'We still can't believe it': Pupils at Limerick primary school prepare for a visit from Joe Wicks 

The celebrity fitness instructor will visit St Nessans National School in Mungret, Co. Limerick next week

 Joe Wicks has also recently launched the BBC Children In Need for 2023

He entertained thousands of schoolchildren (and their parents) with fun workouts during the covid lockdown. Now lucky children who attend St Nessans National School in Mungret, Co Limerick will get to meet Joe Wicks in person. It's all thanks to the quick thinking of one first class teacher.

In August, staff teacher Jill Farrell has been scrolling on her Instagram feed. “Something caught my eye so I clicked it open and saw that Joe Wicks was announcing dates that he’s coming to visit schools across Ireland. I thought about it and then decided to go ahead and fill in the application. I described our school and the amount of focus we place on wellbeing and staying active, both mind and body, with the children.” 

Ms Farrell thought nothing more of it until she received an exciting email last Wednesday. "It was from Mr Wicks’ assistant saying St Nessans had been selected for the tour. He’d be jetting in on September 28 and he couldn't wait to meet us. "

“We still can’t believe it," says Ms Farrell. "We are ecstatic and the children are so excited too."

Active

Out of ten thousand schools, the 665-pupil school was chosen as one of the first to host the fitness instructor who has more than five million followers on Instagram. Known as The Body Coach, Wicks is coming to Limerick to kick off his promotional tour of schools across Ireland. His aim is to "get more kids moving and learning about the incredible benefits of movement and exercise."

Teacher Jill Farrell at St Nessan's National School in Limerick

"We use Joe Wicks five minute workouts between lessons," Ms Farrell explains.

"They all know him well from the videos and they’re thrilled. In St Nessans we are big into being active. All the teachers and staff work hard on developing fitness and getting the children out and about. Not just with movement breaks but with laps outside and we are very proud how engaged our pupils are with sport. We are so grateful Joe is coming to visit, especially after the dedication the entire school community put into keeping the children active.” 

 So what’s the plan for Joe Wicks’ visit?

“He’s due to arrive at our school at around lunchtime next Thursday. It’s expected that he’ll do a half hour workout with the entire school. We will make sure every pupil is out in the field. Then there’s a questions and answers session for teachers, pupils and parents.” 

The playlist for the session has even been decided already. The Examiner managed to get a sneak peek at some of the songs that pupils and teachers at St. Nessans will be working out with the fitness celebrity.

“There’s a lot of George Ezra in there,” Ms Farrell reveals. “Songs like Paradise and Anyone for You. But there’s also Taylor Swift's Shake It Off. It's going to be so much fun."