Leisure facility a huge boost for Trim area

For years the excuse offered for the misgivings of youth in Trim was that there was never anything for the young people to do in the town. That reason, put forward mainly by some troublesome youngsters themselves, was flawed because there is and always has been many magnificent sporting organisations in the town to help them stay out of trouble. The GAA is the most popular organisation in every parish in Ireland, and Trim is no different. There is also soccer clubs, a pitch and putt course, golf clubs, boxing clubs, snooker halls, an athletics club, badminton and tennis, so there is no reason to blame 'nothing to do" for wrongdoing. Last month the town took another giant leap towards dispelling the myth with the opening of the €14 million Trim Town Council owned Sports and Leisure Centre beside the local GAA facility on the Newhaggard road. Responsibility for running the state-of-the-art centre rests with the reputable Aura Leisurelink company and given their track record the new facility is set to be a sure fire success. The centre will have everything a local community needs. A superbly modern 25 metre swimming pool with a toddler"s pool and a training pool as well as sauna and a steam room and a spacious viewing area. Everything about the whole centre roars top quality. The superb outdoor field turf pitches and the magnificent bowls area offer the perfect opportunity for sporting enthusiasts of all ages. Impressive enough as the outdoor facilities are at the Trim centre it is when you go inside that the real splendour of the site is realised. A modern fitness centre and gym with an emphasis on quality and quantity are served by brilliant changing rooms. The piste de résistance for the site is their magnificent sports hall with its viewing balcony. The sports hall is suitable for indoor football, basketball, badminton, volleyball and Olympic handball and offers the type of sporting hall that the town has been crying out for for years. There is a vibrancy surrounding the centre and the feel good factor developed by the friendly and helpful staff creates a welcoming and family atmosphere for all visitors. Whether it is a local soccer or GAA club hoping to use the superb outdoor all-weather pitchers or some of the many schools in the region sampling swimming lessons or indoor games, Trim Sports and Leisure Centre has everything to cater for the local community and their wider reaches. Like any good company, the success of the new Trim Sports and Leisure centre will depend on its staff and manager Adrian Harrison is confident he has assembled a top class team to rival any other in the country. 'We have brought people from other facilities who are highly regarded in their respective roles and we have also employed people from the area who possess a knowledge of the people of the Trim and their needs,' said Harrison. Harrison himself will bring a wealth of experience to the centre. He has run the internationally acclaimed centres at the Dundalk Dome and also the sports facility at UUJ. He also is a respected coach who has developed a team building clinic and has worked with Tyrone"s minor and senior footballers as well as the Ulster GAA elite u-16 panels, the Elks basketball club, the Newport Gwent Dragons rugby side, Northern Ireland"s women"s soccer team and Netball NI. 'Aura Trim will offer everyone, whatever their age or fitness levels, the opportunity to improve their health and fitness, as well as to have fun. All of our 20 fitness classes will be free to members and our unique 'Pay As You Go" facility will provide visitors access to all classes and our facilities without having to commit to a long-term membership,' explained Aura Eastern Regional Manager, Josephine Pepper. With that type of experience and attention to detail being brought to bear, Trim finally has a sports facility it can be proud of and with the new GAA centre also available the town"s youth can no longer blame the lack of things to do in the town for their misspent days. Aura Trim will be fully accessible to people with special needs. For information on fitness classes, courses or any of the flexible membership options available, contact reception at (046) 9438730.