Closure of Rathdown gym confirmed despite local opposition

The gym in the Samuel Beckett Civic Centre in Rathdown is to close.

The move comes despite appeals from the local community to keep it open.

Dublin Rathdown Sinn Féin representative Shaun Tracey has said there is “deep disappointment” in the Ballyogan area following the announcement.

“DLR Leisure have confirmed this week that the gym at the Samuel Beckett Civic Centre will close on August 9th to facilitate the development of a new library on the site despite concerns raised by gym users, many of whom will not be able to travel to the other DLR Leisure Gyms in Meadowbrook, Monkstown and Loughlinstown.”

“Some gym users have told me that this facility is vital for them in managing their mental health, maintaining their physical health and just simply getting out of the house and meeting other people; this is now going to be taken away for an unspecified period of time,” he said.

“I welcome news from the Council this week that the Part 8 application for the development of the swimming pool, the new gym and the sports hall will be brought in the second quarter of next year.

Tracey noted that the gym has been in operation since 2015 and said “I can see no reason why the development of the library could not have happened after the new gym has been developed.”

“There is nobody opposed to the development of the library – in fact it will be a very welcome addition to the community – but this has been badly managed by the Council, and the local community and local gym users in particular have been badly let down.”