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Maeve Frawley is a fitness professional and Strongwoman who owned The Arena Gym Tralee and The Arena Gym NCW Maeve Frawley is a fitness professional and Strongwoman who owned The Arena Gym Tralee and The Arena Gym NCW

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10 Questions with strongwoman Maeve Frawley 

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Maeve Frawley is a fitness professional and Strongwoman who owned The Arena Gym Tralee  and The Arena Gym NCW

10 Questions with strongwoman Maeve Frawley 

By I Love Limerick Correspondent Ann Mc Donald

maeve frawley Maeve with strongwoman Donna Moore at UK’s Strongest Woman which took place in August this year.

Maeve with strongwoman Donna Moore at UK’s Strongest Woman which took place in August this year.


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Maeve Frawley is a 40-year-old Strongwoman, fitness professional, mother, entrepreneur and full-time lecturer at Munster Technological University (previously Cork Institute of technology and IT Tralee) since 2007. She is a MTU graduate with an honours degree in Health, Fitness and Leisure Studies. She works as a personal trainer and group fitness instructor. She is a keen advocate in the area of physical activity, sport and health and has formerly competed for Ireland in Tae Kwon Do for many years. 

She was the sole proprietor of The Arena Gym Tralee and The Arena Gym NCW, but has since retired to focus on her other responsibilities. She has been teaching classes since 1999 on Body Conditioning, Bootcamp and Kicksanity – her own unique style of fitness class derived from her experience in martial arts. 

Maeve placed 2nd in Ireland’s Strongest Woman this year, which has opened a lot of doors for her, such as being invited to the UK’s Strongest Woman. She will be competing in the World Championships in Finland this December. 

What was your childhood like and where did you grow up?

I grew up in West Limerick, I always enjoyed going to Limerick GAA matches with my Dad and I was very sporty myself also.

When did you start getting into fitness?

I played Gaelic football since the age of 6, when I was 14 I took up Taekwon Do. I did this for years and was on the Irish team for a long time after being awarded my blackbelt. I started lifting weights in college as I was doing a Fitness Degree. I competed in Bodybuilding in my 30’s and then took up Strongwoman last year and competed for the first time.

Why did you start training to be a strongwoman?

I only really started to train specifically for Strongwoman around a year and a half ago, Pa O Dwyer is a friend of mine and he introduced me to it. I loved it straight away. The sport always appealed to me because the athletes in it blow my mind. You have to be strong yes, but also very fast, agile, mobile and you need to have mental grit. This sport is tough !

What have been some challenges in getting to where you are now?

Time is my main challenge. I have always been career driven but I am also a solo parent, its hard to juggle everything to fit training in, but I believe if you want something bad enough you can always find a way.

What has been your biggest achievement so far?

In sport, it was probably winning the Europeans in Taekwon Do years ago. But more recently, coming second in the Strongwoman Nationals has opened so many doors for me….. For example a place to compete in the Worlds In Finland this December.

Who are your inspirations?

Donna Moore and Rhiannon Lovelace in the sport of Strongwoman. Also, I love Serena Williams, she’s a powerhouse. And overall, any girl that has the courage to step in to the gym to take that step to get strong in body and in mind.

Do you have any advice for those who want to get into fitness?

Just start….. There’s nothing worse than knowing you are procrastinating! If you are nervous or anxious make sure to get a trainer until you feel ready to work independently.

What’s up next for you as a strongwoman?

World Championships in Finland on 17th of Dec. I cannot wait !!!!

Where do you see yourself in the next 5 years?

Still competing and getting stronger and stronger, I don’t use my age as an excuse, if anything it makes me more focused and determined.

And lastly, what do you love most about Limerick?

I just LOVE Limerick people, because you know exactly where you stand with them, no BS about us Limerick folk. Also, I love Thomand Park for a rugby game on a Winters night with a cheeky beer in one hand.

For more about Maeve Frawley go HERE 

For more 10 Questions stories go HERE 

Richard is a presenter, producer, songwriter and actor. He was named the Limerick Person of the Year (2011) and won an online award at the Metro Éireann Media and Multicultural Awards (2011) for promoting multi-culturalism online. Richard says that the ilovelimerick.com concept is very much a community driven project that aims to document life in Limerick. So, that in 20 years time people can look back and remember the events that were making the headlines.