTEN HERE: https://soundcloud.com/rte-radio-1/diamond-revealed-as-ot-leader
WATCH THE BIG REVEAL: https://www.facebook.com/rteradio1/posts/1564867610237603
Please credit The Ray D’Arcy Show on RTÉ Radio 1 if using quotes.
MARY DIAMOND
Age: 52
Location: Kiltimagh, Co. Mayo
Weight: 13 st
Mary (52) lives with her husband Joe and their three sons Gary (26), Robbie (24) and Paul (16) in Kiltimagh Co. Mayo. She owns a Montessori school that is located at the back of her house, she works there part-time.
Her eldest son Gary is one of Mary’s main motivations for applying for Operation Transformation. Gary has Down Syndrome, and Mary feels that Gary has put up weight himself over the last year. She wants to be the best mother that she can be for Gary.
Over the last decade she has grown to have a crazy relationship with food where she would eat everything, for every occasion. Mary also worries that if she doesn’t do something about her own weight she won’t be around to care for Gary when he needs her when he’s older.