The Joy Of Sexton

Anne with Rosie at Tinakilly House SAT23SEPT23

hen we first interviewed Anne Sexton back in June 2018, we
could tell straight away that this was one tough cookie.

Perhaps that’s what being superfit with Pilates does for you…?

At the time, Anne had her studios down at Charlesland Golf Club,
and there was High Court trouble a-brewin’. This was one mum and pop operation where the two main shareholders appeared to be gunning for a divorce. And at least one side didn’t mind dragging their clients through the courts to prove it.

Glad to see that all ended well.

For quite some time though, Anne was caught in the middle of a nasty battle, clowns to the left of her, jokers to the right, and was very close to giving up teaching the classes that she loved. But then, one of those attending her classes, Norma, suggested that Anne might be happier down at her family’s place in Rathnew.

The family’s place being the mildly famous and wildly beautiful Tinakilly House.

“It was all like something out of a fairytale, or a Hollywood movie,” says Anne today. “These wonderful people, Denis and Norma Connolly, just changed my life. I’ve been here three years now, and every single morning when I make my way up through these wonderful grounds, I’m amazed. And I’m very, very grateful…”

Caoimhe, Aoife, Anne, Michelle, Claire & Caroline 23SEPT23

Smart – and generous – people, those Connollys. Sure, if it wasn’t for them, we wouldn’t have Greystones Glamping either. Oh, and the family’s sister hotel in Spain has proven to be a godsend too.

With her autumn schedule at Tinakilly House just announced, Anne is also preparing to head to Belgium in October, for more studies. “It’s amazing to see how pioneers such as Ida Rolf, Joseph Pilates and Elizabeth Dicke understood the body and movement, and fascia,” she says, “and now, several decades after their deaths, science is backing them up.

“One thing is for sure, life is a never-ending learning curve!”

Tru dat. Just what Ms Sexton has learnt over the past five years since that first interview, we decided to find out…

Open seven days a week, you can find out more about Anne Sexton Pilates right here, and follow on Instagram here and Facebook here.