Ireland's Fittest Family is an Irish TV series where families from across Ireland compete in different adventure races and fitness competitions in an effort to win 15,000 euro.
Since 2014 there have been eleven seasons of the programme and five celebrity specials.
Season 1 The first season saw coaches, Davy Fitzgerald, Kenneth Egan, Nikki Symmons and Eddie O'Sullivan take part in the competition.
In the first episode each coach began with three families.
The Heats took place in Dublin docks, the quarterfinals took place in Killary Adventure Centre, the semifinals took place in Hell and Back, the final returned to Dublin docks.
The winning family were the O'Reilly family from County Cavan coached by Nikki Symmons. CoachFamilyCountyFirst Round(The Heats)QuarterfinalsSemifinalsThe Final#1#2#3#4QF1QF2SF1SF2Nikki SymmonsO'ReillyCavanSAFEWINWINSAFESAFEWINWinnersKenneth EganDavernOffalySAFESAFEELIMWINWINLOSERunners-upDavy FitzgeraldMcNallyMonaghanSAFEELIMWINSAFELOSEThird placeNikki SymmonsDoneganOffalyWINSAFEELIMLOSEFourth placeDavy FitzgeraldRonayneMayoWINELIMELIMEliminated in Semifinal #2Kenneth EganKellyDublinWINWINELIMEliminated in Semifinal #1Eddie O'SullivanColcloughWicklowWINELIMEliminated in Quarterfinal #2HoulihanWaterfordSAFEELIMEliminated in Quarterfinal #1Nikki SymmonsRocheWaterfordLOSEEliminated in Nikki's heatEddie O'SullivanMcQuillanDublinLOSEEliminated in Eddie's heatKenneth EganFarrellDublinLOSEEliminated in Kenneth's heatDavy FitzgeraldRiceWicklowLOSEEliminated in Davy's heat
Season 2 The second season saw coaches, Davy Fitzgerald and Kenneth Egan return. New coaches Derval O'Rourke and Jason Sherlock replaced Nikki Symmons and Eddie O'Sullivan.
The second season also saw Season 1 runners-up, the Daverns return for a second year in a row. Season 1 early eliminated family, the Rices returned for a second year in a row too, this time with their brother David replacing their brother Stephen.
The first round heats took place in Spike Island in County Cork, the second round took place in Killary Adventure Centre, the quarterfinals took place in Hell and Back, the semifinal was in Lough Key Forest Park and the final returned to Hell and Back.
The winning family were the Kingston family from County Cork coached by Derval O'Rourke who defeated the Mulhare family from County Laois also coached by O'Rourke. This remains the only time two families went head to head in the final race mentored by the same coach.
CoachFamilyCountyFirst Round(The Heats)Second RoundQuarterfinalsSemi-finalThe Final#1#2#3#4#1#2QF1QF2Derval O'RourkeKingstonCorkELIMELIMELIMELIMELIMWINWinnersMulhareLaoisWINWINWINWINWINLOSERunners-upDavy FitzgeraldDavernOffalyWINWINWINSAFEELIMThird placeJason SherlockKearneyWexfordELIMSAFEELIMELIMEliminated in SemifinalRiceWicklowWINSAFEELIMEliminated in Quarterfinal #2Kenneth EganHurleyWicklowELIMELIMELIMEliminated in Quarterfinal #1Davy FitzgeraldUnnamed family*N/AELIMELIMEliminated in Second Round - #2Kenneth EganShovlinWexfordWINELIMEliminated in Second Round - #1Davy FitzgeraldWyldeDublinELIMEliminated in Davy's HeatKenneth EganRogersonDublinELIMEliminated in Kenneth's HeatDerval O'RourkeBehanDublinELIMEliminated in Derval's HeatJason SherlockO'FlahertyRoscommonELIMEliminated in Jason's Heat
*The ‘Unnamed family’ was edited from the eventual airing of the series after it was discovered, after filming, that one of the family members had been involved in criminal activity.
Season 3 The third season in 2015 saw coaches, Davy Fitzgerald and Jason Sherlock return. New coaches Alan Quinlan and Anna Geary replaced Kenneth Egan and Derval O'Rourke.
