Connect with us

News

A unique gym experience at Activate

Published

on

“It’s a facility where members can find something totally different that’s not available in any other gym in Killarney,” says Activate co-founder Brian Foley. “It’s fairly unique in Kerry in general as well, in terms of the space we have and the type of work we do here. We’re trying to bring a professional level of strength and conditioning coaching to the general population.

Established by Brian and his wife Róisín in 2017, Activate has quickly earned a reputation for high standards, which is no surprise considering the couple’s impressive level of experience in the field. The pair lived in Australia and New Zealand for six years where they worked in Strength & Conditioning and CrossFit and Brian, a Farranfore native, also in rugby union and Aussie rules during his time abroad.

“We’ve set up Activate the way you would any world class facility,” Brian explains. “We’ve got the gym floor and all the equipment that would come with it such as free weights and conditioning equipment. We treat recovery as important as training, we’ve got the recovery suite with a cryotherapy bath and a hot tub for contrast bathing, which is ideal if you’ve just played a football match, been on a long run or competed in a marathon. The goal is to get your body back to normal as soon as possible.”

At Activate you can also avail of the innovative NormaTec recovery boots, which are used by Premier League footballers, Aussie rules players and NFL players to aid their recovery.

“We’re trying to approach things from both sides,” Brian says. “We want to make sure that we’re making people fitter, faster and stronger but ensuring it’s done in the right way whilst also looking after their recovery needs. We offer stretching classes twice a week for flexibility work and, like everything else at Activate, they’re totally guided from start to finish.

“The minute someone walks in the door, they are more or less taken by the hand through all of their exercises. You’re never left wondering what to do, and will always be shown the correct and safe techniques on how to get fitter for the long term. We make sure the technique is spot on. It’s totally different to the traditional gym where you might come in and work away for half an hour on the treadmill and then scratch your head trying to figure out what to do next. We’ve got everything programmed for you. We are about long term health and fitness, we’ve worked with professional athletes and senior citizens alike and one thing always runs true: A healthy body is vitally important all through life, so we don’t believe in quick fixes or fads, we treat our profession very seriously.”

Brian and Róisín are hosting an open day this Saturday at 11am, which they hope will serve as a great opportunity for newcomers to check out their state of the art facility in Ballycasheen and see what Activate is all about. Special Olympics Ireland athletes will be in attendance to cut the ribbon and officially open the gym. There will be plenty of fun and games on the day as well as a few great prizes thrown in for good measure.

For more information, call 087 4030894 or visit www.activatefitness.ie

Advertisement

News

Boxing brothers aim for European Championship

Killarney boxing brothers, Jamesie and Pa Casey, have their sights set on representing Ireland at the upcoming European championships after a successful spring in the ring. Both national champions for […]

Published

on

Killarney boxing brothers, Jamesie and Pa Casey, have their sights set on representing Ireland at the upcoming European championships after a successful spring in the ring.

Both national champions for 2025, the talented siblings are in preparation for crucial national competitions. Pa is gearing up for the junior cadets in three weeks, while Jamesie will compete in the under-18 championships in July.

Victory in these national events would automatically earn both boys an invitation to the high-performance unit, bringing them a step closer to being selected for the Irish team heading to the European championships.

Both Jamesie and Pa follow a rigorous training schedule, working out six days a week, twice a day – before school and work in the morning, and again every evening.

They are currently in camp, preparing for their respective national competitions.

The brothers understand the commitment required at this level of boxing, describing it as a lifestyle demanding 100% dedication, including twice-daily training, healthy eating, weight management, strength and conditioning, running, sparring, and technical training.

The Casey brothers thanked Bobby Enright of Peak Performance Academy for strength and conditioning and nutrition guidance, ProActive Physiotherapy for their support and the coaches and volunteers at Sliabh Luachra Boxing Club

Continue Reading

News

Killorglin’s RDI Hub to hosts open week

The RDI Hub in Killorglin is inviting the public to an Open Week next week, from Monday, May 19 to Friday, May 23. They are encouraging people who are curious […]

Published

on

The RDI Hub in Killorglin is inviting the public to an Open Week next week, from Monday, May 19 to Friday, May 23.

They are encouraging people who are curious about what the hub offers, or anyone needing a different place to work for a day, to come and visit.
During the week, people can use a desk for free at any time. They can also stay for just an hour or for the whole day. There will be lunchtime events each day featuring guest speakers. On Friday, visitors can try out the Media Lab with free podcasting sessions, but booking ahead is needed for this. The hub offers a lively space where people can work together.
The lunchtime events include Chris Barrett talking about his Arctic journey on Monday, John Ryan from Gigable on business growth strategies on Tuesday, Gavin Henrick from Brickfield Labs discussing accessibility on Wednesday, Hugh Reynolds from the RDI Hub talking about online marketing on Thursday, and a VHI Wellness Station on Friday. The Media Lab will also be open on Friday for podcasting sessions.
Anyone interested in attending the Open Week is asked to sign up using this link: https://bit.ly/4jlJlD3.

Lunchtime Events During Open Week:

Monday 19: Chris Barrett – Journey to the Arctic on the Fjällräven Polar Expedition
An incredible story of resilience, adventure, and pushing boundaries.
Tuesday 20: John Ryan, Gigable – Go-to-Market Strategy Session
Practical strategies for launching and growing your business.
Wednesday 21: Gavin Henrick, Brickfield Labs – Tearing Down the Accessibility Barriers
Why accessibility matters and how to build inclusive digital experiences.
Thursday 22: Hugh Reynolds, RDI Hub Entrepreneur in Residence – Zero to Online Hero
Explore what happens when a community experiment meets digital marketing.
Friday 23: VHI Wellness Station
Close out the week with the VHI Wellness Station which will give you insights into Body Composition, Diabetes Risk and More!
Bonus Friday Activity:
🎙️ Open Media Lab Access and Complimentary Podcasting Sessions
Explore our new Media Lab and try out a mini podcasting session with expert support.
Sessions are free but must be pre-booked in advance – limited slots available!
For more information, you can contact Megan Daly Tyrrell at megan.dalytyrrell@rdihub.com.

Continue Reading

Last News

Sport