News
Time to get back into your fitness routine

By Brian Foley from Activate Fitness
School's starting again ..... so that means getting back into your "normal" routine!
That's the tough part about the summer holidays, letting go of all the relaxed boundaries, schedules, and routines. There's no rhyme or reason to why anything does or doesn't get done. You fly by the seat of your pants day to day because your schedule just doesn't exist, and you're at the liberty of the kids.
But, this time of year - the new school year - sure brings a lot of comfort with it. The kids will go back to school and you've finally got that time to yourself again. You go back to eating meals at regular times and intervals. You'll fall back into a set sleep schedule - and most of all, you can put your fitness routine back into place. It sure sounds like a delight, doesn't it?
Now is the time to start gently easing into those routines so that when September rolls round you’re only a step or two away!
Here's some tips to get back into routine quickly:
Map out what helped you be successful before. Do things like laying your workout clothes out the night before, packing your lunch the day before, and getting yourself taken care of before the kids - the night before.
Meal prep for the week. You don't need 15 fancy, individual packed containers (although this helps!), but batch cooking the staples will help ease yourself back into the necessity of things.
Keep things super simple - cook one to two proteins to have on hand, cut up veggies so they're easy to grab, and have some starchy carbs of some sort ready to grab too. The easier you make this for yourself, the quicker you can get back to a balanced and sustainable diet.
Block off your workout times. The kids are not going to be crazy busy with activities just yet, so don't leave your fitness to "when you can fit it in". Just like their activities are prioritised, you need to prioritise your own and still look after yourself. You spent all summer being at liberty to their flexible summer schedule, that hour is for yourself now during the week. Book it in for the month, ahead of time!
These tips aren't anything complicated, but that's the point. Stick to the basics. Repeat the basics over and over again and your success will follow.
If you need help mapping it out and finding the easy spots to win, send us an email at hello@activate.ie or pop into the Facebook group (Fitness, Nutrition & Health in Killarney) we have set up to help the people of Killarney and further afield to help with their health and fitness. We’re more than happy to help where we can!
News
Ireland’s oldest citizen has Killarney connections
Ireland’s oldest woman met with President Michael D. Higgins at Áras an Uachtaráin this week. Máirín Hughes, who turned 109 on May 22 has strong Killarney connections. The previous record […]

Ireland’s oldest woman met with President Michael D. Higgins at Áras an Uachtaráin this week.
Máirín Hughes, who turned 109 on May 22 has strong Killarney connections.
The previous record was held by 107-year-old Nancy Stewart who died on September 10 2021.
Although born in Belfast, Máirín went to school in the Mercy Convent. Her father was a customs and excise officer and the family moved around a lot eventually coming to Killarney after spells in County Down and Dublin.
Her mother came from the Rathmore area and her father was from Newmarket in County Cork.
She attended the Mercy Convent and has, in previous interviews, recalled growing up on the shores of Lough Lein.
“Neighbours who had three children were given the job of taking me to school,” she said. “They were annoyed because the children were going to school for two or three years but I was put in to the same class as them – my mother had taught me.”
In 2021 she featured in the book ‘Independence Memories: A People’s Portrait of the Early Days of the Irish Nation’, sharing stories of being kept in school in Killarney during an attack on the RIC barracks down the road.
In 1924 she started a degree in science and a diploma in education at University College Cork, before working in the pathology lab in University College Cork’s Department of Medicine for 16 years.
last year she recalled her story on the podcast: ‘Living History – Irish Life and Lore’.
During the broadcast she talked about her parents’ membership of the Gaelic League in 1910; the Spanish Flu in Ireland in 1918; The Black and Tans in Killarney in 1921; the early days of the new Free State; Eucharistic Congress in Dublin in 1932, visiting the Basket Islands in 1929; and working in the UCC medical laboratory from 1932 until 1948.
This week President Michael D. Higgins hosted an afternoon tea event to celebrate the important role that a variety of people have and can play in different communities and Máirín was among the guests of honour.
News
Philip is running over 100kms for Cancer charity
Local runner and charity fundraiser Philip Kissane is set for the biggest challenge of his career as he lines up for the Cork City Marathon on Sunday. Phillip has already […]

Local runner and charity fundraiser Philip Kissane is set for the biggest challenge of his career as he lines up for the Cork City Marathon on Sunday.
Phillip has already completed four half marathons at various locations around Killarney – all in aid of Kerry Cancer Support Group – or the Cancer Bus as it popularly called.
This is the second time that Phillip has run four half marathon and an official race for the charity.
Back in 2021 he finished with 5km Run Killarney event but his finishing race this time around is over eight times the distance at 42kms.
“We are delighted with Philip’s continued fundraising support but also with his awareness raising for the charity,” Breda Dyland, Service Manager Kerry Cancer Support Trust.
“We are getting busier all the time and still get no statutory funding so are dependent on fundraisers like Philip’s to keep us on the road. We have just put our new wheelchair accessible bus on the Cork route so Philip’s funding will be going towards the operation of this vehicle.”