Unlike the previous two season, Season 3 saw the coaches begin with no assigned families. After the results of the heats the coaches chose who they wanted on their teams.
This season saw the Daverns return for a third year in a row, having previously finished in second and third place in Season 1 and 2, respectively. Season 2 families, the Kearneys and the Wyldes both returned to the competition for a second year in a row. The Behans from Season 2 also returned for a second year, however, they replaced their son and brother, Daryl, with their other son and brother, Thomas, on the team.
The Farren family became the first ever team from Northern Ireland to compete.
- Heat 1 was overseen by Anna Geary and Davy Fitzgerald. After winning a coin toss Anna had the first pick. She chose, the Daverns, Davy chose the O'Brien Devines, Anna chose the McGraynors and Davy was left with the Behans. Following an injury sustained in the first heat, Michele McGraynor wasn't permitted to continue in the show, forcing the McGraynors to drop out of the competition. They were replaced on Anna's team by the fastest losing family from the Heats, the Thompsons.
- Heat 2 was overseen by Alan Quinlan and Jason Sherlock. After winning a coin toss Jason had the first pick. He chose, the Kearneys, Alan chose the Naylors, Jason chose the Farrens and Alan was left with the Wyldes.
The Heats took place in Dún Laoghaire harbour, the quarterfinals took place in Killary Adventure Centre, the semifinal took place in Mayhem in Cahir, County Tipperary and the final was in Shannon Airport.
The season was won by the O'Brien Devine family from County Waterford coached by Davy Fitzgerald. CoachFamilyCountyFirst Round(The Heats)QuarterfinalsSemifinalsThe Final#1#2#3#4QF1QF2SF1SF2Davy FitzgeraldO'Brien DevineWaterfordWINWINELIMSAFESAFEWINWinnersJason SherlockFarrenDerryELIMELIMWINSAFEWINLOSERunners-upAnna GearyDavernOffalyELIMWINWINWINLOSEThird placeJason SherlockKearneyWexfordELIMSAFEELIMLOSEFourth placeAlan QuinlanWyldeDublinWINELIMELIMEliminated in Semifinal #2NaylorMayoWINSAFEELIMEliminated in Semifinal #1Anna GearyThompsonWestmeathELIMBACKELIMEliminated in Quarterfinal #2Davy FitzgeraldBehanDublinWINELIMEliminated in Quarterfinal #1Anna GearyMcGraynorWicklowELIMQUITWithdrew from the competition -GillKildareELIMEliminated in Heat #3BeirneLeitrimELIMEliminated in Heat #2McCannKildareELIMEliminated in Heat #1
Season 4 The fourth season in 2016 saw coaches, Alan Quinlan, Anna Geary and Davy Fitzgerald return. New coach Stephen Hunt replaced Jason Sherlock.
Like the previous seasons, Season 4 saw the coaches begin with no assigned families. After the results of the heats, the coaches chose who they wanted on their teams.
This season was the first since Season 1 to have twelve brand new families who'd never competed in the show previously.
- Heat 1 was overseen by Davy Fitzgerald and Stephen Hunt. After winning a coin toss Stephen had the first pick. He chose, the McCarthys, Davy chose the Mullins family, Stephen chose the Bailys and Davy was left with the Maritz family.
- Heat 2 was overseen by Alan Quinlan and Anna Geary. After winning a coin toss Anna had the first pick. She chose, the Broadhursts, Alan chose the Ryans, Anna chose the Cummins family and Alan was left with the Griffins.
The Heats took place on the Tough Mudder course, the second round took place in Dublin docks, the quarterfinals took place in Mayhem in Cahir, County Tipperary, the semifinal took place in Killary Adventure Centre and the final returned to Dublin docks.
