Community loan for Wexford Gymnastics Club

Whenever Ireland competes in gymnastics at an international level, you can be almost certain that the team will feature members of the Wexford Gymnastics Club.

 

Founded in 1978, it is among the most successful gymnastics clubs in the country with more than 150 titles to date, while some 60 club members have represented their country at international level over the years.

 

However, success brought its own problems, one including a shortage of adequate space and training facilities.

 

Young gymnasts joining the club are coached on general fitness and basic gymnastics before progressing to development stage and then to senior level, which can involve training for up to 17 hours weekly.

 

But without its own dedicated premises, the club was forced to rent limited space from a nearby school, which sometimes saw gymnasts at different levels being coached side by side.

 

And with more than 120 members on its books, the club has been forced to turn away potential members or place them on a waiting list, due to the lack of space and appropriate facilities.

 

While the Wexford Gymnastics Club has survived and thrived due to a strong spirit of volunteerism and community support, an investment in its own premises was clearly required to help it grow and strengthen its prospects into the future.

 

Working with Wexford Council, the club secured a site in Coolcots, close to the town, with the proviso that it would obtain the finance necessary to construct the purpose-built, permanent gymnastics facility.

 

There are only three such centres in the country and the Coolcots facility was to be the first of its kind in the southeast region.

 

However, the club encountered some initial difficulty sourcing official funding for the planned centre and turned to Clann Credo for assistance. Given the significant benefit that the new centre would bring to sporting and social life in the region, Clann Credo was proud to play a role in bringing it fruition.