Who We Are

barefootphysio are an experienced team of Physiotherapists, Manual & Sports Injury Therapists and Personal Trainers who enjoy working with children and adults of all ages and abilities. 

Alan Lyons MISCP MScPhysio MCORU PT036349

Owner & Lead Physiotherapist

Alan has over 20 years of experience working with babies, children and adults of all ages and abilities. Since graduating from UCD in 2001 Alan has worked for the Central Remedial Clinic in Dublin and Enable Ireland Cork and Kerry Children’s Services before founding barefootphysio with his wife Denise in 2016. As well as completing the MScPhysio programme in UL in 2009, Alan is a qualified Bobath/NDT Therapist, Yoga Teacher and Natural Movement Coach.

Denise Walsh-Lyons MISCP BScPhysio MCORU

Owner & Senior Physiotherapist

Denise has over 20 years experience working with adults of all ages and abilities. Since graduating from UCD in 2001 Denise worked in Cork University Hospital before moving on to private practice. Denise developed a successful clinic in Blackpool, Cork before relocating to Kerry and founding barefootphysio with Alan in 2016. Denise is also a qualified Yoga Teacher and Pilates Instructor.

Ray McCarthy MISCP BScPhysio MCORU

Lead Physiotherapist

Ray graduated top of his class with a first class honours in Physiotherapy from UL in 2011. Over the past 11 years, Ray has worked in a variety of clinical settings in both Ireland and Singapore including HSE, Enable Ireland, Jurong Health and Private Paediatric Practice. Ray has a special interest in Paediatric Neurology and completed further training in Cuevas Medek Exercises (CME) and Dynamic Movement Intervention (DMI). Ray is also a Certified Functional Range Conditioning Mobility Specialist (FRCms) and enjoys doing calisthenics in his spare time. 

Niamh Gartland MISCP BScPhysio MCORU

Senior Physiotherapist

Niamh joined barefootphysio Dublin in 2020. She has specialised in paediatrics and neurorehabilitation since graduating from UCD’s BSc Physiotherapy programme. She completed her CME I training in Toronto in 2021, and uses CME extensively in her practice. She also has an interest in play-based and functional task specific rehabilitation, using childrens’ preferred sports, games and interests to guide and enhance their therapy.

Fi O’Meara MISCP BScPhysio MCORU 

Senior Physiotherapist

Fi joined barefootphysio Cork in 2016. Fi graduated from Trinity College Dublin in 2005 with a first class honours in BSc Physiotherapy and initially specialised in stroke rehabilitation, before moving into paediatrics. Fi spent a year working on the respiratory wards in Our Lady’s Children’s Hospital Crumlin before moving into the area of neuromuscular disability both abroad and here in Ireland with Enable Ireland. Fi specialises in infant development and has completed the Sensory Beginning Master Course. Fi has lectured in infant development in the UCC Physiotherapy masters program, and in the area of Complex Needs for children with Disabilities in Trinity College Dublin. Fi is also a Buteyko Practitioner, teaching both adults and children how to rectify breathing dysfunctions such as exercise-induced bronchospasm, mouth breathing and snoring.

Sinéad Sweeney MISCP BSc (Hons) Physio MCORU PT034745

Senior Physiotherapist

Sinéad joined the barefoot team in 2019. Having initially graduated with a BSc (Hons) in Sport Rehabilitation in 1998, she went on to gain her BSc (Hons) in Physiotherapy in 2000. Sinéad has worked in the UK, Ireland and Australia in both adults and paediatrics. On returning from her travels, Sinéad pursued her long term goal to return to the acute paediatric setting and took up a Senior Physiotherapy post in the Children’s Hospital Ireland, Crumlin in 2004. She worked in acute Cardio-respiratory care, before returning to home to Cork in 2016. Sinéad took some time off to be with her young family before returning to work in 2019. Sinéad has also worked in private musculoskeletal practices and with many sports teams including; Irish Men’s Hockey, Leinster Schools Rugby U18s and U19s, and Cork Harlequins Hockey Club. She is also a qualified Stott pilates teacher. 

