A new ‘BASE’ for physical fitness

SPORTING legends of the Kingdom were out in force at the Community Centre on Friday for the grand official opening of the new-look sports facility, complete with state-of-the-art gym.

BASE is the name of the bright new gym in the community amenity, finished to the highest of modern standards and seemingly complete with every kind of equipment imaginable.

And it’s all there for one purpose only, as manager Tony Duggan outlined on the night: To give more and more the opportunity to journey in fitness and physical health. Already, it’s in favour among some of the county’s leading sporting figures given the degree to which they appeared impressed with the new-look venue on the night. Over 20 sports personalities were in attendance, mingling with locals before joining RTÉ’s Joe Stack on stage for interviews.

Ogie Moran reminisced on how players trained long ago – in the absence of the kind of equipment and know-how available in the Centre today – while Ireland Women’s Rugby Captain Ciara Griffin and Kerry’s Shane Enright spoke about modern training techniques.

All-Ireland winning minor captain Paul O’Shea spoke about the standard of the modern game and all that’s expected of modern players. Sprinter Travane Morrison from Tralee giving input on training needs from a world-class athlete’s perspective.

Other panellists included Michael ‘Mitch’ Foley and Niall Collins, with two all-Ireland minor medals, Kerry Camogie captain Jackie Horgan and Kerry senior hurler and all-star nominee Mikey Boyle.

It was, of course, a great night for the many visionaries behind the space - not least the members of the original Community Council, many of whom were present on the night delighted to see the facility entering such a bright new phase of its existence.

It was to Minister for Sport Brendan Griffin that the official duty of opening BASE fell, as he spoke about the need for activity-led centres and remarked on how taken he was with the whole concept of BASE; as a starting point for someone’s health and wellbeing in a package others would do well to emulate.

Jenny and Kyle McNicholas checking out the new gear at the Community Centre. FAR LEFT: Eibhlín and Máire Enright from Listowel at the new-look Community Centre on Friday.

Photos by Domnick Walsh Cllr Mike Kennelly with Sophie Lynch, Aoife Behan and Jackie Horgan as they get to grips with the latest fitness tech at the new Community Centre space.

Photos by Domnick Walsh Meet the physical training team: John Keane, Michael Stack, Trevor Horan, Dylan O’Leary and Filip Bieszczanin on hand to take everyone through their paces at the new stateof-the-art gym at the Listowel Community Centre.

LEFT: Travane Morrison from Tralee pumping iron at the gym.

ABOVE: Joanna Broderick at Friday’s opening of the gym.

BELOW: Orla O’Connor and John Keane.

Darren and Robert Enright admiring the bright new space