About the Get Up and Go Philosophy
Harnessing the Power of Words. More than a diary. A philosophy for living well.
Known as the creator of “the world’s best loved transformational diary”, Get Up and Go Publications exists to inspire people to live with intention, courage, purpose and ease – every single day.
Each diary is thoughtfully designed to encourage reflection, spark clarity, and inspire positive action. Filled with uplifting messages and meaningful quotes, it gently supports readers to reconnect with what truly matters most and to move forward with confidence.
Our diaries are designed to be a personal empowerment tool — a daily companion to help you design a life that feels meaningful, balanced, impactful and uniquely, beautifully yours.
With nearly 500,000 diaries, journals and planners sold over the past 19 years, and a growing global community, Get Up and Go Publications continues to support individuals, families, students, entrepreneurs, and leaders in living more intentional, fulfilling and empowered lives.
Words Matters
The words we read, think, share, listen to and repeat, shape how we see ourselves and how we show up in the world. Through encouragement, kindness, compassion, forgiveness, and self-belief, we invite readers to consciously choose how they interpret and respond to life — and in doing so, gently change the direction of their days, weeks, and years.
Our Philosophy
We believe that how you start your day shapes everything that follows. Our philosophy is built on three powerful principles:
Forgive the past — let it go
The past does not define you. Releasing old regret and resentment creates new space for growth, freedom, and possibility. One of the most impactful things you can do in your life is to stop dwelling in what was, accept what is, and start creating what can be.
Live the present — the power of now
There is only one now. Your power exists in this moment – what you choose to do today is what shapes everything that follows tomorrow. Possibility exists in the present.
Create the future — thoughts become things
Thoughts influence actions. Actions build outcomes. When possibility and intention meets action, real change happens. Use your thoughts and words to inspire, motivate, and empower yourself — and others — to design and build the life of your dreams. Don’t settle for predictable. Make the possible happen.
Leadership
CEO & Co-Founder
Dr Eileen Forrestal
Having spent 20 years as an anesthesiologist putting people to sleep (with drugs), I am now in the business of waking people up (with words).
Eileen Forrestal’s journey to Get Up and Go Publications is a story of transformation, courage, and the healing power of words.
A Dublin native who has made her home in beautiful Sligo in the northwest of Ireland, Eileen spent over 30 years as a medical doctor, with 20 of those as an anaesthesiologist. During that time, she discovered The Irish Survivors Diary — a small motivational publication that she used to help her through her own challenges following the breakdown of her marriage. When she learned, in 2006, that its creator, Glenda Devlin, was about to let the diary go out of print, Eileen couldn’t bear to see it disappear.
What began as a desire to save something meaningful became a catalyst for a complete transformation of her life. She approached Glenda while fundraising for a charity cycle in Cambodia, and the two women — instantly recognising each other’s commitment to empowering people — formed a partnership that would become Get Up and Go Publications Ltd in 2008.
But Eileen’s path wasn’t always one of confident self-expression. For much of her life, a childhood stammer kept her silent, hidden in the shadows, fearful of speaking. That fear stopped her everywhere — until she discovered through coaching that freeing her authentic voice was the key to her own wellbeing and vitality. A brave conversation with her mother in 2001 healed years of suffering. Co-incidently, 2001 was the year that The Irish Survivors Diary was born!
In 2014, Eileen retired from medicine to devote herself fully to Get Up and Go Publications. In 2021, she published her memoir, The Courage to Shine: Find Your Voice and Discover the Healing Power of Your Words, sharing her personal journey from silence to full, joyful self-expression. Her next book, Embrace the Edge: Life is Bigger When You Say Yes!, is coming soon.
Today, Eileen is an author, speaker, certified coach, mentor, and accredited thought leader on wellbeing, recognised with an AIBF Fellowship for her contribution to the spirit of entrepreneurship in Ireland. She is also a Flow Consultant with Wealth Dynamics and co-creator of the Genius Journal with Roger Hamilton.
