Longford Fitness will shut its doors at the end of the month

After 12 years of providing a range of fitness classes and personal training Longford Fitness will shut its doors at the end of the month.

The Longford gym owners' efforts to sell the business as a going concern failed to materialise due to circumstances out of their control and they will now hold their final classes on March 30.

Gyms all over the country have operated in difficult circumstances in the last number of years.

“I think everybody's a little bit shocked now that we've made this decision,” Tessy Gillen said of the move, “we wanted to sell it rather than let it go, but we weren't in a position to do that.”

Located in the N4 Axis Centre the fitness centre tailored classes to a dedicated cohort of clients: “This gym has been our first child. We love it, we love the people it has brought into our lives over the years and we love how we made a difference to our clients lives. We attracted a tribe of people we sincerely love and are so grateful for their support throughout,” Tessy said in an online explanation of the decision.

Since starting out in 2012 Tessy, her husband Enda, along with Niall Toher and a number of instructors, have provided a first class centre of health and fitness.

“We dreamed of setting up classes where the instructor was present to help teach clients and allow them to gain the knowledge, skills and confidence to become their best in terms of training. We joined forces as we all shared the same vision,” Tessy said.

The business owner says it's been difficult to rebuild the business after the pandemic: “We did a lot of hard work before COVID to build up the business. It was brilliant, we had a good staff working with us. Since COVID it's been a slog to try and build it back up.

“Over the past four years we put our energy, sweat and tears into trying to make it all work, but we fell short. We made the heartbreaking decision to close the gym from the 30th of March,” Tessy explained.

The couple have prioritised their family: “I suppose we've evolved, I'm working with Longford Sports Partnership, and Enda is working with the GAA as a Games Promotion Officer. We have two kids, so we're running and racing trying to balance life, something had to give,” she explained.

The announcement is fresh, but Tessy says there has been an unbelievable reaction: “The outpouring of love has been incredible. We told the people in the gym with us two weeks ago to give them an extra bit of notice. “It definitely is emotional now. It's not easy to build up your baby and then to make the decision to let it go. I just think it's the right decision for our family at this moment.”

Tessy says there will still be training options available: “Aislinn is aiming to take on clients. Ciaran also has his Personal Training Studio in Ardagh. Enda and I will continue a few classes in Ardagh and Josie hopes to start classes after her wedding.”