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23 Oct 2025
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23 Oct 2025
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Karl Henry putting Stradbally through its paces. Photo: Michael Scully
Operation Transformation is continuing its focus on Laois this season, with the next location of their community Ad Break Challenge announced as Park Ratheniska GAA Club.
The club is urging everyone to come along and follow OT fitness expert Karl Henry with the film cameras rolling, to show Ireland how to get off the couch and exercise during ad breaks.
They have announced a local community man as their Ad Break Hero.
Retired county councillor James Deegan from Stradbally will be on stage with Karl leading the exercises.
He served as a councillor from 1993 to 2014, but Mr Deegan has also personally created a local woodlands for the good of the community and nature.
"We’re delighted to be hosting Operation Transformation and the Ad Break Challenge this Friday night with local hero James Deegan.
"James has dedicated a huge part of his life to Public Service and through his work in his Carrigmeal Woods he continues to do so to this day. The Woods are an incredible amenity in the heart of our community.
"There’s been great turn outs around Laois so far for Karl and his team and we look forward to the Park/Ratheniska community turning out for James on Friday from 7-8pm!," they said.
The Ad Break Challenge will be shown on the following week's Operation Transformation episode of Wednesday, February 1 at 9.35pm on RTÉ One television.
Operation Transformation is based in Laois this season, hosted by SVT Activity and Wellness Hub, with weekly weigh-ins at the Maltings in Stradbally. A Laois woman is also one of the five brave leaders this season. Read more below.
Carrigmeal Woodlands is owned by James and Toni Deegan and was awarded 2nd prize in the 2022 all-Ireland Community Woodlands competition. It won the award in recognition of best practice in forestry management for woodlands that are open to the public for walking and leisure pursuits.
The 65-acre woodland was planted in 1994 and is a biodiversity site with 19 different species of mostly native hardwood. The woodlands lie between Stradbally and Portlaoise, overlooking the Rock of Dunamase. They added hard core paths, picnic areas, walking trails, a viewing stand with a tree house and swings.
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