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Enjoy life and find a balance

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By Brian Foley from Activate Fitness

I was recently reminded of a blog I wrote almost five years ago about dieting around Christmas time and how it is important to enjoy life and find balance.

I spoke at length to someone about it and how this construct of exercise takes on varied meaning depending on a person’s life views and experiences.

Long story short, the gist of the blog was you only get typically less than one hundred Christmases so life is too short to be fretting about calories at this time of year.

A few weeks later someone sent me the writings of a local coach who wrote a retort to this saying such a “relaxed” approach was naïve and counterproductive to getting “results”.

As I approach almost 40 trips around the sun and countless hours of working with people on their own journey towards their own health and fitness goals, have my views changed and have I perhaps become less naïve?

Funny enough, no, not one bit. It’s amazing how time and experience can change your perspective on life and what exactly health and fitness means in the grander scheme of things.

As the conversation continued we spoke about people who are always looking for “the next thing” in health and fitness.

Yes, novelty and a change of scenery does help sometimes and if that is a reason to change things up then I think it can be a really positive thing.

But if someone is looking for “more” in fitness I can say from experience there is “no more” to fitness. The more is always and was always contained right within you.

The key is always consistency and contentment in yourself. I’ve tried so many forms of exercise and found different elements of joy in them all.

Not everyone is geared that way, and it really is a case of do what makes you happy, as what makes you happy will keep you consistent.

That young coach who spoke of naivety at the time probably looked at things like contentment and enjoyment as “nice to have” features of a programme that was geared at a “before and after” photo. What experience will teach them (or hopefully since has) is that contentment and enjoyment are the cornerstones of a successful exercise modality.

As the saying goes; “intensity adds, consistency multiplies”.

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Kerry coaches firm honoured with All-Ireland title

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Kerry Coaches named All-Ireland All-Star Bus & Coach Company of the Year 2025

Killarney-based Kerry Coaches has been named All-Ireland All-Star Bus & Coach Company of the Year 2025 by the All-Ireland Business Foundation. This recognition also marks Kerry Coaches’ second Business All-Star Accreditation, having received its first accolade in 2024.

Founded in 1957, Kerry Coaches has established itself as a leader in the Irish transport industry, known for its exceptional service and commitment to quality.  With a fleet of over 100 modern chauffeur vehicles, mini-buses and coaches the company provides a wide range of transport services, including corporate travel, executive golf transportation and bespoke tours throughout Ireland and Scotland.

 Speaking on the achievement, Mike Buckley, Director of Kerry Coaches, said:

“We are incredibly proud to receive this national recognition from the All-Ireland Business Foundation. It’s a true reflection of the dedication, professionalism, and passion shown by every member of our team. Our mission has always been to deliver exceptional travel experiences, and this award reaffirms our position as a leader in the industry.”

Announcing the news of Kerry Coaches’ achievement, Deputy Chair of AIBF’s Adjudication Board, Kieran Ring, said: “It is my pleasure to commend Kerry Coaches for its outstanding performance in achieving the Business All-Star accreditation. After a thorough review, the firm has been honoured with All-Ireland All-Star Bus & Coach Company Of The Year 2025. Kerry Coaches is distinguished not only for its superior fleet but also for its exceptional team, some of whom have been with the company for over 25 years. This seasoned team brings an extraordinary level of knowledge and expertise, ensuring that every client experience is exceptional.”         

Managing   Director   of   the   All-Ireland   Business   Foundation, Kapil   Khanna, said:  “The accreditation, which is now held by over 700 firms, is needed by the thousands of small and medium businesses which operate to their own standards but have nothing to measure them by.”

He   added: “We   evaluate   a   company’s   background, trustworthiness and performance, and we speak to customers, employees and vendors. We also anonymously approach the company as a customer and report back on the experience. The business goes through at least two interviews and is scored on every part of the process against set metrics.”

About The All-Ireland Business Foundation

The All-Ireland Business Foundation is an autonomous national accreditation body tasked with enterprise development and the promotion of Best-in-Class Irish businesses.

As the accreditation body for the Business All-Star mark, the AIBF recognises Best-In-Class Irish 

businesses.   Companies   that   merit   recognition   based   on   an   independent   audit   of   their performance, reputation, and customer-centricity.

Business All-Star Accreditation Is The Nation’s Symbol Of Trust. Currently, there are over 700 

companies that are accredited by AIBF. Since 2014, over 5000 companies have participated in their programmes.

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Trainee Blacksmith forging a career at Muckross Traditional Farms

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Phillip Pestor-Young, a trainee blacksmith from County Kildare, is currently gaining experience under Master Blacksmith Tom Allison at Muckross Traditional Farms.

Pestor-Young is enrolled in the All-Ireland Heritage Skills Programme. This programme is a cross-border educational initiative by the King’s Foundation, The Heritage Council, and the Historic Environment Division in Northern Ireland. 

Prior to moving to Ireland in 2019, Phillip trained as an engineer and fabricator in the UK. He is now developing his blacksmithing skills in Kerry.

For more information on the program, visit https://kings-foundation.org/study/all-ireland-heritage-skills-programme/.

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