Ironside Strongman - Blackrock - Open day today 23 February 2010 5pm - 9pm

Sangre

Just a heads up for anyone who is interested. Ironside Strongman is having an open day this evening from 5pm to 9pm for anyone interested in dropping down and having a look. They've added pictures to their facebook page (add them for more info) and it looks they've a incredible set up. Numerous cages, a monolift, a prowler, platforms for altases etc., lifting platforms and more.

They're located in Blackrock in Brookfield Terrace.

I've no affiliation so please correct me if I've any information wrong. Just thought people might be interested. Unfortunately can't make it myself. Apologies if this is a repost.

Dubdude

Was this place not suppose to originally open in Rathmines!!

Sangre

Yup thats the one. Don't know the reason behind the move.

Mauricmo

Anybody know what membership is like?

Sangre

Anyone make it down for this? What's the verdict?

JayRoc

Sangre wrote: »

Anyone make it down for this? What's the verdict?

Spent over an hour there last night, basically salivating over all the gear and chatting with the lads.
Amazing set-up. South Dublin doesn't really have anything like it.

I'd recommend anyone who can get down there from next Monday when they open, to do so and have a look.

(Didn't end up talking about pricing in any detail, but from what I can recall they're doing an introductory offer for the first few to join up, and a discounted rate for students, but I'm open to correction)

stega

popped down for a half hour last night.

Have to say not really impressed. Alot of the equipment was is tatters and missing and if i was going to have a open night i would have made sure to have everything ready and on show.

Asked about membership and the lads ween;t to sure either and gave me a rough guide.

First 10-15 guys will get 400 a year or 40 a month direct debt

And normal membership after that will be 600-700 a year.

Place has no parking and parking on street is on the meter. There are no showers either.

Im a member of raw and tf sf and will though this place will be much better than the hype on facebook but to be honest it was a huge let down.

d'Oracle

Sounds like my kind of place.

stega

sorry for to say the opening hours are

1-10 mon to fri didnt mention what the weekend one will be

The Guvnor

Any pictures of the place online?

Layderkinn

stega wrote: »

popped down for a half hour last night.

Have to say not really impressed. Alot of the equipment was is tatters and missing and if i was going to have a open night i would have made sure to have everything ready and on show.

Asked about membership and the lads ween;t to sure either and gave me a rough guide.

First 10-15 guys will get 400 a year or 40 a month direct debt

And normal membership after that will be 600-700 a year.

Place has no parking and parking on street is on the meter. There are no showers either.

Im a member of raw and tf sf and will though this place will be much better than the hype on facebook but to be honest it was a huge let down.

A huge let down hahahah......Stega you must have called into the wrong gym....I be honest I have been waiting for this to open so called down early last night(No problem with parking around the corner and its free after 7pm and carysfort avenue is beside it loads of parking) and the place is sick, nothing was in tatters or missing what are you on???. Most of the equipment is brand new I dont know how you were not impressed. Also the guy who i spoke to said the offer was on for the whole of March nit limited. 600-700? was never mentioned.

They open 1pm until 10pm Mon - Fri and I think 10am until 9pm Sat - Sun.

d'Oracle

Sounds savage.

d'Oracle

The Guvnor wrote: »

Any pictures of the place online?

They have an FB profile.
Member as distinct from fanpage.

Layderkinn

Actually when i called down i was a bit early so the shutter was down so i went around the back to see if anyone was there and the two lads there were lifting one of the guys cars on a car deadlift frame......hilarious thing to witness as you walk in to check the place out.

Yeah D'Oracle is right they have a facebook page with pictures. http://ironsidestrongman.com/ - not much use right now.

grimloch

Where's the pec deck at??

Sangre

Equipment looks fine from pics. Can't imagine it would be wrecked/battered that badly. Not that I'd be that bothered by it.

d'Oracle

grimloch wrote: »

Where's the pec deck at??

Yeah.
No abductor machine either.

weeman2

I got a sneak peek last week its a great set up.

Its more oriantated to people who are training for say strongman, rugby or mma and people who are trying to improve very specific aspects of there performance. Its not your standard gym but thats what makes it class.

They have loads of racks, plates, dumbells (70 kg), sprint track, conditioning equipment and strongman equipment so it offers an Irish version of De Francos gym and if that aint good enough for ya well you should just stay at home.

Its a work in progress as i know they intend adding new equipment on an ongoing basis which is also great as alot of gyms open and you never see a new peice of kit for years.

I dont know about opening hours or fees sorry

rock27

Anybody here joined up or has it opened yet? What's it like in the evenings, Is there Q's for equipment or is fairly well equipped with enough racks, etc?

