Jackie Skelley's

NewHome

Anyone know what date the gym is opening? I joined on a New Year Resolution whim way back in January. I remember April being mentioned. Is that right?

eleMental

I asked in the office-place last week as my joining was a similar whimsical event and the guy told me its opening on 29th March. Am surprised I've not had anything through the post yet though...

daveyo

I rang them today say they are on course to open thurs 30th, something to confirm will be in the post soon.. christ what have i done ? anyone know about the tennis courts, i know the gym have nothing to do with them.. rang the greystones tennis club.. 3 yr waiting list..

MyPerfectCousin

It could be a couple of months before the rest of the complex including tennis courts are open, according to the WCC. They don't seem pushed. There were parents with kids at the playground the other day, but they had to be lifted over locked gate to get in and play.

I suggest ringing the council at 0404 20100 and asking for the Department of Community & Enterprise Development. If enough people ring and ask why they are letting this beautiful facility sit there and rot, maybe they'll get their finger out.

Wineman

Just spoke to the WCC about the sports complex, they say it is the developers holding everything up, apparently they are waiting for the weather ( funny how they can throw up houses and apartments all winter long) so they can complete the football pitches and baseball diamond, when that is all done the council can take over management of the place, she told me they are very frustrated with the progress and suggested residents should contact the developers to get things moving. She is emailing me there details, so I will post them on this thread when I get them.

MyPerfectCousin

Wineman wrote:

Just spoke to the WCC about the sports complex, they say it is the developers holding everything up, apparently they are waiting for the weather ( funny how they can throw up houses and apartments all winter long) so they can complete the football pitches and baseball diamond, when that is all done the council can take over management of the place, she told me they are very frustrated with the progress and suggested residents should contact the developers to get things moving. She is emailing me there details, so I will post them on this thread when I get them.

The weather excuse like you say is bogus. The [grass] football pitch (singular) and baseball diamond could have been seeded last summer (that's all they need). Far simpler and cheaper facilities to build than tennis courts and athletic tracks, but they were left till last for no good reason. WCC also looking for a health and safety plan from developer, or something.

Apip99

Just wanted to know if any one knows if they have any offeres running for membership? Missed out on the January one !!

Fiachra2

Are you guys aware that there is a very good gym and pool just down the road in the Mariott hotel? Is often closed for memebership and probably a bit pricey but is empty most of the time especially the pool.

NewHome

Well guys, got the welcome letter from Jackie Skelleys in the post yesterday. It is opening officially on Wednesday 29th March at 6.30am. They are holding group inductions for the month of April and then after that they will schedule a free personal training session for each member. I now have no more excuses. Eeeek.

Apip99, in the letter they said there were 50 places left for a special offer joining fee of €95. The offer will end on 30 April unless oversubscribed.

Johnc72

Just had my first 'session' in Jackie Skelly's at the weekend. Facilities are excellent, and there's a great view. On the downside, the place is overrun with kids.

eleMental

yep i thought the same - had an induction tour on saturday and felt like a right granny as the place was over-run with teenagers caked in makeup and children!! gym instructor said he felt like kindergarten cop but reckons its all just novelty value with all the machines etc and that it'll all die down in a couple of weeks. was up there this morning and it was grand - hardly any people and got a great workout.

JKB

Totally agree ! Was up there for the first time on Sat avo and they were running riot around the place, jumping from machine to machine, not having a clue what they were at. I asked at the desk on the way out what the story was. Apparently kids are allowed 9-6 every day, which means if you are trying to avoid them you have no chance on the week-ends (they are only open from 9-6), and they don't have to be supervised. Ridiculous !! I'll see how it tapers out, but if there is no improvement in the next few weeks I am going to complain.

NewHome

That's interesting about the 9-6pm rule for kids JKB, cos I was there last Thurs and Fri evening till about 7pm and there were kids everywhere :rolleyes: At one point there were 4 kids in a row using treadmills! It is a bit ridiculous but I do reckon that it is just novelty value and kids being kids will prefer to be outside running around. So hopefully it will calm down a bit in a few weeks. Anyone try out the pool yet?

