Brendan Walsh
Owner Operator
Brendan is an expert strength and conditioning coach with 15+ years of experience of working in small, commercial and boutique style gyms, right through to competitive and Olympic athletes. However, his real passion is helping the ordinary person who is unfit and overweight transform their life and show them they are capable of extraordinary things with a little help, encouragement and a push in the right direction. Brendan (a cuddly teddy bear behind the hard exterior) is always there to give you a spot, a word of encouragement, drop some knowledge bombs, or just for a chat, a hug and sometimes a kick up the arse when needed.
Hilary Walsh
Owner
Hilary is an outstanding coach. Having represented Ireland in three different sports and excelling in everything from field based sports, to gymnastics and showjumping and everything in between she has both the “under the bar experience” and knows what high performance is while also having an incredible knowledge in all areas of health and fitness having studied in the field for over 15 years.
Hills has such a good nature about her, she is extremely kind, caring and compassionate with just the little hard edge that somehow gets the best out of everyone she works with.
Hills is currently out on maternity leave but can still be seen regularly on the floor while working hard behind the scenes.
Owen McCarthy
Coach
Owen is our newest addition to the team having filled the role since January 2023. A big GAA man with a love for fitness & health.
Owen is a brilliant coach and brings a great balance of fun and laughter to his sessions as well as diligence and hard work.
Owen doesn’t drink tea or coffee which weirdly enough, but I assure you he isn’t some serial killer and is actually great craic and someone who brings great energy to his sessions.
Niamh Hayes
Coach and Women’s Health specialist
Niamh is a long term team member with us at Guerilla Fitness and an extremely accomplished rower who has represented Ireland on the international stage.
In recent years Niamh has developed into an amazing coach, developing her own brand and deep diving into the relationship between exercise and mental health while also becoming a women’s health specialist.
Niamh is an outstanding coach, with loads of “under the bar experience” as well as vast amount of knowledge in the field which makes her an extremely rare commodity. When you add in her empathic and caring nature you will quickly see why Niamh is loved by all our clients.
Daivd O Shea
Coach
David is our newest recruit to the team and is an experienced personal trainer and his teaching philosophy is down-to-earth, giving clients just enough, but not too much!!
Meeting new people and seeing their smiles when they finish a class or PT session is what keeps David motivated as a trainer. “I’m a big believer in just focusing on winning the daily battle with your inner critic. Finishing a workout leaves you with a great sense of personal achievement and this helps strengthen mental health.”
Chris O’Leary
Coach
Chris brings a unique blend of coaching experience, sporting achievement, and genuine passion for helping people become the strongest, healthiest version of themselves.
Having competed at senior inter-county level in hurling with both Cork and Dublin, Chris understands first-hand the commitment, discipline, and consistency required to perform at a high level. His sporting background has shaped his coaching philosophy: focus on the fundamentals, trust the process, and enjoy the journey.
Away from the pitch, Chris has built his career around working with and supporting people. As both a teacher and coach, he has developed exceptional communication skills and a natural ability to connect with individuals from all walks of life. Whether you’re stepping into a gym for the first time or looking to take your fitness to the next level, Chris has a talent for making people feel comfortable, confident, and capable.
At Guerilla Fitness, Chris is passionate about helping members build strength, improve fitness, and create sustainable habits that fit into busy lives. He believes that training should challenge you, but it should also be enjoyable, rewarding, and something you look forward to each week.
Known for his positive attitude, encouraging coaching style, and ability to get the best out of people, Chris is committed to helping every member achieve results while enjoying the process along the way.
When he’s not coaching, you’ll likely find him involved in GAA, staying active outdoors, or continuing to develop his knowledge and skills as a coach.
Qualifications & Experience
- Qualified Personal Trainer
- Secondary School Teacher
- Senior Inter-County Hurler (Cork & Dublin)
- GAA Coach
- Experienced Group Fitness Coach
“Fitness isn’t about being perfect. It’s about showing up consistently, challenging yourself, and becoming a little better every day.”
Heidi Lidholm
Coach
Heidi brings a unique blend of movement, mobility, recovery and wellbeing coaching to the Guerilla Fitness team.
With a background spanning yoga, breathwork, mobility, Traditional Chinese Medicine and nervous system regulation, Heidi helps people move better, recover more effectively and build a stronger connection with their bodies. Her approach goes far beyond stretching or flexibility work alone. Instead, she combines strength, mobility, breathwork and body awareness to help clients feel stronger, more resilient and more capable in everyday life.
Since 2020, Heidi has coached individuals and groups across Ireland, France and Sweden through private coaching, yoga classes, online memberships, wellness retreats and educational workshops. Her coaching style is calm, supportive and highly individualised, creating an environment where people can challenge themselves while feeling comfortable and confident in the process.
At Guerilla Fitness, Heidi leads our Range & Resilience sessions, helping members improve mobility, increase strength through greater ranges of motion and develop the body awareness needed for long-term movement health. Her work is particularly valuable for those dealing with stiffness, recurring aches and pains, high stress levels or anyone looking to improve recovery and movement quality.
Heidi believes that true fitness isn’t just about performance. It’s about creating a body that feels strong, moves well and supports you for years to come. By combining intelligent movement, breathwork and recovery strategies, she helps members build a foundation for both physical and mental wellbeing.
Outside of coaching, Heidi maintains her own practice through strength training, yoga, mobility work and meditation. She is passionate about lifelong learning and continually develops her knowledge to bring the most effective tools and methods to her clients.
Qualifications & Training
- 500HR Certified Yoga Teacher
- Meridian Yoga Therapy Levels I & II
- Reiki Master Practitioner
- Herbalism Apprenticeship Graduate
- Intuitive Plant Medicine Certification
- Extensive training in breathwork, mobility and nervous system regulation
“When we improve the way we move, breathe and recover, everything else becomes easier. Strength and resilience are built from the inside out.”
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