An avid global traveller, Eileen counts summiting Kilimanjaro, trekking to Everest Base Camp, cycling the Mekong Delta, parachuting from an aeroplane, flying a microlight over Victoria Falls, and even hypnotising a chicken among her adventures. She also famously appeared on Dragon’s Den — proof that saying yes to life opens remarkable doors.
Eileen’s mission is clear: to encourage you to live your best one-and-only life, right now. Through the Get Up and Go publications and her Shine Your Light coaching, she continues to inspire people to step beyond fear based, self-imposed limitations and into a world of curiosity, exploration, and courageous self-expression.
“We have one life. We have one opportunity to be who we are born to be and to make the unique contribution we are here to make.”
Managing Director
Catriona McGloin
Originally from Kinlough, Co. Leitrim, Catriona brings a deep commitment to people, purpose, and positive impact to everything she does.
Before joining Get Up and Go Publications in 2016, Catriona worked with the Children’s Medical & Research Foundation at Crumlin Children’s Hospital in senior finance and fundraising roles — work that shaped her profound belief in the power of meaningful contribution and compassionate service.
Catriona is passionate about wellbeing, meaningful work, and creating products that genuinely support people through life’s challenges and opportunities. She brings warmth, operational excellence, and a clear vision to leading the day-to-day business of Get Up and Go Publications.
She lives near Carrick-on-Shannon, Co. Leitrim, surrounded by the beautiful landscapes of Ireland’s northwest, and believes deeply in the power of connection, acknowledgement, contribution and intentional living.
The Irish Get Up and Go Diary began life as The Irish Survivors Diary in 2001, by Glenda Devlin who came to Ireland from South Africa in 1999 to start a new life with her husband Tommy. Unfortunately, Tommy was diagnosed with a serious illness which led to his untimely death in 2004. During Tommy’s illness, Glenda had created The Irish Survivors Diary, to help her, and others, deal with the unexpected challenges of life, the fundamental message being “It is not our circumstances that define us, but our attitude to those circumstances”.
In 2006, Eileen Forrestal, who had used the Irish Survivors Diary herself at a challenging time in her own life, was fundraising for a small NGO school for poor and orphan children in Cambodia. She approached Glenda for a donation. Instantly recognising each other’s commitment to empowering people, and to ensure the survival of the diary, they embarked on a business partnership to revive the ailing business.
The name was changed to ‘The Irish Get Up and Go Diary’ to reflect more accurately the new positive energy in the publication. The Diary’s transformation to the unique, beautiful, and colourful diary, now so loved by so many, had begun. Brendan joined the company in 2008 bringing even more energy and enthusiasm.
We like to engage with visionaries who are actively involved in areas of education, wellbeing, the environment, and entrepreneurship. Our intention is to inspire and empower those seeking solutions for the world’s most pressing problems through communication, connection, collaboration, and contribution.
We continue to seek out partnerships and collaborations with ‘get up and go’ people in the world of education, entrepreneurship and health and wellbeing, to empower a growing ‘get up and go’ community that is inspired, motivated, and empowered to find solutions for the worlds’ most pressing problems.
Who we are
Get Up and Go publications
As “the world’s best loved transformational diary” these unique Get Up and Go publications represent a philosophy that works!
The diary “that inspires and motivates” is jam packed with quotes and messages to inspire and motivate you, the reader, to ‘get up and go’ in life.
Reflecting on words of encouragement, acceptance, kindness, generosity, compassion, forgiveness and love, and choosing to act accordingly – we can each alter the course of our day.
Words are powerful tools and can be used to achieve the results that hopefully we all want to see in the world.
We recommend using these diaries as a your own ‘personal empowerment tool’, to inspire you to design and create your ideal days, weeks, months and years of your life.
Subscribers
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Let Go, Live Now, Build Your Future
Embrace the power of the past, present, and future to live fully, act intentionally, and create the life you dream of.
Forgive the past – let it go
This is one of the most impactful things you can do in your life. Do not dwell in the regrets or resentments of the past. Do not let the past stop you from being who you want to be, and can be, now.
