REVEALED: Meet the four families competing on RTE Ireland's Fittest Family this weekend

It's the last of the initial stages of Ireland's Fittest Family this week and for the first time, viewers will meet the groups being mentored by Davy Fitzgerald and newcomer - paralympian champion Ellen Keane - in one of the most competitive heats to date!

Davy's McDonagh and Smith families will go head-to-head with Ellen’s Barnaville and Stuart families in the latest episode on Sunday, November 16. 

Taking place in the rugged Gormanston Army camp, the heats will unfold over three weeks. Each week, an original coach will go up against a new coach. Now, it’s the turn of Davy Fitzgerald and Ellen Keane – each with two families.

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Davy has the Smith family from Louth and the McDonagh family from Mayo.

The Smiths are a family of six, consisting of mam Cathy, dad Mark Snr and their four children; Shaun, Adam, Mark Jnr and Mya, twin sister of Mark. They are all big gym goers and members of their local GAA football club. 

The McDonaghs are primarily a boxing and martial arts family. Taking on Ireland’s Fittest Family are father and grandfather Patrick, son Matthew, daughter Leah and grandson Daniel. They are all involved with their local GAA team as players. This is their second time applying to be part of the show. Their first appearance was during COVID and didn't go as planned. They are back for revenge! 

Ellen has the Stuart family from Dublin and the Barnaville family from Tipperary.

The Stuart family, dad Eoghan, mam Bla, daughter Eilise and son Liam are all heavily involved in GAA in some way. With both Liam and Ellise playing the sport, they are also getting into mentoring and reffing. 

The Barnaville family are bringing a variety of strengths and interests to this week's episode. Father Paddy participates in cycling and adventure events while mother Niamh is into Camogie, running, squash and badminton. Their daughter Hayley takes part in Camogie, football and half-marathons while son Jaimie enjoys soccer, running and gym activities with his dad. 

All families are now battling it out for one of the final three places up for grabs in the next round of the competition.

For the first time this year, the events are demonstrated by members of the Irish Defence Forces.

The families must each take on a brand new event, box to the top. Starting in the cold sea, this is a head-to-head race along an army training ground with kit-boxes and sandbags to carry along the course.

The four families then have their stamina tested by haul or nothing. The four family members have to  shuttle 25 sand-filled army ammo boxes across an exhausting no-mans-land between two army trench dugouts. The fastest family wins this time-trial.

With the scores of the first two events combined, the two highest-scoring families go through to the next round and the two families at the bottom have to face off in the army eliminator.

Be sure to tune into Ireland's Fittest Family, airing on RTÉ One and RTÉ Player on Sunday at 6:30pm.