From Dublin to Boston

August 20, 2023

     Instagram’s algorithm is at it again. It had to be the Boston connection. But I do have quite a few actors, singers and tv personalities as friends too. She could’ve been tied to them. Happily, though, it did its thing once more and Annmarie Murray found her way to me and here’s her story – Rick

     On the American Dream    

      Annmarie Murry hails from Dublin, Ireland and for less than a year has called Boston home. Arriving shortly before Christmas 2022 her sights have been set on the American Dream. A dream she says that started at a young age. “I was told stories that a lot of Irish left Ireland when they were younger and came to America where they worked very hard and became successful,” she says in the soft but direct Irish accent that we Americans have become accustomed to. 

      I sensed she was a charmer with a goal at first. Yet by questions end, I see a driven young woman on a mission. She continues, “So as a kid that kind of story stays in your mind and you kind of wonder about it. But having traveled around I think that once your confidant and rooted and positive in your own mind, you can be successful anywhere in the world. And it doesn’t necessarily have (to be) in America. What draws me to America, is that I feel they always have a positive attitude to everything. No matter what age what their limits are. I just feel like, they always take on something and go like yeah I’m going to take on my dreams.”

      Background and Gyn Beginnings

     Annmarie was nearing eighteen when she began a life in the gym and, by her accounts, says “Academically I wasn’t bad, but I didn’t feel like I wanted to finish school. I wanted to work. I wanted to earn my own way. It wasn’t uncommon in those days, there were two of us, my brother was the eldest and he was the boy, so he went to college.”

     “I felt like I needed something to ground me and that’s where the gym came into play. I joined the local gym in Crumlin (a Southside suburb of Dublin) and I kind of really got into it. From there when I finished school, my mom had like a little bit of savings, and she gave me the money to enter into a personal training course. And that was the start of my career,” Annmarie tells me. 

     After working at a gym for ten years, she felt as if she hadn’t grown with the company and ventured out on her own. At first it began as AM Fitness Mobile where she would go to clients’ homes for training sessions. Later, through a referral, had met an American that had done a Pilates session with her and was offered the opportunity to continue training him at his home in Massachusetts.  Since then, she has created ‘AM Fitness; On the Go!’  AM Fitness – Pilates Classes and Training. 

     Below, Annmarie in a workout video short:

     “It isn’t my full-time work (AM Fitness) because I find being online all day then you don’t get to meet people,” she adds, and that’s part of the reason she got into the business. She doesn’t do as many online clients now but does have them around the world from Ireland, United States, India, Dubi and New Deli as well. Her plans are to visit all her clients including those in Tennessee and Philadelphia and even Mexico. 

     And a ‘YouTube short’ 10-minute workout with weights:

     Singing and Modeling

     Annmarie admits she started playing the piano at seven years of age and began singing as well. she adds, “I’m working hard at my music and my singing. I have a great vocal coach here. I love her. She’s been a Godsend for me with support and I’m gathering my songs together to English, French, Spanish and German and, hopefully, probably just a little before or after Christmas run my own concert.”

      Above, Annmarie is singing ‘The Rainbow Connection’ and tells me although she can sing Irish songs in French, German and Italian she only speaks English.

     “Within the last couple of weeks,” she opined, ” that it (modeling) would be something that would complement my fitness and business that I have here. I went and did a modeling shoot with Mapps in Boston, and I just loved it. Loved being in front of the camera. I loved dressing up. I loved the style, I loved that I’m at an age where I was confident, and I was just going to go for it.” 

     She’s recently signed with two agencies and added “I’m excited. It’s an industry you have to work hard and be consistent with it. I’m excited to see where it brings me and what I can bring to this industry.” 

     Role Model

     In an introduction from her, I had asked for prior to the interview’s questions, she had mentioned she’d like to be a role model for ‘mature ladies.’  “I didn’t mean it to be defined age,” she began, when I addressed it “I meant it as mature as it had matured like a fine wine or plant.” In between giggles she explained further, “It comes with experience and life experiences. That’s what I think I bring to the table. I don’t define it as an age. Because to be honest with you, I feel twenty and sometimes people tell me I look twenty. And I like that I feel young. I take that mature as I’m not fifteen or sixteen. I’m not that little insecure girl anymore. I’m a mature woman that comes with life experiences.”

     Leaving Dublin

     My final question to her was not meat as poignant as it may have sounded. But I wanted to know her thoughts on how her ‘Coming to America,’ had affected her parents. Perhaps I was seeking some emotions. Afterall, I figured it must’ve been a bit rough in the beginning for both her and her parents as she left for a faraway land, especially being their only daughter, even though fully grown. 

     “I won’t lie, ” Annmarie started, “I feel it’s very hard for my mom and dad. I have a very special relationship with my parents, and I love them very much. And vice versa. There are days when I do struggle with homesickness. I’m settling in so fewer, a lot less that what there was from the start. We have the means of social media like Facebook and stuff like that, I talk to them most days.” 

     Her voice softens a bit here, but she continues, “I know that they’re there. I know that they they’re OK and that they’re safe and I know that they love me. Like I said, it’s not the easiest of things when you go away and there are days when I pine for being home.” 

     Then excitement enters her tone once again, I sense happiness as she finishes up, “But you know, they’ve been over here and they’ve experienced Boston which was great for them. I look forward to being able to get home soon, please God, and spending time with them again. When we get to spend these times together, it’s special.”

UPDATE: Annmarie now has her professional website up and can be reached at Annmarie Murray 

Writers’ Note: 

I’d like to thank my newfound friend, Annmarie, for her time and assistance in writing this piece. As short as these articles seem to be, they are time consuming, as I’m sure Annmarie can attest to. It’s been my joy piecing it together and sadness for leaving some out. 

And to her parents, Patty and Marion, this is a testament to how well you raised your only daughter. With that being said, I hereby dedicate it to you both. 

Rick

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