1. FULL NAME: Orlaith Marie Kilgannon
2. BIRTHPLACE (and name other places you have lived) Letterkenny. I grew up in Ballyshannon in Donegal, moved to Galway with my family when I was 14, studied and worked in the UK and came back to Galway.
3. WHEN DID YOU JOIN GTC AND WHY? I initially joined GTC in the summer of 2016 and then rejoined when I returned from the UK. I joined in 2016 on the search for a new sport from competitive swimming after finishing university. When I returned from the UK I wanted a group to train with and the training offering has drastically increased from 2016 which has been great in the last few years.
4. OCCUPATION: I am a Specialist Physiotherapist in Pelvic Health at Pelvic Health West.
5. PREVIOUS SPORTS: Competitive swimming, surfing and surf lifesaving.
6. SWIM / BIKE / RUN – which do you prefer and why? It has to be the swim having grown up competitive swimming. I feel more confident in the water than I do on the bike or my own two feet! I certainly have to work a lot harder at the bike and run.
7. FAVOURITE EVENT (CAN BE A SWIM/BIKE/RUN EVENT OR A TRIATHLON EVENT) OR FAVOURITE PLACE TO TRAIN… I love the Mullaghmore Triathlon. It was one of the first triathlons I ever did and right on the doorstep of home home!
I love the GTC Aquathons for a swim and a run and a bit of race practice. It’s amazing what you can achieve each week and everyone is buzzing after!
8. SPORTING CLAIM TO FAME (Name any sporting achievement you are most proud of): London Marathon. I was due to do this in April 2020 and it got delayed to October 2021. I really struggled with the training (boring!) so I was delighted to complete it. We raised over 4k for Pancreatic Cancer UK in memory of my uncle and that made it so special.
9. 3 MUSIC TRACKS THAT POWER YOUR TRAINING SESSIONS… Sia – Unstoppable, This is Me – The Greatest Showman, Lose yourself – Emine
10. YOUR ALL-TIME SPORTING HERO(ES) AND WHY? I’d have to say Ciara Mageean. I think we’re so lucky to call her one of our own. She has always graced the world stage with such passion and pride and she is carrying that grace through her journey now.
12 YOUR GTC HERO – AND WHY? Miriam Wall – A little pocket rocket who is always so keen to create supportive and inclusive events and training sessions for the women of our club and beyond. I’d be lost without her in my role as GTC Women’s Officer.
