Longford woman vying for European bodybuilding stardom this weekend

Drumlish woman Orla Brady is one of 22 Irish competitors who will take part in the IFBB European finals in Santa Susanna, north of Barcelona.

Orla's emergence onto the international bodybuilding arena has been one of insatiable willpower and determination combined.
Having, by her own admission, started out on a voyage to lose weight over two decades ago, it is only over the past two years that Orla has thrown herself into fitness and more particularly bodybuilding.

"I started out my weight loss journey in 2000," she said, before telling how she managed to lose an incredible 36 kilos in just 18 months.

Bodybuilding, though intrigued by it, was an art Orla shied away from until more recent times.

"I remember a number of years ago there was a guy in Dublin who had some girls doing it and I always said it was something I would like to try," she said.

"And after my mam and dad passed away, I piled on the weight, but it is best decision I ever made."

Her body transformation, as the pictures in this week's Leader show, have been nothing short of meteoric.

Speaking from her hotel along Spain's Catalonia region, Orla revealed the lengths at which she has to push her body in the lead up to competition's of the ilk of this weekend's European Championships.

"I would lift weights five days a week and in the run up to competitions I would be doing cardio and training, averaging 15 hours a week," she said.

As well as that Orla explained how her intense regime has seen her take out five different gym memberships across the country to ensure that wherever she is physically, her body is in the best shape it possibly can be.

As for her hopes this weekend, the amiable Drumlish woman was staying sensibly modest: "I'll give it my best shot, but I'd love a top ten finish, I really would."