It All Started On The Track

I spent 12 years as a professional athlete, competing for Ireland on the biggest stages in the world. I became a World Indoor Champion, a European gold medalist, and a three-time Olympian. I wanted to take everything I’d learned and use it to help others feel good in their own lives — the routines, habits, meals and mindset that kept me going through the highs and lows. It wasn’t about perfection. It was about showing up, doing your best, and knowing how to look after yourself along the way.

2014

Food for the Fast Lane was never meant to be more than a side project. But then it took off. It hit the bestseller list, and suddenly I realised that maybe my next could be about helping others to feel their best — not on a track, but in everyday life.

2015

This was the year my gorgeous daughter Dafne was born. Those early days were full of love, chaos, and figuring it all out. Somewhere in the middle of it all, the idea for Derval.ie started to grow and a small spark stayed with me as I found my feet as a new mum.

2016

My second cookbook The Fit Foodie launched in 2016, and I was proud to get it out into the world. I also built two websites that year - and both were complete disasters.

It was frustrating at the time, but looking back, I needed those failures to learn what not to do. That’s where the real groundwork for Derval.ie started.

2017

 
I completed a women’s entrepreneurship course and started properly trying to figure out Derval.ie. I worked with lots of different people, tested ideas, and slowly started shaping something that felt real. The first pieces of the community started coming together.

2018

Derval.ie officially launched and began welcoming its first online members. We didn’t have it all figured out, but we had heart, and a clear commitment to helping people feel better. This was the year Derval.ie became a trusted place individuals could turn to for guidance, motivation, and practical tools to support their health and wellbeing.

2019

Derval.ie had grown into a thriving community. Thousands of brilliant women were showing up for themselves. Working towards their goals. Celebrating their progress. 

Our coaching team expanded, and so did our reach. We were building something special, and we could feel it. On a personal level, it was huge too. My son Archie was born, bringing even more energy and joy into my life.

2020

When Covid hit, everything changed, and so did the way people took care of themselves. In just four weeks, over 20,000 home workouts were completed on Derval.ie, and recipes were viewed more than 10,000 times. Individuals from every county in Ireland logged in to move more, eat well, and stay consistent with their health during an uncertain time.

2021

Derval.ie reached over 12,000 members, supporting individuals across Ireland as they focused on their own health, fitness, and wellbeing. As routines slowly returned and priorities shifted, the platform continued to provide structured workouts, nutrition guidance, and practical tools to help people feel stronger, more consistent, and more in control of their wellbeing.

2022 - 2024

Coming out of Covid, everything shifted. People’s routines changed, priorities moved, and what worked before didn’t always fit anymore.

At Derval.ie, we took a step back and listened closely, refining our approach to offer practical, flexible support that truly fit real life. That period of testing and learning helped us evolve, sharpen our focus, and lay the foundation for what came next.

2025

We launched a brand new Derval.ie with a refreshed site, a clearer focus, and a new 6 week Strength Plan designed to help individuals move forward with confidence and consistency.

We’re proud to continue supporting our members with practical, effective tools that fit seamlessly into real life. This next chapter is about building strength, resilience, and lasting momentum, one step at a time.