Friarsland Gym Clonskeagh

eamokeno

Hi,

Does anyone know anything about Friarsland Gym in Clonskeagh, or has anyone joined and know what the facilities are like? Is there good equipment, or many machines? Anything you can give me would be great. Thanks

Orlee

Meh -It's ok

• Smallest pool in the world
• Not many machines
• Has a weights room although I've never used it but I've heard from the lads it's quite good
• Can get very busy - Fills up very quick since it's so small
• Instructors are ok
• I think it's expensive

• A good few classes though - spinning, aerobics, yoga

Hope this helps!

Diarmuid

Had a look in there once. After doing so I could never understand why one would join it ahead of UCD gym. Way more equipment and much cheaper. Granted this info is 5 years old but I doubt a whole lot has changed.

eamokeno

Hi,

Thanks for that info. I'll have a look about for another gym and see if there's anywhere better than Friarsland.

Cheers

Orlee

You should try UCD - I've never heard a bad thing said about it!

far2gud

Im a member of friarsland and have to admit the facilities are somewhat lacking. Crunch in UCD are running a promo of a years membership for 259 yoyo or two people for 225 a piece so think Im gonna jump ship.

Seems great value

eamokeno

Cheers, I might look into joining UCD. Seems pretty cheap. Thanks

valor

bump for this thread, how small exactly is the pool?

Reyman

When you get into this pool everyone else has to get out ! I jest ---- but not too much.

Rynies

Have been a member in Friarsland for 6years. Gr8 staff, very friendly and helpful. They leave the bigger gyms way behind, probably because they are in the business over 25years.

AlphaMale 3OO

Rynies wrote: »

Have been a member in Friarsland for 6years. Gr8 staff, very friendly and helpful. They leave the bigger gyms way behind, probably because they are in the business over 25years.

Thank you Mr. Friar.:)

Patto

UCD is awfull.

Its very crowded
The equiptment in the weights room is a disgrace. A mix of beaten up lb and Kg plates and all different fittings. Don't know if the bars are 20kg or 45lb, I suspect a mixture.
Only one squat rack. You often have to queue to squat.
The chin up bar is too thin and its smooth so you can't grip it for more than 5 reps without straps.
At any given time I'd say between 5 and 10 machines are out of action.
The rowing machines all crank and haven't ever been serviced.
There are not enough benches.

cardio,shoot me

Patto wrote: »

UCD is awfull.

Don't know if the bars are 20kg or 45lb, I suspect a mixture.

lol 1 kilo =2.2Lb, so 20 kilos =45Lbs

mloc

I tried Friarsland once, that was enough. Heaviest dumbells go up to only 35kg and extremely limited free weights. Not much use.

Most of the clientele older gentlemen more interested in discussing golf swing than lifting stuff; fair enough, but not for me.

UCD Crunch isn't the best but it's my current gym. It's a mess, far too many jokers but if you keep the head down and "press" on with what you have to do you'll get it done, even if you have to "weight" a little longer. Ah, puns.

Zamboni

UCD @ 7am.
It's so much better.
Sssshhhhh.

Actually apparently the weights room will be closed all day tomorrow.
Do you think they might actually do something with the place? NAH!
The manager there is dead sound but I get the impression he has bugger all resources to work with.

dajaffa

Zamboni wrote: »

Do you think they might actually do something with the place? NAH!
The manager there is dead sound but I get the impression he has bugger all resources to work with.

Thing is with Crunch UCD is that it'll be closing in 2-3 years. The college are building a gym which'll be free for students but be open to the public + have a 50m pool and they won't renew Crunch's lease when the new ones open so it might get a bit neglected.

Zamboni

dajaffa wrote: »

Thing is with Crunch UCD is that it'll be closing in 2-3 years. The college are building a gym which'll be free for students but be open to the public + have a 50m pool and they won't renew Crunch's lease when the new ones open so it might get a bit neglected.

Aye you're dead right.
Without going too much into it Crunch have a much longer lease than the timeframe for the new student centre gym and also have exclusive provision of a gym. UCD must have bought out of the contract in order to pursue the new development.

Anyway on topic, Friarsland is grand for what it is. But it is very expensive considering the facilities they have. Nice staff though.
3 gyms in that area, UCD, FL and David Lloyd. UCD is an overcrowded dump but it wins hands down on value for money.

Patto

cardio,shoot me wrote: »

lol 1 kilo =2.2Lb, so 20 kilos =45Lbs

2.2x20=44Lb mate, every pound counts.

My point is that in crunch it can be hard to guage progress becuase of all these variations.

Rynies

How can you say a gym is no use if it doesn't have any bigger weights than 35kg. A gym is about its overall facilities, Range of Classes,weights,machines,swimming pool,jacuzzi,steam,sauna,beauty salon,sports injury clinic, hair salon, dance studio's,etc etc etc. By the way which Friarsland all has.

mloc

That's not a gym: that's a health spa.

Zamboni

Rynies wrote: »

How can you say a gym is no use if it doesn't have any bigger weights than 35kg.

Progression.

martinl

It all depends on what you want to do in the gym. Will you mainly do weights or more cardio or do you just want to do a bit here and there and then chill out in the sauna?

I heard from a good few people that UCD can be very overcrowded and that you have to wait until you can use certain equipment.

Friarsland – it might not be for you if you are into heavy weights, I like the gym itself because it rather spread out – they could do with a few new machines (some of them are a bit older, let’s say it this way) – the instructors are good, know their stuff as far as I can judge.

As with lot’s of smaller gym they can be more personal and you get a chance to talk to the instructors and pick their brains if necessary, which I found sometimes harder in bigger gyms.

I think it really depends on what you are looking for e.g. just doing a bit cardio, focussing on weights, attending classes ………. Do they offer classes in UCD?

blondie83

On a similar topic, does anyone know how much Friarsland costs? I've tried their website, but bizarrely enough there's no membership prices on it! I've been in it before and it's a nice gym, for me a jacuzzi pwns heavy weights any day!

(It should be pointed out that if I tried to pick up a 35lb weight I'd probably keel over from the shock!)

jclarke

does anyone know what time friarsland gym in clonskeagh closes?????

Ashbx

I think it closes around 10!!