Black Sheep

I called down towards the end of the open week and did a sort of introductory run-through of some of the strongman equipment. Here's my take on it (genuinely impartial btw, I didn't know the people running it until I popped down on the night):-

Location-wise it's just off Carysfort Avenue. I used to work in that neck of the woods and although it's paid parking some of the time I'd be inclined to think there won't be too much bother finding a space either on Brookfield terrace or somewhere nearby. If you were walking up from the Dart you'd basically be going through Blackrock village and just over the Rock road... Short enough walk. Yes it would be nice if they had a carpark for members, but I don't think it's that big a deal.

The premises itself is about normal in terms of finish/space in comparison to other 'alternative' type industrial boxes / gyms I've been in (Informed Performance, various CrossFit boxes etc). The main area is pretty big and has high ceilings. There's strongman equipment, racks and lifting platforms along the walls and then in the middle there's a long strip that runs the length of the gym for farmers walks and prowler pushing. There's a roller door at the back that opens up to a reasonably big backyard area that's going to be used for training too. While we were there we were shown some side rooms that were going to be turned into training areas as well - for cardio type equipment AFAIK.

Equipment wise: As I mentioned plenty of bars, iron plates, two lifting platforms and power racks, Dumbbells galore, prowlers ... I understand bumpers are on the way. Lots of strongman equipment - farmers bars of varying weights, kegs, vehicle deadlift frame etc.

If you're interested in a good value gym with pretty much all the equipment you're likely to need then I'd say it is an excellent option for southsiders or people in the east of Dublin. No showers and it's a bit industrial - but for the price concerned, who cares? There are no shower facilities or nice finish at some similar set-ups elsewhere either.

Price-wise what we were told was that there would be a 100 euro sign-up fee for the year and then it was 400 euro for a year's training (So, 500 in total for the year... to me that's a hell of a deal considering the equipment available and the opening hours). I'm already a member at Informed Performance and for travelling I.P suits me better, but I'd certainly recommend Ironisde to anyone on the south side of the city looking for a place to train.

The only thing I can't comment on is what type of instruction or advice on programming will be available. It was mentioned that people could come in and follow their own programmes, but I gather there will be classes and instruction available too.

g'em

I'm just back from Ironside, called in to take a look at the place and say hi to the lads. As has been said it's a work in progress but the set-up is pretty excellent. Lots of space, racks, weights, bars - anything you'd need for S&C, powerlifing and/or strongman. The emphasis is definitely on strongman and if you like the idea of playing with stones, logs and tyres then there's plenty there to keep you occupied.

There weren't many there when I was down, only a handful, so I don't think there'll be any hassle waiting for equipment

Great to see a place like this opening up and providing something different.

The Guvnor

Any pics of the place online?:)

g'em

There's a few on their facebook page.

also, huge kudos for their wall graffiti. It's pure awesome

d'Oracle

Nuff Said.

Remmy

^That is class!

rock27

Cheers for the responses everyone, will definitely be down to for a look during the week.

Layderkinn

Hey,

Just a heads up to anyone interested, Ironside are offering a free guest pass to anyone who is looking to try out the gym for the month of March.

Their membership rates are on special for March too - €100 joining fee and €40 monthly OR €500 upfront and seemingly classes are free too.

Its almost worth using just to see the Hulk Graffiti in person its massive.

Lay.

Black Sheep

I ended up joining Ironside this week - a refugee from I.P...

It's been a couple of months since I popped in during their open week, and aside from the new graffiti the biggest change is the sprint track laid down the centre of the gym. I gather this isn't quite finished and there is equipment to come for it, but the first sprint / acceleration session is supposed to be on tonight (details on their facebook page).

I think there are three or four benching stations now, two oly platforms and two or three cages. Bars galore, including a thick grip one (only seen thick grip dumbells so this is kinda cool). Looks there is more strongman stuff there too, including some humongous atlas stones.

Considering the range of equipment at hand I think the rates are a bloody good deal, provided you understand that the money has gone on gear* and not frills.

*not that kind of gear.

d'Oracle

Black Sheep wrote: »

I ended up joining Ironside this week - a refugee from I.P...

It's been a couple of months since I popped in during their open week, and aside from the new graffiti the biggest change is the sprint track laid down the centre of the gym. I gather this isn't quite finished and there is equipment to come for it, but the first sprint / acceleration session is supposed to be on tonight (details on their facebook page).

I think there are three or four benching stations now, two oly platforms and two or three cages. Bars galore, including a thick grip one (only seen thick grip dumbells so this is kinda cool). Looks there is more strongman stuff there too, including some humongous atlas stones.

Considering the range of equipment at hand I think the rates are a bloody good deal, provided you understand that the money has gone on gear* and not frills.

*not that kind of gear.

Three of those benchin' stations are full power cages. The benches come out nicely.
It should be added that two of them are extra high for pressin'n'shizz.