The season was won by the Cummins family from County Tipperary coached by Anna Geary. CoachFamilyBilled fromFirst Round(The Heats)Second RoundQuarterfinalsSemi-finalThe Final#1#2#3#4#1#2QF1QF2Anna GearyCumminsTipperaryELIMWINWINWINWINWINWinnersStephen HuntMcCarthyClareWINSAFEWINSAFESAFELOSERunners-upAlan QuinlanRyanDonegalWINELIMELIMELIMLOSEThird placeStephen HuntBailyCorkWINWINELIMELIMEliminated in SemifinalDavy FitzgeraldMullinsLimerickELIMELIMELIMEliminated in Quarterfinal #2Anna GearyBroadhurstLouthWINSAFEELIMEliminated in Quarterfinal #1Alan QuinlanGriffinKilkennyELIMELIMEliminated in Second Round - #2Davy FitzgeraldMaritzDublinELIMELIMEliminated in Second Round - #1 -O'MahonyKerryELIMEliminated in Heat #4BoylanWaterfordELIMEliminated in Heat #3EganOffalyELIMEliminated in Heat #2HollandsDublinELIMEliminated in Heat #1
Season 5 On 10 May 2017 it was announced that Derval O'Rourke would be returning to the coaching panel for the first time since Season 2. It was also confirmed that Anna Geary and Davy Fitzgerald would return for a third and fifth season in a row, respectively. On 1 June 2017 it was announced that rugby player Donncha O'Callaghan would join the panel as the fourth coach.
The Beirnes from County Leitrim returned to the season for a second chance at the title. They were previously eliminated in the first round in Season 3. Colm Naylor of the Naylor family from Season 3 also returned to this year's season, this time, with three brand new team members.
In a show-first, each of the heats were overseen by all four coaches. After all four heats, eight families remained; the coaches then drew lots to determine the order in which they would choose. Derval had the first pick - she chose the Cores, Anna had the second pick – she chose the Meaghers, Davy had the third pick – he chose the O'Connors and Donncha had the fourth pick he chose the Beirnes. For the second round of picks, the order was reversed meaning Donncha had the fifth pick – he chose the Smyths, Davy had the sixth pick – he chose the Naylors, Anna had the seventh pick – she chose the Guilfoyles and Derval was left the last family standing – the Hynes family.
The Heats took place at Camden Fort Meagher, the second round took place at Hell and Back, the quarterfinals took place at Cork Docks, the semifinal took place at Killary Adventure Centre and the final returned to Hell and Back.
In the second round of the competition, Cathal O'Connor of the O'Connor family suffered a fracture to his arm. He was ruled out from competing in the rest of the competition but was replaced by his older brother, Ciaran.
The season was won by the Beirne family from County Leitrim coached by Donncha O'Callaghan. They became the first family who had previously competed in the competition to come back and win the show.
CoachFamilyCountyFirst Round(The Heats)Second RoundQuarterfinalsSemi-finalThe Final#1#2#3#4#1#2QF1QF2Donncha O'CallaghanBeirneLeitrimWINSAFEELIMSAFEWINWINWinnersDavy FitzgeraldO'ConnorWexfordWINELIMWINELIMSAFELOSERunners-upDonncha O'CallaghanSmythKildareWINWINWINWINLOSEThird placeDerval O'RourkeCoreWestmeathELIMSAFEELIMELIMEliminated in SemifinalAnna GearyGuilfoyleClareWINELIMELIMEliminated in Quarterfinal #2Davy FitzgeraldNaylorMayoELIMWINELIMEliminated in Quarterfinal #1Derval O'RourkeHynesLimerickELIMELIMEliminated in Second Round - #2Anna GearyMeagherTipperaryELIMELIMEliminated in Second Round - #1 -BradyMeathELIMEliminated in Heat #4NangleWestmeathELIMEliminated in Heat #3Ó GibneGalwayELIMEliminated in Heat #2RyanKildareELIMEliminated in Heat #1
Season 6 Applications for the sixth season opened in May 2018. For the first time ever, all four coaches from the previous year, Anna Geary, Davy Fitzgerald, Derval O'Rourke and Donncha O'Callaghan, returned for a second year in a row. This will be the first time all four coaches will have won a previous season; meaning that the coach that won this season will be the first coach to ever win twice. On 30 July 2018 it was announced that Mairéad Ronan would step back as host from this season to give birth to her third child. Kathryn Thomas replaced her as host.
This was the first season to ever start with more than twelve families. Twenty families featured in the first episode, with eight being eliminated before its conclusion. It was also the first season since Season 4 not to feature any families who had previously competed in the competition.