Johnc72

NewHome wrote:

Anyone try out the pool yet?

After all those kids?!?:eek: Are you kidding me?

Perty

I risked the pool on Friday evening. It was a bit of a nightmare with all the noise from kids screaming and all of them standing around in the designated swimming lanes. They were running riot all over the place and in the steam room too even though there is an over 16 policy. Also three of the hairdryers in the ladies were already broken from the kids messing with them.

Wineman

Fiachra2 wrote:

Are you guys aware that there is a very good gym and pool just down the road in the Mariott hotel? Is often closed for memebership and probably a bit pricey but is empty most of the time especially the pool.

I rang the Marriot because it looked great on the website, they said it was €35 for a swim, I think I will buy a pool in Argos and tie my leg to a stake and pretend to swim......€35, are they mad!:eek:

JKB

I went up again yesterday evening, about 5:30 or so, and it was yet again like an after school care centre... but as soon as the clock hit 6pm the instructor went around and told them all to leave which was great !! BTW has anyone tried any of the classes up there ? There were two on when I was leaving last night and they looked pretty busy.

NewHome

I was there at that time as well JKB and saw the instructor telling the kids to hop it. Before that it was like a zoo.

I have tried two classes, I was in the spinning class last night which was great although I'm a bit sore this morning . The instructor was excellent so I will definitely go to that class again. Last Friday I did the Body Sculpt class which was absolutely atrocious, mainly down to the instructor (a different one). I used to go body sculpt classes in the YMCA in Dublin and this was a very poor relation, so will be giving that a skip from now on.

JKB

Excellent, will give the spinning a go soon. There is supposed to be a Step one on a Wednesday and Saturday but on my timetable it has a question mark beside it so not sure if they are going ahead or not. I'll check it out and report back

Ru

Does anyone have the the telephone number handy?
I haven't got my pass card yet and i want to sort it out before i venture up.
Their not listed yet.

Johnc72

Same happened to me, I just went up and asked them at the desk.

Andy1977

Hi all
I left the marriot to join jackie skelly and finally managed to get there last nite. Couldn't believe the amount of kids. And then they shut the pool just as I was about to go in? some problem with the chlorine levels? (probably just teething probs)

Anyway, i hope the novelty does wear off cos it'll be a nightmare if the kids are there all the time.
Was wondering how much they paid for membership? Cos if it's cheaper for kids then I'll definitely be complaining!!! Either that or there'll be killings in the pool! (joking obviously )

Just a quick note on the marriot - it's a lovely LITTLE gym. Nice and quiet, gym staff are well qualified. It's a bit pricy but if you can afford it, then I would defo recommend it.

FVC

tel number is 201 6088

there have been a few complaints about the water temp of the pool. Far to cold. Also the sauna is not hot enough as there is a 3" gap between the glass door and the floor that's letting the hot air out.

GAN

I went in last night for my "half hour induction tour" which turned out to be a ten minute walk around the place by an instructor who gave us only the bare minimum of information. Just as mentioned in previous posts, the place was overrun by teenagers. Apparently new members are not going to be given their initial assesments for three to four weeks because they are so busy -- i've been a member of lots of other gyms and have never seen such an unprofessional set-up. I'm really hoping it's just teething problems but if not I'm cancelling my membership pronto!!

Johnc72

Was in there again last night. Got down at about 6.45 and the place was full of kids, in fact I was greeted by the sight of a load of them throwing rocks at each other at the main entrance..charming . When I got in there there was a little fella who couldnt have been more than 4'2'' and not a day over 10 upstairs in the gym. This to me is a joke, if you look at all the machines' warning labels they state that children should be supervised whilst using them yet not an instructer in sight. The staff to me strike me as been amateurs and certainly seem to be winging it.

MyPerfectCousin

I'm not a member and probably won't be, and I can believe that the kids using the gym and pool are a nusiance and that the staff have not figured out a way to accommodate everyone. It sounds like a real pain.

However, the reason they are there in the first place is that there is a whole generation of kids who have been raised in Greystones without benefit of a public swimming pool nearer than Wicklow town. And if you look around the town, please let me know if you can see a place where kids/teenagers can go to do something healthy and supervised.

