From Longford rugby rucks to TikTok fame, millions have viewed James Doyle's hilarious videos

21-year-old James Doyle from Dromod has become an online star with over 533,000 followers, 26.5 million viewers and a number of sponsorship deals.

In just two years, James has gone from working on a construction site with no real goals to earning a full time wage off TikTok and choosing what sponsorship deals he will take on!

Over the past two years he has worked with Aldi, Hairy Baby, Penneys and just before Christmas he launched his own “Protein Bor” with My Protein. The latest deal was a big one - James is one of just two “athletes” chosen by My Protein to create their own bar.

James says he makes a full time wage from TikTok and makes money on sponsorship posts.

James is going to finish college this year with a degree in Communications, he is also a personal trainer and hopes to make online training programmes but that is not all - the Dromod lad has his sights set on the Late Late Show!

James explained that his rapid rise to fame came from his unique Leitrim / Westmeath accent and his Irish charm!

It all began back in 2020 when he wanted to document his progress in the gym.

He summarised that one morning while working in construction, the men all went off for the “big fry” but James was carefully watching what he was eating so he had some sandwiches, a protein shake and a protein bar.

He decided to do a little review of the bar on TikTok and his pronunciation of “protein bor” went viral! All of a sudden #proteinbor was coming up all over TikTok and other social media.

James capitalised on this and said, “TikTok has changed my life.”

James is from Dromod and went to secondary school in Mohill Community College.

His mother Kathrina is from Westmeath so he explained he would spend most Summers there with family and the two accents got “mashed up” - an amalgamation of the Midlands and Leitrim.

James played for Bornacoola GAA underage and for Longford Rugby but body building has become his new passion. He hopes to begin competing in body building competitions later this year.

James commented, “My entire life has changed because of TikTok.”

While James now makes a living from TikTok, he didn’t start it for the money.

He set up his TikTok because he “wanted to help young men especially to make small changes/ healthy habits to improve their lives.”

James said “there is a lot of pressure on young lads - in the changing room, on the field to look at their peak.”

Before training in the gym James had felt “stuck” in his life. He said he suffered with “body dysmorphia and eating disorders.”

He recalled for most of his teenage years he felt unhappy in his body.

But the gym turned his life around and he wanted to show young lads that “if I could do it, so could anyone else.”

He said goals are a great way to motivate you and he hopes to inspire others so they can be their best if they put in some effort.

Doyle started his fitness journey amid the Covid-19 pandemic, like many others. Committing to the gym helped him overcome body image issues.

James will finish his Communications degree this year and he also hopes to compete in bodybuilding events and release online fitness programmes.

He said he is working on the fitness programmes which will help people to know where to start in the gym and how to progress their fitness.

James' ultimate goal is “to get on the telly, I want Ryan Tubridy’s job on the Late Late.” James is certainly motivated to continue with his public career.

He admitted he is regularly stopped on the street or on a night out by followers.

He is kept busy taking selfies with fans, but he very much enjoys the interaction.

“I have met some very interesting people - and I love to talk, which is why I did Communications in college.”

James has also featured on a number of radio and podcast interviews.

We had to ask the expert protein bar reviewer what makes the best protein bar and he simply answered “when it doesn't take like a protein bor.”

You can check out James, his reviews, his fitness posts and a lot of hilarious videos on TikTok @jamesdoylefitness