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The Leaders

Leader Name

Noel O’Connell

Noel, 57 hails from Kilcullen Co Kildare, he is married to Katrina, they have four sons Daniel (24), Jack (22) Niall (17) and Ollie (11). Noel is the owner of Bathhaus, a bathroom showroom and fitting service in Kildare. Noel is an avid kayaker, competing for Ireland and winning medals, a hobby that he still enjoys doing. Noel’s health has been a concern to him, in the last 18 months he has been diagnosed with tachycardia, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, Type II diabetes and sleep apnea. All of these health conditions are a catalyst for Noel to make a change to his lifestyle and get fitter and healthier for him and his family.

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Leader Name
Leader Name

Michelle Rogan


Michelle Rogan (36)
Originally from Dublin, Michelle now lives in Kilmessan Co Meath, with her husband David and their three children Layla (11), Danny (10) & Sam (1). Michelle is a stay at home mam, who is constantly on the go, she finds it hard to make time for herself.

Five years ago Michelle’s sister Elizabeth passed away from sudden cardiac arrest, this has led Michelle to worry about her own long term health.

Michelle would have been quite fit attending the gym and going to classes, something which she has not been able to find the time for since Sam was born. She hopes Operation Transformation will bring back the old Michelle.

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Leader Name
Leader Name

Darragh Fitzgerald

37 year old Darragh hails from Co Limerick, he is engaged to Yvonne, they have two children Rian (8) & Roisin (3). Rugby is a big part of Darragh’s life having played from a young age. He now coaches underage and adult teams with St Mary’s. As a teenager Darragh overcame a rare form of non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma, called Burkitts, he was 16 at the time and had to have a tumor removed from his bowel and undergo intense chemotherapy. Two years ago Darragh was in hospital with an abnormal heart rhythm, he was then diagnosed with atrial Fibrillation. Darragh would like to get a better work life balance, working long days and leading a mostly sedentary life. It is time for him to make time for himself and his family

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Leader Name
Leader Name

Anne Cushen

Wexford native Anne Cushen, 55, lives in Kiltealy with her husband Thomas, and their two children Sean (23) and Breda (21). Anne is a homemaker, but she has previously worked as a seamstress. Anne is the oldest of 9 children, her Dad is 87 and her mother passed away 10 years ago. Anne lives with osteoarthritis, she has had two hip replacements with the most recent one being in August 2023. She has found the recovery from this operation to be a lot slower than she would like. Anne loves social dancing, but at the moment she has no spring in her step. Anne would like to get herself back and feel like a 55 year old woman.

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Leader Name
Leader Name

Edel O’Malley

Edel, 36 is from Castlebar, Co Mayo. She now lives in Ballinrobe with her fiance Marcin and their one year old son Daniel. Edel works in HR for Ashford Castle in Cong, a role that she loves, she has been working there for six years. Edel and Marcin met in a pub in Mayo, after Marcin wrote his number on a piece of paper for her, she sent him a message that night and the rest is history. At the moment Edel feels like she is stuck in a rut, she has a busy work and family life and can’t find the time to go out and exercise. Although she wouldn’t be a fan of running she is determined to try and run the 5k in the Phoenix Park.

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Leader Name