Parents obviously bought family memberships to encourage the older kids to do something healthy, to have a place to teach their younger kids how to swim without having to drive 20km each way, and so that they can bring their younger kids with them when they exercise. The latter case is not OK unless there is some sort of creche facility. They shouldn't let kids wander around while they're busy concentrating on themselves.

GAN

I think John c72 hit the nail on the head when he said that the staff are winging it -- the big problem is not so much that the kids are there, but that the staff seem totally unable to cope. I think it's crazy from Jackie Skelly's point of view, because not only are all of the adult members going to get very annoyed, but the chances are that one of the kids is going to end up injuring themselves or someone else because they are being let run riot.

FVC

I'm new to the boards.ie forum so not sure how this suggestion of mine will be taken

send a mail to info@jackieskellyfitness.com (head office) highlighting this thread to them. Providing them with the feedback of approx 15 members would be in my opinion, far more beneficial to us than if each of us complained separately to the Greystones branch.

fyi - in the Grove since Aug 05 with wife and two kids. having a great time here. Just in case you are wondering, my kids who are members of the gym wouldn't be running on those threadmills as the eldest is only 4

Eoin

FVC wrote:

I'm new to the boards.ie forum so not sure how this suggestion of mine will be taken

send a mail to info@jackieskellyfitness.com (head office) highlighting this thread to them. Providing them with the feedback of approx 15 members would be in my opinion, far more beneficial to us than if each of us complained separately to the Greystones branch.

fyi - in the Grove since Aug 05 with wife and two kids. having a great time here. Just in case you are wondering, my kids who are members of the gym wouldn't be running on those threadmills as the eldest is only 4

The only problem is that the boards.ie site admins frown upon commericial organisations using this site to pimp their services, or use it for interaction unless they get a forum set up in the "Shop > Interaction" area.

Probably best if you mention the thread and quote from it (provided the posters in question don't mind), but don't provide a link.

GAN

It's a thought but don't hold your breath -- I sent a complaint to that email address on Tuesday and haven't heard anything back. You're probably right about there being strength in numbers though

Sparks115

I sent one too last night so I will keep u posted if they got back to me...strenght in numbers as they say ..if we keep annoying them with emails maybe they will take some action to improve things;) !!

goldilocked

I joined last week, and agree with whats been said to date.

One thing that I've noticed is that in the 3 times I've been, I haven't seen a lifeguard on duty in the pool area. I was a member of westwood and have been in both Clontarf and Leopardstown and there was always life guards on duty. Anyone else notice this? Between no life guards and kids using the free weights, it looks like there's an accident waiting to happen.

Oh, another thing, has anyone got their photograph taken as part of their membership so they can match you when you "beep" in? I haven't yet, but then again, my card is still not on the system a week after joining.

Apart from these gripes I'm enjoying the gym so far, and all the machines / weights are top quality. Although I do think the spa facilities are a bit small for a gym that size.

G.

GAN

Oh my god...I cannot believe that about there being no lifeguards on duty in the pool. :eek: That is truly shocking. I think sending individual emails is a great idea, because for all we know Jackie Skellys head office may not be aware of what is going on down there

ChickenBalls

We where told that there wont be a lifeguard on duty period. The reason being the pool is only 4-5 foot deep and legally they dont have to as far as I'm aware of. It's the same with the other jackie skelly branches. There's a camera on the pool that reception can look at from time to time when ever there finished filing there nails!

Also regards the kids using the gym - my daughter who's ten has used the gym twice and it's only novelty as she'll get bored of it soon. In saying that the parents are actually responsible for kids using the gym and no responsibility is held by JS if anything happens.

goldilocked

I had a word with some bloke called Terry who works there today, and aparently there was some big staff meeting yesterday specfically to address the various issues, the problem with the kids in particular.

I was asking what the situation was with cancelling my membership if the problems weren't sorted. He said give it a week or two and see how it goes. Today a woman brought her little girl (around 5) into the steam room, and she was running around and opening the door and stuff, with her mam giving out to her repeatadly. Don't get me wrong...I like kids...but it kind of ruined the atmosphere!

annie5

Hi ,
What does anyone think of the new Jackie Skelly? I think its so soooooo manky, changing rooms freezing and pool so cold too.

