This picturesque West Cork home with separate basement apartment is on the market for €695,000
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This rustic four-bedroom home in Westport is on the market for €449,000
This rustic four-bedroom home in Westport is on the market for €449,000

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Image / Editorial

10 Personal Trainers We Believe In


By Grace McGettigan
13th Feb 2018
10 Personal Trainers We Believe In

They say spring is a time for fresh starts, and we agree with them – whoever they are. With the days getting longer and the temperature (finally) on the rise, it’s time to ditch our winter woolies in favour of snazzy gym gear. However, when it comes to exercise, we’re less confident. I, for one, have no idea what workouts I should be doing to achieve my specific body goals. How do I eliminate my pudgy tum and what’s the secret to climbing the stairs post leg day? Enter some of Ireland’s most inspiring and knowledgeable personal trainers. These guys and gals know fitness inside out, and are particularly skilled when it comes to making personalised training plans for their clients. Here are 10 of the best, as recommended by the IMAGE team.

1. Liz Costigan

Founder of Positive Fitness Project, Liz Costigan believes in learning about your body and doing what’s right for you. She makes yoga, fitness and wellbeing accessible to everyone, and she encourages people to embrace their imperfections and love themselves. With 20 years experience, Liz thoroughly enjoys teaching yoga one-to-one and in groups (she says house calls are a pleasure!).

Follow @positive.fitness.project

2. Austin Rhatigan

When it comes to health and fitness, sports nutritionist and PT, Austin Rhatigan, leads by example. He regularly competes in national and international Brazilian Jiu Jitsu tournaments so he needs to be at the top of his game, and what’s more, he’s passionate about teaching wellness to others. Austin takes a holistic whole body approach to training his clients and looks at everything from their nutrition, lifestyle and hormonal profile to get them the best results possible.

Follow @austinrhatiganpt

3. Dee Buckley

Yoga instructor, Dee Buckley, founded Urban Health with her husband Darragh in 2014 and has been an advocate for healthy living ever since. She completed her 500hr RYS Teacher Training in Thailand, as well as multiple courses in health and nutrition. She and her team run a variety of yoga and pilates classes from their Urban Space studio in Ranelagh.

Follow @urbanspace_ie

4. Eileen Mooney

If jumping around on a trampoline is your jam, Eileen Mooney is the trainer for you! She’s a qualified fitness instructor and personal trainer, specialising in rebounding. It’s a type of cardio exercise performed on a device called a rebounder or mini-trampoline, and it’s unbelievably fun! Eileen says the most satisfying part of her job is watching men and women of all ages leaving her class with a smile on their faces and a positive attitude!

Follow @eileen.mooney

5. Jake Beirne

This man is beyond dedicated to his craft and is constantly learning and perfecting his skills. After years playing sports like tennis and hockey competitively, he delved into a personal training course and has attended numerous seminars across the UK and Ireland. He’s devoted to sharing his knowledge of nutrition and the anatomy with other people hoping to better themselves.

Follow @jakebeirnefitness

6. Siobhan Byrne

Any expectant mothers out there? Siobhan Byrne is a pregnancy fitness expert and a senior personal trainer at her Bodybyrne studio. With a background in kickboxing, Siobhan competed in tournaments around the country and is also a tri-athlete, winning the female relay in Iron Man 2012!

Follow @MrsBodybyrne

7. John Belton

John is one of the most experienced PTs on our list, having set up No17PT training studios while also managing the Crossfit Weight Lifting Certifications across Europe and the Middle East. If you’re looking for someone you can learn from, he’s an expert on functional diagnostic nutrition, physical therapy, and Chinese medicine.

Follow @no17personaltraining

8. JP O’Neill

Not in the mood for a stereotypical PT session? No worries. Weights and treadmills aren’t for everyone. Why not kick off your spring workout routine with disco aerobics classes instead? Yes, you read that right, and there are glow-sticks and everything! JP is a Clubbercise instructor, helping people to get fit while dancing and having fun! Classes are taught in a darkened room with disco lights and trademark LED glow sticks, all set to a soundtrack of old and new club hits. One class burns around 600 calories… See you there?

Follow @jphardwall

9. Dearbhla Mitchell

Dearbhla is a highly respected reformer pilates and barre instructor at Platinum Pilates. With a love for vegan food and qualifications in nutrition, exercise and health, she’s an excellent motivator for people trying to get fit. Her focus in class is on teaching clients to be aware and in control of their own bodies. She hopes for clients to gain a better understanding of how their bodies function and move, so that their everyday lives are pain-free, light and full of energy.

Follow @poweredpink

10. Ger Conroy

If your fitness goals include weight loss, toning up, body fat reduction, building lean muscle mass or simply finding that feel good factor, Ger is the man for you. With experience spanning 12 years, he’s dedicated to helping clients improve their quality of life through fitness. He and his team have a friendly touch and everyone is welcome, whether you’re a beginner or seasoned athlete.

Follow @gerconroyfitness