Teacher Shane Farrell from Galway will join Claire Beakhurst, Jean Kinahan and Barry and Andrea Rea when Operation Transformation kicks off in January.
Shane (29 ) lives with his wife, Clodagh, and their children, Tadhg (14 ) – his step-son – Teagan (5 ) Moya (2 ) and Sadie (1 ). As a teacher, Shane’s schedule is jam-packed: he teaches music and religion, as well as acting as musical director and a director of Stage Wise, a performing arts camp for teens.
Music has been central to Shane’s life, especially as it led him to meet Clodagh on the set of Footloose, the musical where Shane was the musical director and conductor and Clodagh was a chorus girl. Always on it, he’s currently working on The Producers in Tuam.
Shane wasn’t always overweight, as when he was 15 he was diagnosed with a neurological condition. He has overcome adversity, having had three children despite being told he wouldn’t be able to due to the nerve damage.
On long days shuttling between work and his musical productions, Shane finds himself winding down with junk food, and frequently turns to fast food when travelling. Healthy food doesn’t do it for him, even though Clodagh is a great cook.
To the world, Shane is upbeat and positive, but he carries a lot of emotional strain, both from his medical condition and self-esteem issues, but he is confident that he will acheive his goals on the RTE progreamme when it commences in the New Year.