Johnc72

Arrived down on Sunday morning and overheard one of the receptionists telling another that some kids have been letting their parents in through the emergency/fire exit, aas there's no alarm it was only discovered on Saturday.:eek:

Eoin

annie5 wrote:

Hi ,
What does anyone think of the new Jackie Skelly? I think its so soooooo manky, changing rooms freezing and pool so cold too.

merging with original thread

GAN

was on a day off so went down this afternoon, there were quite a few kids around but in fairness, they were all very well behaved. All went well until I asked one of the instructors for some advice on using the weights machines -- she was going on her break but asked another guy who said he'd be with me in five minutes. Twenty five minutes later I gave up and left; he was far too busy laughing and joking with a couple of teenage girls to drag himself away. I didn't bother complaining, will give them the benefit of the doubt this time, but it's not a great sign. I don't think customer service is high on their agenda -- anyone else got any similar experiences or have you got on better?

eleMental

thats funny - i saw the exact same thing on sunday afternoon!!

i dont understand why they cant start the Personal Trainer sessions now, my experience of the instructors is exactly the same. (With the exception of the guy who takes the spinning classes who was really good showing me round and seemed to take it all really seriously which was great).

They seem to spend most of their time leaning on the desk at the top of the stairs there, chatting to each other or in my experience making that "extra-special" effort with the 2 teenage girls on the exercise bikes beside me (even though it was clear they couldntve cared less how it worked and walked off 2 minutes after he left.) I also tried speaking to an instuctor upstairs about the problem of the kids and he pretty much shrugged, told me it wasnt his problem and to talk to the manager.

Its quite dissapointing given the fee I paid upfront that they cant deliver on the promises they made and that their "we're too busy" reason doesnt really stack up.

Have to just hope its all just part of the teething and itll get better as the weeks go by. :rolleyes:

dalila

Hi all! Long time reader - first post! I have been up to the gym now a few times since it opened and I was a bit suprised by all the kids being around. It does appear to be an accident waiting to happen as most of the kids I've seen using the machines seemed to be seeing how fast they could make it go! I saw a young girl on a treadmill who had it going too fast, she lost her footing and fell off! If that had been a younger child they could've seriously hurt themselves. Even if they do stick to the 10yrs and up rule they really should enforce supervision of them by parents, I've seen some parents up with children who were really well behaved! I only hope it wont take an accident to make them do it!

About the cold water in the pool...I don't know how accurate this is but I was told by another member I know that the water is cooler so the pool can be used as for lane training etc... but again I'm not sure!

Perty

I heard yesterday that a girl using the treadmills got off and didn't see the step beside them and now has to have surgery on her knee. I'm not surprised, I nearly did the same thing myself the first time I was there. The step is very dangerous and they only have a caution sign lying on the step.

I was up in the gym last night and I didn't see one kid. Hopefully they've listened to all the complaints.

Johnc72

I was up last night as well and didnt see one of them. Really beginning to enjoy the place now

Sparks115

Was up there last night too and it was great...apart from some gob****es messing in the pool and the Sauna in ladies broken have no complaints. Staff were extremely helpful to me as I wanted to change from an upfront payment to a Direct debit and the girl that looked after us couldnt have been nicer. So maybe things are starting to look up!

Clowney

Hi All,
Don't know what your experiences have been over the past week but I think they're finally getting their act together. Was in the club 3 times last week and noticed a huge improvement in the kids usage. All kids were confined to the top of the gym. One of the instructors informed me that it was a new policy introduced which has been working well. I also notcied a lifeguard on duty. They have definatly taking are comments on board and put them to good use. I took part in an induction and I found the instructor to be very professional and helpful. So ill be sure to book my personal training program with him. All in all the last week has been really enjoyable.