Live the present – The Power of Now
There is only now. This is where your power is, in the present moment. What you do now is what matters.
Create the future – Thoughts become Things
Thoughts really do become things, when you speak them and act on them. Use your thoughts, and words, to inspire, motivate and empower yourself, and others, to take the actions to design and build the life of your dreams.
Brendan Sands, from Newry, Co. Down, worked in the Construction Industry for 30 years until he joined Get Up and Go Publications Ltd in 2008. As a father and grandfather, Brendan’s passions are health, well-being and fun. Brendan has a constant reminder of the value of good health, being personally acquainted with the challenges of chronic illness in his own family. Brendan lives the philosophy of Get Up and Go every day, he is a keen cyclist and hill-walker, and loves to eat the garden produce he grows himself. Brendan really enjoys one-on-one conversations with his many customers throughout Ireland and is committed to excellent customer service.
Originally from Kinlough, Co Leitrim. Catriona worked with the Children’s Medical & Research Foundation at Crumlin Children’s Hospital in various roles including Finance Manager and Community Fundraising Manager until 2013. In 2014 she returned to the North West and joined Get Up and Go Publications Ltd in July 2016. Catriona gets to combine her love for people and making a difference in the world. She loves the positive and uplifting messages in The Get Up and Go range of diaries and journals. Catriona lives near Carrick-on-Shannon, Co Leitrim with her 2 dogs Millie and Blondie.
The Story Behind
The Success of Get Up and Go Publications
The Irish Get Up and Go Diary began life as The Irish Survivors Diary in 2001, by Glenda Devlin who came to Ireland from South Africa in 1999 to start a new life with her husband Tommy. Unfortunately, Tommy was diagnosed with a serious illness which led to his untimely death in 2004. During Tommy’s illness, Glenda had created The Irish Survivors Diary, to help her, and others, deal with the unexpected challenges of life, the fundamental message being “It is not our circumstances that define us, but our attitude to those circumstances”.
In 2006, Eileen Forrestal, who had used the Irish Survivors Diary herself at a challenging time in her own life, was fundraising for a small NGO school for poor and orphan children in Cambodia. She approached Glenda for a donation. Instantly recognising each other’s commitment to empowering people, and to ensure the survival of the diary, they embarked on a business partnership to revive the ailing business.
The name was changed to ‘The Irish Get Up and Go Diary’ to reflect more accurately the new positive energy in the publication. The Diary’s transformation to the unique, beautiful, and colourful diary, now so loved by so many, had begun. Brendan joined the company in 2008 bringing even more energy and enthusiasm.
Embracing the digital age, Get Up and Go Publications Ltd now supply inspirational Diaries, Journals and Planners far beyond Ireland’s shores and retail outlets. With an ever-expanding range of products – both physical and digital – serving the Irish Diaspora, Busy Women, Young People, School Students, Entrepreneurs, and visionary Leaders, through their on-line shop, they send the gift of ‘inspiration, encouragement, wellbeing and happiness’ to the four corners of the world!’
While Glenda departed the company in 2016, and Eileen Forrestal, still a shareholder stepped aside in 2023 to pursue her coaching business, Brendan, was joined by two new directors Catriona McGloin and Gerry Kelly. Gerry Kelly departed the company in 2024. Along with Brendan and Catriona and the rest of The Get Up and Go Team continue to be committed to continuing the legacy – providing excellent customer experience and producing excellent quality products that make a positive difference in people’s lives. Having sold almost 500,000 copies to date is testament to the popularity of the products.
Partnerships and Collaborations
We like to engage with visionaries who are actively involved in areas of education, wellbeing, the environment, and entrepreneurship. Our intention is to inspire and empower those seeking solutions for the world’s most pressing problems through communication, connection, collaboration, and contribution.
We continue to seek out partnerships and collaborations with ‘get up and go’ people in the world of education, entrepreneurship and health and wellbeing, to empower a growing ‘get up and go’ community that is inspired, motivated, and empowered to find solutions for the worlds’ most pressing problems.
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