Activities Near UCC?

mary70

As i will be starting work in UCC shortly, just wondering about a good gym. I know that the Mardyke is vg and there's a staff discount. Brookfield would also be very convenient for me (Probably more convenient from what I can work out. It would also be nearer where my son will probably be attending school and to UCC creche).
Does anybody have experience of the two health clubs/swimming pools/gyms and are there waiting list at the moment?? Your advice would be appreciated.

hunnymonster

no waiting list for either. Kingsley is a third one in the same area to consider. I'm a member at the Mardyke. I'm a runner and triathlete so the pool and track were the biggest considerations for me. THe gym is very good in the Mardyke though. My main complaint about it is that they run too many swim classes and OAP sessions and there is no lane discipline enforced in the pool. As a result, it is very difficult to do any serious swimming in the Mardyke. If this is not what you need, then I wouldn't hesitate to recomemnd them.

keane2097

As a student you're automatically given Mardyke membership as you pay for it in your capitation fee (or whatever it's called) so there's no extra membership charge like there would be somewhere else...

Elle Victorine

If you do go to the mardyke go earlier in the day...otherwise you're inundated with people just hanging around...I'm not a strong enough swimmer to go in any of the lanes yet so I find myself waiting around a lot for people to stop standing in the middle of the pool chatting :rolleyes:

Early mornings make a huge difference!

hunnymonster

keane2097 wrote: »

As a student you're automatically given Mardyke membership as you pay for it in your capitation fee (or whatever it's called) so there's no extra membership charge like there would be somewhere else...

but OP is not a student.:rolleyes:

Mary70 wrote:

...starting work ...staff ...

bleg

there is also a fine selection of pubs around!

deRanged

There's a staff discount in the Jury's Gym too.

D'Agger

I've used the Mardyke and the Brookfield gyms and it's fair to say that the Mardyke gym is lightyears ahead of Brookfield regarding facilities. If you live near Brookfield you can walk to the mardyke easily - just cut through the Bons Hospital and it'll only take roughly 8/10 mins to walk there.

The downside to joining the Mardyke is time of use, early morning or late at night are the only suitable times to go there, sometimes it can be quiet during lunch but from about 4/5pm until 9/9:30pm the mardyke is manic busy!

The pool could do with improving but if the current referendum in the UCC elections is passed, students will be paying €75 extra in capitation fees next year and this will be spent developing the mardykes facilities.

Overall the Mardyke is by and far the better choice.

hunnymonster

PaulieC wrote: »

The pool could do with improving but if the current referendum in the UCC elections is passed, students will be paying €75 extra in capitation fees next year and this will be spent developing the mardykes facilities.

I can't see that mattereing unless there is a shift in policy from the management. Their focus appears to be 1. get as many kids in for swimming lessons and 2. get as many OAP's in for the energise your life. Neither group know how to behave themselves in gyms and I spend my time tripping over people. I realise that sounds harsh but if you say compare the pool in Mardyke to that in Silversprings where proper swim discipline is enforced, it is a much better place

deRanged

PaulieC wrote: »

if the current referendum in the UCC elections is passed,

it wasn't.

mary70

Thanks so much to everyone. Looks like it will be The Mardyke.

mary70

Sorry deranged. You mentioned Jurys Gym. Wondering how this compares in price and facilities with Mardyke. I'm sure it's probably smaller but that wouldn't bother me.