Aine Ryle MISCP BSc (Hons) Physio MCORU PT036506

Senior Physiotherapist

Áine graduated from TCD in 1996 with a BSc (Hons) in Physiotherapy and also holds a HDip in Musculoskeletal Medicine from the Royal College of Surgeons. Áine has over 20 years experience in acute and community settings both at home and abroad. She began a transition to Paediatrics eight years ago when she trained as a Certified Infant Massage Instructor and undertook further CPD in the area of infant/child neuromotor development and physical literacy. Áine has a special interest in Hypermobility Spectrum Disorder and the Ehlers -Danlos Syndromes. She has completed the EDS ECHO for Allied Health Professionals and Paediatric ECHO programmes, with the Ehlers- Danlos Society. Áine has a passion for educating parents about these conditions and the sometimes co-occurring conditions (eg  Dyspraxia, Autism Spectrum Disorder), which can impact movement, exercise and participation, so that their children and families can lead full active lives, and reach their full potential.  

Lisa Enright MISCP MScPhysio MCORU PT032624

Senior Physiotherapist

Lisa graduated with a first class honours degree in BSc Sport and Exercise Science from the University of Limerick in 2008 and subsequently with an MSc in Physiotherapy from King’s College London in 2010. Lisa has worked in acute and community settings as a physiotherapist in London treating both adults and children, before relocating to Dublin in 2015 specialising in paediatrics as a rotational physiotherapist in Temple Street Children’s University Hospital. In 2018, Lisa joined Children’s  Health Ireland at Crumlin as a Senior Physiotherapist in Elective and Trauma Orthopaedics. Having relocated to Kerry with her family, Lisa joined barefootphysio Kerry in 2023. Lisa has a passion for working with younger children and engaging these clients in therapy through play

Brendan O’Mahony MScPhysio MCORU 

Physiotherapist

Brendan completed a Bachelor of Science Degree from I.T. Tralee in Health & Leisure studies in 2018 (specialising in Adaptive Physical Activity), before gaining working experience with St. John of Gods, COPE foundation and Brothers of Charity. In 2023 Brendan graduated from UCC with a Masters of Science in Physiotherapy. Brendan is also a qualified personal trainer and has worked with Special Olympics as a sports and club development officer. Brendan is an all-round sports enthusiast, especially with a keen interest in GAA, rugby and soccer. 

Alexandra Meneses BScPhysio

Physiotherapy Intern

Alexandra or Shana, as everyone calls her, joined the team in 2021. Shana graduated as a Physiotherapist at Coimbra’s Health School, Portugal in 2020 and has always had a special interest in the paediatrics area. She worked at a musculoskeletal clinic as a physiotherapist and as group pilates instructor for over a year, having taken a paediatric osteopathy course before deciding to move to Ireland. Shana has experience working with Global Postural Reeducation (RPG) that helps improve posture and scoliotic curvatures. Furthermore, due to her special interest in intensive therapy and peadiatric neurology, she completed training in Dynamic Movement Intervention (DMI) and Elastic Therapeutic Taping for paediatrics.

Denis O’Leary 

Manual & Sports Injury Therapist

Denis is a Neuromuscular and Sports Therapist and is a member of the Irish Association of Neuromuscular and Massage Therapists and Register of Orthopaedic and Soft Tissue Therapists of Ireland.

Denis’ services include:

  • Injury Assessment and Treatment
  • Trigger Point Dry Needling
  • Deep Tissues Massage
  • Manual Therapy
  • Electrotherapy
  • Postural Assessments
  • Pitchside First Aid

In addition Denis provides Manual Therapy for children and young people as prescribed by our physiotherapists. He also provides match day First Aid cover and follow up treatments with various sports clubs including UCC Rugby Club, UCC GAA Club and St. Michaels GAA Club. 

Santi Comino

Personal Trainer EFQ Level 6

Santi joined barefootphysio Cork in 2022. Santi graduated as a Sport Scientist with a focus on Promotion of Health-oriented Physical Activity at University of Huelva, Spain in 2020, and since then has also completed an ‘Injuries and Pain Trainer Course (IPTC)’. 

Following graduation Santi spent 1 year in Spain working with teenagers, adults and the elderly, before moving to Ireland. Santi worked between One Arena and One Life Fitness, doing personal training, group training and fitness classes, before joining barefootphysio. 

Santi is very talented at adapting exercises and activities for children and those with disabilities, and has many strategies and games which help with motivation and engagement.

With teenagers and adults Santi likes to work on cardiovascular fitness, functional strength, soft tissue mobility and natural movement in the context of different pathologies, injuries and sport.

Anne-Marie O’ Donoghue

Clinic Manager

Anne-Marie is our Clinic Manager and has over 30 years experience in customer service roles. She is responsible for the day to day running of our clinic in Cork and manages appointments for all of our clinics. Anne-Marie works hard to ensure all clients receive a friendly, warm welcome on arrival and throughout their visit. She looks after accounts, billing, payments and receipts.