On The Spot

My name is Mark Caulfield, I’m 29 years old and I live on the Cork Road with my partner Sarah, our 2 year old son Tommy and our black Labrador Jess. I have worked in Spirit Leisure Centre at Treacy’s Hotel since 2008. Starting as a Gym Instructor/Lifeguard I’m now Assistant Manager and couldn’t be happier where I work! I also work as a self-employed Physical Therapist/Fitness Trainer and have worked with several county underage hurling panels and club teams, so I’m never short of things to do!

 

My Deise Day

A typical day starts at 5.25am when the alarm goes off. Up just in time for breakfast and a 6am start in Spirit. We don’t open until half past but it takes time for the Thermal Suite to heat up and for us to unlock everything. Believe it or not when the doors open we get flooded with members eager to get to the gym and pool. The energy they have is something to behold and will definitely wake you up if you’re feeling dreary! After that it’s meeting members for program updates, exercise classes and general day to day admin and cleaning. It’s a great place to be every day because the banter with members and helping them achieve targets is very enjoyable. Once the day in work is done at 3pm I’ll collect Tommy from his nans. We’ll walk our dog, Jess on the green in Kingsmeadow then head home where they both get fed and nap. Sarah and I will have grub too and once we’ve tidied up we will go jogging or Aqua Aerobics or call to friend or family for a chat! Tommy hits the hay about 8 and we’re never too far behind him!

Interview Questions

1. What school did you go to?

Mount Sion Primary and Secondary and safe to say I’ve made and kept some great friends and memories from my time there. I only wish I could start all over again (maybe). We were promised astro-turf pitches by 2000. Ha, it only took them 15 years to get it sorted but the place looks great up there now and hopefully they make good use of it long into the future.

2. What teacher do you remember most vividly?

I don’t think any particular teacher was a favourite of mine but Frank Farrelly (French and English) and Bill Doherty (History) stand out. The two had great enthusiasm for the job and the lads in class knew the boundaries. I sat next to Frank in Croke Park when Ireland played France in a World Cup Play-Off a few years ago. He sang the French anthem as loud as the Irish one! Sarah even danced with him at the Debs.

3. What advice would you give your 15 –year old self?

Don’t do what others expect, do what you want and keep playing soccer and hurling beyond your late teens, you’ll never know how much you’ll miss it in 15 years.

4. How do you relax?

I don’t really! Always on the go. But if I was to relax it would be on the sofa with Sarah and Tommy watching cartoons. That or just watch Netflix and chill.

5. What is your favourite film and piece of music?

I saw Jurassic Park in England when it was released first, I was 7/8. I s**t myself when the T-Rex ate the cars and asked “Is my Aunty Mary still there?” while still cuddeld into my mother, so it holds a place in my heart for that. I don’t think I have a favourite song but Nothing Else Matters by Metallica and Out of Time by Liquid Red would always be floating around any playlist I put together.

6. When was the last time you cried?

When I read and saw pictures about the young Syrian boy who drowned in the Med. I have a son that age and it just hit me in the gut. Every parent knows the feeling.

7. What has been your happiest moment of recent times?

Define recent? Tommy being born, end of story. What a moment. I shouted “YEEEEESSSSS” in the delivery room when the nurse told me it was a boy. Everyone laughed at me in the room. I was beaming from ear to ear. But every day brings happy moments with a great bunch of friends and family around you.

8. Do you pray?

I don’t. I say the following to anyone who asks why – “I don’t believe in God but I believe in Good”. You can believe what you want once you’re a decent person in my eyes.

9. What is your biggest fear?

Anyone I love suffering through grief, serious illness or injury etc. I could handle it myself (I hope) but hate seeing loved ones suffer and that feeling of helplessness.

10. What is your most treasured possession?

My car. Passenger window doesn’t work, back wiper doesn’t work, no radio, slow puncture on back tyre, gearstick doesn’t work, speedometer is unreliable but I love it and it’d break my heart to say goodbye!

11. What is your favourite thing about living in Waterford?

It’s a stones throw from so many beaches. Sometimes heading to Annestown, Tramore, Dunmore or Bonmahon for a walk or a swim is something we take for granted but you have to love it even on a crisp November evening!

12. If you could change one thing about Waterford, what would it be?

There’s no place like home but for many they don’t have a home to go to. The rise in homelessness is something I would like to see being proactively approached by local officials.

In conversation with Darren Skelton of Waterford News and Star (24/11/15)