Portmarnock Leisure Centre v National Aquatic Centre

janullrich · 19-12-2010 10:49pm #1

Ok. I am going to join a gym in the next week. I live in Portmarnock but the Leisure Centre is costing €580 which is excessive. It has a small gym and the pool is not always open. The NAC in Blanchardstown costs €495 has a new gym, superb pool but the big disadvantage is the distance I suppose. Have anybody any experience of both gyms, what would anybody recommend?

The Davestator · 19-12-2010 10:58pm

Why not join total fit in Clare hall. It's nearer you and around the same price. NAC is a nice club but it's way too far for you to travel. Even AALSAA would be nearer

janullrich · 20-12-2010 10:18pm

Cheers Dave but as per previous posts I was a member of Total Sh*tness in Clarehall. I would sooner go to a gym in Galway then go to to that dump in Clarehall with that idiot Daly as manager. I am not so worried of going the distance I am more worried about going to a decent gym with good equipment and helpful staff. Maybe when Total Sh*tness decide to invest in new equipment and management who care then I will go back.

PeakOutput · 20-12-2010 10:28pm

westwood? alsa? any of the gyms in town? they would all be closer to you then blanch i think

there is a few gyms in swords if you dont mind your gym not being the super shiny marketed chain type, last time i checked there was a jackie skellys with a pool in swords aswell so they might be worth a look

driving 30mins to the gym would kill my motivation

pinkypinky · 21-12-2010 2:42pm

JS is now called Energie

In Swords, they've just last week installed a pile of new machines - really fantastic arc-trainers and a lot of shiny new weight machines too. The pool is good but they do a lot of kids swimming lessons so they're hard to avoid. The management has really pulled up its socks.

arybvtcw0eolkf · 21-12-2010 6:03pm

I'd pick almost any other gym over Portmarnock - its awful. Its poorly equipt, dated, the pool is something like a corpo pool from the 70's!.

TF really isn't that bad, apart from the manager of course- complete idiot. I really wouldn't be cutting off my nose to spite my face on this one.

You could try Northwood, although packed to the hilt and almost impossible to find parking or free equipement its WAY better than Portmarnock.

janullrich · 21-12-2010 10:48pm

Thanks for the comments. I must see what Energie is like. I heard that Portmarnock is dated and the pool is a disaster!!!! Total Sh*tness I am sorry to disagree is that bad, manager and equipment. It is disgraceful that there is equipment there from 1997 in such poor dirty condition. As I said if there was only a choice between going to a club in Galway and Total Sh*tness in Clarehall I would go to Galway. even if I paid my membership and did not go. They need a rocket up their a***s in Clarehall particularly that donkey Daly.

diamondtooth · 21-12-2010 10:51pm

I'm a member in the NAC. Its a very nice gym, friendly staff. I'm not used to many other gyms but in the NAC they give you a card with your personal programme on it and you put it into every machine you use and it monitors your workouts. And you can look at weekly/monthly reports of your workouts.

Maybe other people don't find that too great but I think its a good way of monitoring your workouts.

And the pool is 50m sometimes which it great. I enjoy it there.

Hanley · 21-12-2010 10:54pm

There's nothing wrong with the equipment in TF Clarehall.

Nate--IRL-- · 22-12-2010 12:03am

Hanley wrote: »

There's nothing wrong with the equipment in TF Clarehall.

I beg to differ, there is lots of equipment in disrepair, from stuff requiring a really good servicing to stuff that is completely broken. Although, the Freeweight section is in general OK, some of the cardio and weight machines leave a lot to be desired.

It has been on slow decline for years, but in the last year it is like the just don't care any more, or more likely they don't have the cash.

It has been said by some of the staff, that with the Management buyout, the place will get investment and a complete refit in the new year. I hope they do it, it needs it.

Nate

arybvtcw0eolkf · 22-12-2010 12:39am

Hanley wrote: »

There's nothing wrong with the equipment in TF Clarehall.

The big probably with TF Malahide is the manager, he really is a dip sh*t to deal with if you've any issue's with the gym or your membership.

Comparing management and staff between TF Blanch with TF Malahide Road really is like comparing night with day.

I honestly think the equipment in Malahide is comparable with any gym anywhere else, but the gyms downfall starts and stops with very poor communications from/with the manager (read - he's a prick to deal with).

Burkatron · 22-12-2010 12:44am

janullrich wrote: »

I heard that Portmarnock is dated and the pool is a disaster!!!!

Hmm not gonna comment on the gym as I only train there because I get it for free but what's the problem with the pool? It's 1 of 4 pools I work in around Dublin & Meath Currently (there's been plenty of others) & it's the pool with the least problems out of the 4.

Hanley · 22-12-2010 1:18am

Mya Creamy Testosterone wrote: »

The big probably with TF Malahide is the manager, he really is a dip sh*t to deal with if you've any issue's with the gym or your membership.

Comparing management and staff between TF Blanch with TF Malahide Road really is like comparing night with day.

I honestly think the equipment in Malahide is comparable with any gym anywhere else, but the gyms downfall starts and stops with very poor communications from/with the manager (read - he's a prick to deal with).

Says it all when you consider the way people are treated in Blanchardstown.

hidinginthebush · 22-12-2010 1:28am

There's a gym down beside the Grand Hotel in Malahide (unsure of the name) that has a pool, though I don't know the cost.

I will say though the pool in Portmarnock is fine, I was in the swimming club there for about 10 years (still pop up every now and again) and from going to competitions all over the country can tell you it's a lot better than some other places. I'd imagine the NAC would have a better pool though, being more modern (same goes for westwood, except it's just over waist deep all the way down if memory serves me). I agree with you that the gym isn't the best, if you go in evenings it's always packed, plus it's quite small (but I haven't been to the gym in years, so things might have changed).

Burkatron · 22-12-2010 1:39am

hidinginthebush wrote: »

There's a gym down beside the Grand Hotel in Malahide (unsure of the name) that has a pool, though I don't know the cost.

The Arena....I worked there about 9 years ago...The manager is an absolute tool,so I'm biased in my view of the place, time to vent!! Couldn't tell you what the equipment is like now, back then there was no oly weights & the heaviest dumb bells went up to 35kg. You also could only pay by some form of bank giro, no cards no cash....I'd hope they'd have changed that by now but I wouldn't be suprised...Their staff turnover is still pretty high because they treat them like ****...The only plus point was that it was very clean...Im guessing the pool is the issue! MUGYM is suppose to have a decent setup....there's alot of water directly across from it

I will say though the pool in Portmarnock is fine, I was in the swimming club there for about 10 years (still pop up every now and again) and from going to competitions all over the country can tell you it's a lot better than some other places. I'd imagine the NAC would have a better pool though, being more modern (same goes for westwood, except it's just over waist deep all the way down if memory serves me). I agree with you that the gym isn't the best, if you go in evenings it's always packed, plus it's quite small (but I haven't been to the gym in years, so things might have changed).

Better pool but the roof stays on in Portmarnock....:p

Portmarnock Leisure Centre v National Aquatic Centre

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