MAIREÁD IS NAMED AN RTÉ OPERATION TRANSFORMATION LEADER
NEW ROSS CHOCOLATE MAKER TO SHED WEIGHT TO STOP HER BACK PAIN
A LOVE of chocolate and losing weight may not be the most complimentary of pursuits, but for New Ross woman Maireád Redmond, who was named an Operation Transformation leader last week, the tight rope act is something she is keen to embrace.
Maireád was named the second person to be chosen as one of the five leaders for series 10 of Operation Transformation, having been chosen from a panel of 18 who were shortlisted for the series.
Kathryn Thomas surprised 22-year-old Maireád at her place of work, The Truffle Fairy in Thomastown, and gave her the good news live on RTÉ Radio 1.
Chocolatier and pastry chef Maireád lives at home in New Ross with her parents, Noel and Mary. Her younger brother Adrian (20) is in college in Waterford I.T. and she has two older brothers: Sean (27), living in Waterford, and James (25) who lives locally.
Maireád studied culinary arts in college and is very passionate about working with food. This led her to what might be considered a dream job: making handmade truffles, artisan chocolates and pastries. She has recently gone back to college to get a degree in business as she wants to open her own business someday.
As a child, Maireád’s weight was an issue. She remembers her mother sitting her down and telling her she’d have to lose weight as they were struggling to find a communion dress to fit her.
Maireád applied for Operation Transformation so she can finally put her physical and mental health first, and not consistently leave them at the bottom of her to-do list. Maireád said she wants to lose weight so she can be in control of her body and not let the image she sees in the mirror change her mood, her feelings or her confidence. Speaking on The Ray D’Arcy Show on Tuesday, Mairead said: ‘I’ve made a promise to myself to look after “me” and my health and this is going to be the year.’
Operation Transformation expert Karl Henry outlined some of the reasons why Maireád was chosen for the show.
‘She’s a young leader, she’s put everything else first except herself. One of the other reasons she was chosen is that Maireád has a lot of back pain. It’s one of the most chronic conditions in the country and we’re going to prove to people around the country what movement, what eating better, what losing some weight and getting healthier can do for your back, as well as everything else in your life.’
Series 10 of Operation Transformation will air on RTÉ One in early January.