Clowney

Hi All,
Don't know what your experiences have been over the past week but I think they're finally getting their act together. Was in the club 3 times last week and noticed a huge improvement in the kids usage. All kids were confined to the top of the gym. One of the instructors informed me that it was a new policy introduced which has been working well. I also notcied a lifeguard on duty. They have definatly taking are comments on board and put them to good use. I took part in an induction and I found the instructor to be very professional and helpful. So ill be sure to book my personal training program with him. All in all the last week has been really enjoyable.

OFB

I joined back in Jan and was told that there would be plenty of free weights & Olympic bar etc. The absence of this piece of equipment has a big impact on my work out. I have been told several different reasons as to why it is not there, “Jackie Skelley’s never had an Olympic bar” the latest one is “We might get it in”. I have tried to speak to the manager to get a final decision but he has been ill and unavailable. If I leave now I have been asked to pay 2 months membership as this part of the contract and is being done as a gesture of good will because the contract says that you can not terminate it for the first year. This is because I am using a DD to pay the fees. I don’t want to leave but without the Olympic bar, the Gym has little to offer above my previous Gym.

Does anyone else use the Olympic bar?
Has anyone successfully terminated there membership contract?

GAN

Would you consider writing a letter to Jackie Skelly herself outlining your situation? In all fairness, I don't think they could reasonably refuse you to cancel your membership if something that you were specifically told would be availalbe isn't go to. I would send her a letter then follow up with a phone call, there's no harm in trying.

Other than that, I'd agree with the previous comments about the situation improving in the gym. The instructors are much more conscious about monitoring the kids. However it would be great if the mothers would obey the signs and not take their kids into the adults only changing area -- this seems to be happening a lot and I'm not particularly comfortable changing under the curious gaze of a gaggle of five year olds!!

Calhoun

My experience so far with the gym has been good and bad.

Kids everywhere to start with kinda made the first 2 weeks crap. Even though they have got their act together it was a little to late TBH. I wonder how many threatened to cancel their membership.

Even with the kids sorted you still get a few lads acting the muppet. I was going into the sauna the other night and spotted 2 kids trying to see how hot they could make it. So i made my way to the jacuzzi to chill they followed us in after a few minutes and were jumping in of course nothing was said. I would also agree with the last poster nothing worse than some dad bringing his 5-6 year old daughter into the mens changing room.

Personally i have been waiting on the personal trainers since the gym started. I think you are only going through the motions if you arent measuring it. I personally dont know how to use alot of the equipment properly and i really wanna meet up with a trainer but off course there is a 3 week waiting period.

After being told that we would have to wait a month for the personal trainers they finally get them but they dont hire enough people pretty bad for a company in the service industry. This alone wouldnt be so bad but you cant actually sign up for it because the forms always seem to be elsewhere and for busy trainers its kinda annoying to see them sit on their arse for 2 hours doing nothing while your in the gym.

Anyone else annoyed as i am with how the gym is being run ?? Im considering trying to cancel my membership or threaten to anyway

King_Carlos

OFB wrote:

I joined back in Jan and was told that there would be plenty of free weights & Olympic bar etc. The absence of this piece of equipment has a big impact on my work out. I have been told several different reasons as to why it is not there, “Jackie Skelley’s never had an Olympic bar” the latest one is “We might get it in”. I have tried to speak to the manager to get a final decision but he has been ill and unavailable. If I leave now I have been asked to pay 2 months membership as this part of the contract and is being done as a gesture of good will because the contract says that you can not terminate it for the first year. This is because I am using a DD to pay the fees. I don’t want to leave but without the Olympic bar, the Gym has little to offer above my previous Gym.

Does anyone else use the Olympic bar?
Has anyone successfully terminated there membership contract?

.I have the same problem myself. They have managed to put useless machines that take up far too much room, i.e. that stupid seated Fly machine, yet wont install a simple squat rack and some Olympic bars. Not that I am Arnold or anything of the like, just my workout is sports specific (rugby) and cleans and snatches (easy there folks) are very important to my training.

Squatting on the Smith machine is great for form and technique put for exercising your stabilizing muscles is useless

wingding

I went down to the gym in the Glenview to have a look around with my mum.She's thinking of joining and didn't want to join anywhere too trendy. It's really nice. It was a Saturday and it was nice and quiet. The staff were really nice and friendly and it wasn't too expensive either.