UK fitness group Energie has decided to close the former Jackie Skelly gym in Greystones, Co Wicklow. Members have been informed that it will shut at the end of August with refunds available on fees paid.
“Unfortunately, no suitable agreement could be reached with the landlord of the Greystones club which would ensure the club could remain in operation,” the company told me this week. Energie bought the nine other Jackie Skelly gyms out of examinership in May, securing 200 jobs, and said it would spend €1.8 million on upgrading the chain.
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Majella Fitzpatrick is hanging up her mobile phone at O2, where she has been head of corporate affairs for five years. It’s not clear what her plans are but she’ll bring plenty of experience to her next role.
Fitzpatrick spent five and a half years with Eircom, where she worked on the rebranding from Telecom Éireann, its infamous IPO and the subsequent battle for control between Denis O’Brien and Sir Anthony O’Reilly’s Valentia consortium. She was also an adviser to former taoiseach John Bruton in the 1997 general election, which he lost.
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Aircoach’s bus service between Belfast and Dublin Airport could be curtailed, according to reports from the North. The route is currently under review by UK parent First Group. Passenger numbers have declined due to a combination of improvements to the road network and the effect of the recession on air travel and tourism.
A decision is expected in mid September.
Aircoach’s services from various points in Dublin to the airport will not be affected.
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UK listed retailer JD Sports is the latest company to sign up for an outlet at the new Terminal 2 at Dublin Airport. It joins a list that already includes WH Smith, Best of the Best, Spar and the Sunglasses Hut.
JD Sports already has a number of outlets in Ireland, including at Dublin’s Mary Street, and the Liffey Valley and Blanchardstown shopping centres. Irish-owned Champion Sports has a shop in the existing terminal.
