The Wexford-based family and friends of Hazel Hartigan have been watching her progress as a leader on the new series of the RTE television programme Operation Transformation with keen interest and pride.
Hazel (nee Howlin), aged 47, is a nurse at St. John's Hospital in Limerick where she lives with her husband Richard and their children Tommy (20) and Grace (14).
A native of Barntown, she is missing her regular visits back to Wexford to see her extended family, due to the coronavirus lockdown, but now they can see her on TV every week.
Though this is her first time in the limelight, Hazel has already been an inspiration to many through her strength in coping with personal tragedy and her determination in pursuing a long-held dream of becoming a nurse.