Heartbreak for McDonalds in Ireland's Fittest Family finale

There was heartbreak for the McDonald family from Laois in tonight's finale of Ireland's Fittest Family, as they lost out to the Coney family from Tyrone by seconds.

In the final event, which involved all four members of the respective families scaling a ramp and taking their place at a platform on the top, it was nail-biting stuff all the way to the end.

Both families had three members atop the platform and it came down to the last two, with Coney's completing the challenge ahead of the McDonalds by a matter of seconds.

It brings to an end their remarkable run through the series, with father Martin admitting it would "have been nice to go all the way" in the aftermath of their loss.

The McDonalds missed out on a €15,000 top prize, but they proved to be hugely popular contestants throughout their run to the final.