Activities galore in the Leisure Centre

Busy as always, but always introducing novel ways for everyone to enjoy being active, the Bailieborough Leisure Centre is starting a 'Special Abilities Inclusive Programme'.

Aimed at children with special abilities, disabilities or learning difficulties, the sessions provide for a “fun environment to learn swimming,” duty manager Aoife O’Reilly says. Spaces are still available for the three week-long classes running in July and August from Tuesday to Thursday. Each session is 30 minutes long with a maximum of six children, ages 4-8 and 8-12 years per class at €50. Four special ability instructors are with the children at all times, creating a positive experience for them.

The swim school in Bailieborough is valued highly within the community and beyond, currently offering lessons to more than 1,200 swimmers from tadpoles to level nine. After that, children and adults have the option of joining the East Cavan swim club and doing water safety courses.

Aqua Aerobics are “the big hit” at the moment, says Aoife. Forty-five minutes of fun cardio and core exercises in the water to the sound of pumping beats have attracted women and men, says Aoife who runs the classes along with others on Monday and Thursday evenings at 8pm, as well as on Mondays at 10am and Wednesdays at 9:15am.

In recent times, the centre opened a recovery unit called ‘Revitalise BLC’ with health benefits through enhancing muscle recovery. Emphasising that it is not only for team sport groups, but for any training recovery from swimming, gym work or running, the facilities in the Revitalise area have proven to be a “huge success”, Aoife confirms.

Boasting a hot tub, ice bath, loungers with compression boots and an infrared sauna, the facility is ideal for gym goers after pushing themselves to the limits in the gym, for those involved in any kind of sport and for people who simply want to relax. Open from 5.30-10pm on weekdays and morning hours on weekends, it also offers specific ‘ladies evenings’ Tuesdays and Thursdays from 8-9pm for €5.

The gym area keeps equipment up to date for users with the new addition of a squat machine and ‘assault bike’ for sweaty cardio sessions. Memberships run on a monthly, three-monthly or yearly basis and grant a discount on the recovery unit.