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Irish Mirror
Irish Mirror
Entertainment
Marita Moloney

Derval O'Rourke makes shock announcement after 'hard decision' on future in Ireland's Fittest Family

Derval O'Rourke has announced she will not return as a coach on Ireland's Fittest Family after seven years on the RTE programme.

The former Olympian said it was "a very hard decision to make" but "something had to give" due to her many commitments.

The mum-of-two has a growing business Derval.ie, a healthy lifestyle platform, and is an athletics pundit for RTE.

READ MORE: Derval O'Rourke asked Ireland’s Fittest Family coach Anna Geary to tone down the glam to make her feel better about herself

The Cork native joined Ireland's Fittest Family in Season 2 and coached her team to victory that year.

Announcing the decision on Instagram, she said: "Bit of personal news.

"I've made the decision NOT to return as one of the coaches on Ireland's Fittest Family.

"It was a very hard decision to make, it kinda felt like I was breaking up our gang (@davy_fitz01 @donnchaocallaghan @annagcork @cocomairead).

"But I’m really proud of the 7 years I’ve done & all the families I have coached.

"I know how loved the show is & I have loved being part of it but the reality is that there is only so much time & I need to prioritise it – between my kids, my business which is embarking on a really exciting phase, being a part of the RTE TV athletics coverage & all the other balls I seem to juggle every summer something had to give.

"Thanks for all the craic & support everyone has shown to me & my families over the 7 years.

Derval O'Rourke, Davy Fitzgerald, Anna Geary and Donncha O'Callaghan while filming Ireland's Fittest Family (Derval O'Rourke/Instagram)

"To the amazing crew that pull out all the stops each season to deliver top class TV – thank you….Ill miss you all but maybe not the very early morning starts!! #worklifebalance #changeisgood #movingon #itsbeenfun #irelandsfittestfamily."

Reacting to the news, Derval's fellow coaches expressed their disappointment.

Anna Geary said: "Who is going to bring the fancy coffee to brew & deliver the quick one liners now. Miss you already."

Mairead Ronan said: "Personally devastated because our flat whites together make the IFF days better. But I know the sleepovers shall continue (*Derv uses my gaff like its her own Dublin Air bnb)."

Donncha O'Callaghan added: "Always world class."

And Robert Heffernan said: "Well done @dervalo.rourke you were great you’ll be sadly missed on it the show won’t be the same with out you . Roll on European athletics coverage."

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