Blog Post - "OPEN FOR BUSINESS" - January 2024.
I am delighted to announce the opening of a new physiotherapy business in Tuam, catering to the people of the local and surrounding areas. I have been a part of this community throughout my life, actively participating in sports teams and youth clubs such as the Tuam No Name club. I have also worked in the Corralea Court Hotel and a local gym. I attended Gardenfield N.S and Saint Patrick's College S.S. Until the age of 22, I played football for Tuam Stars GAA, but an injury forced me to stop. I also played rugby for a few years with Tuam RFC and Saint Pats. I have been passionate about fitness since a young age, and I joined Tuam Leisure Centre, the first gym I ever joined, which makes it fitting to start my new business here nearly 17 years later.
When I turned 23, I decided to return to college and pursue a 4-year degree in Sports Strength & Conditioning at Limerick IT. This decision proved to be beneficial as I completed the 2nd year of the course in Canada under a student exchange program. Moreover, I got an opportunity to do a year-long placement with the Canadian Women's Olympic Rugby Sevens team in the 2016/17 season. This experience gave me a remarkable insight into the world of professional and Olympic athletes.
I was given the option to continue working with Rugby Canada for three years which would have allowed me to participate in the Tokyo Olympics. However, I was also accepted into the University College of Cork for a Masters in Physiotherapy. Ultimately, I decided to pursue a career as a physiotherapist instead.
The two-year pre-reg course in Cork was intense, tough, and stressful but worth it. I graduated in 2020 completing my thesis on cancer-related fatigue and exercise. I completed my work placements in various HSE locations throughout Ireland including Letterkenny working within the ICU department, Killybegs outpatients, Athlone and Clonmel geriatric and general wards. Throughout the 4 placements, I gained experience in all aspects of Physiotherapy which included Neuro, respiratory, cardiovascular, and musculoskeletal.
"My true passion has always been to progress into musculoskeletal sports physiotherapy and private practice. In 2020, I took over the Tuam Stars GAA club Physiotherapy role, a club that I have been a part of since I was about 6 years old. My father has been the club chairman, as well as a coach, and my brother has played throughout the ages. Being a part of this club has always been a part of our family."
In 2021 I took the Galway Minors footballers and in 2022 I was part of the medical team with the Galway Senior hurlers. Two great years in which I made great friends and great experiences. Walking out onto Croke Park and working with a team such as Galway Senior Intercounty was exactly what I was working towards while in college the few years previous.
Becoming a Chartered Physiotherapist has been an incredible achievement for me. I struggled during primary and secondary school and didn't perform very well in the leaving cert. Back then, I never would have predicted that I would become a Chartered Physiotherapist. However, with maturity and hard work, I was able to succeed and now I have a career that I am extremely grateful for. It is an honor and privilege to help people regain parts of their lives that they may have lost.
I started my career as a physiotherapist at Action Physio, a great clinic in Athlone owned by Keith Fox, the Irish rugby physiotherapist. The clinic was run by Keith's brothers, Alan and Robbie, and I owe them a lot for the experience gained during my time there. Later, I moved closer to my hometown and joined the great team at Galway Bay Physio, where I further honed my skills. However, my ultimate goal was to open my private clinic, which I achieved after years of hard work and dedication.
My partner Tara and I spent several nights thinking of a name for our venture. She has been incredibly supportive and helpful throughout the process, and I cannot thank her enough. Finally, we decided upon Ultimate Physio and Tuam as the location. My family has been an immense source of support from start to finish. I would not be where I am today, a Chartered Physiotherapist, without them. Thus, I am forever grateful to my family, especially my parents Rita and John.
Ultimate Physio is located conveniently in Tuam Leisure Centre, Palace Grounds Tuam, Co. Galway. We specialize in treating various injuries such as neck and back pain, arthritis, foot pain, pre and post-operation rehabilitation, balance and coordination deficits, sports performance consultations, ligament and tendon injuries, shoulder, and rotator cuff injuries, among others. As a Chartered Physiotherapist, I have the expertise and experience to work with you and a multidisciplinary team to provide you with the highest standard of injury management. It's worth noting that people can rest assured that, by choosing to visit a Chartered Physiotherapist, we adhere to good professional practice and are regulated by the CORU medical registration.
I am excited to establish a business in my local area of Tuam that caters to the needs of its people. To schedule an appointment, please contact us via phone at 0851679464, email at info@ultimatephysio.ie, or by visiting our website at www.ultimatephysio.ie.
Kind Regards
Darragh Bolton MSc, MISCP
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