The Core family from Raharney.

Two Westmeath families take on challenge of Ireland's Fittest Family

The Nangle family and the Core family, both from Westmeath, will compete for the title of Ireland’s Fittest Family in a new series starting on RTÉ One on Sunday 29 October (6.30pm).

Ireland’s Fittest Family 2017 will see 12 mega-fit families compete against each other to win the title and €15,000 prize money.

Veronica Nangle (56) and her three sons Joe (27), Mark (21) and Luke (17) from Mullingar will appear in episode two of series five, on Sunday 5 November, when they will be up against five other families in the grueling tunnel challenge. 

Among their competitors are fellow Westmeath natives Alan Core (41), his daughter Hannah (17) and his sons Dean (19) and Darragh (15) from Raharney.

This year Ireland’s Fittest Family has a coaching line-up that includes series four winner Anna Geary, GAA legend Davy Fitzgerald, returning hero Derval O’Rourke and first time Fittest Family coach and rugby legend Donncha O’Callaghan.

New, tougher, locations have been added to the series, which test all aspects of fitness, starting with Camden Fort Meagher in Crosshaven County Cork. 

Dark damp underground tunnels terrify the families in the first event, and it doesn’t get any easier in the eliminator, which the coaches believe to be the toughest course ever featured on the series.

Presented by Mairead Ronan Ireland’s Fittest Family is produced by Animo TV and Kite Entertainment.

Tune in to RTÉ One Sundays at 6.30pm to find out.