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Sasko Lazarov/RollingNews.ie

The Dunnes Stores dynasty is planning to install a high-end gym close to its Dublin head office

The proposed fitness studio on South Great George’s Street will be operated by F45 Training.

RETAIL GIANT DUNNES Stores is planning to install a high-end gym close to its Dublin city centre head office.

Subsidiary company Silverwood Developments Limited has submitted a planning application to convert a small retail unit on the busy South Great George’s Street into a fitness studio.

The lower ground floor-level unit once operated as a Dunnes Home shop – which shut because it was “underperforming” – and is sandwiched between the centuries-old Long Hall pub and the recently opened Great Outdoors adventure sportswear store. It is also a stone’s throw from one of Flyefit’s 24-hour budget gyms.

According to Dunnes’ planning application, the proposed gym will be operated by F45 Training, an Australia-founded chain that provides high-intensity fitness circuit classes that cost members around €200 a month.

F45 Training has been described as the world’s fastest-growing fitness franchise with 1,500 studios in 40 countries. It currently operates three locations in Dublin and one in Co Wicklow.

f45 floor plan Illustration of gym floor plan Dublin City Council Dublin City Council

Dunnes told Dublin city planners that if the proposed build is given the green light, it will have a “positive impact” on the George’s Street area, adding that the gym would “help meet the fitness needs/demands of the local and working population”.

A report from Deloitte and not-for-profit group EuropeActive published earlier this year estimated that some 504,000 people across Ireland were members of 720 health and fitness clubs in 2018, generating sales of €281 million.

As previously reported by Fora, one of the most significant changes in Ireland’s fitness industry over the last decade has been the arrival of budget chains, the likes of which already dominate Europe’s multibillion-euro market.

Ireland still largely consists of independently operated, mid-market leisure centres.

However, Dublin in particular has experienced an explosion in low-cost outfits like Flyefit and Ben Dunne Gyms, which was founded by former Dunnes Stores director Ben Dunne.

High-end brands have also arrived on the scene, including F45 Training.

Earlier this year, boutique gym Perpetua opened its first branch in Dublin’s docklands with the intention of attracting tech workers in the area.

Get our Daily Briefing with the morning’s most important headlines for innovative Irish businesses.

Written by Conor McMahon and posted on Fora.ie

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    Mute Ciarán Masterson
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    Feb 12th 2018, 10:38 PM

    I’ve read it, read it, read it….

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    Mute Trevor W
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    Feb 12th 2018, 10:47 PM

    @Ciarán Masterson: hahaha. Well done

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    Mute Ciarán Masterson
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    Feb 12th 2018, 11:55 PM

    @Trevor W:

    Thank you.

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    Mute Emilio Butler
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    Feb 12th 2018, 10:21 PM

    A truly remarkable story, and nonfiction. I find it terribly sad, how extinction is under our noses

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    Mute Ron North
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    Feb 12th 2018, 11:01 PM

    I know how you feel little guy, I hope there is someone out there for both of us.

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    Mute Liberal Larry
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    Feb 12th 2018, 11:54 PM

    @Ron North: awh… (heartbreak emoji)

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    Mute Myk_Oval_Balls_nRyt
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    Feb 13th 2018, 6:18 PM

    @Ron North: Pizza will always be there for you Ron, Always**whispers**

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    Mute Paul Culligan
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    Feb 12th 2018, 11:27 PM

    Would you say that, if you put him back where you found him, he might know where the moths are hidin’. Just because we can’t find them, doesn’t mean Romeo can’t sniff them out. Mind you, he probably has Alzheimers by now.

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    Mute George Oscar Bluth
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    Feb 12th 2018, 10:35 PM

    Incredible yet the Bolivian tree lizard thrives on a diet of pigeons. It’s at the point where we need wave after wave of Chinese needle snake to prevent us from being overrun.

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    Mute Arthur Pewty
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    Feb 13th 2018, 1:21 AM

    and I thought I was lonely…..get this frog a mate!!!

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    Mute Mary Lyons
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    Feb 12th 2018, 11:51 PM

    I’m glad it’s not the same problem in the pond in my back garden! It’s a veritable love in at the moment!

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    Mute Jim Doherty
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    Feb 12th 2018, 10:57 PM

    Darn it, never thought I’d have so much in common with a frog, know how that little guy feels

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    Mute Jim Doherty
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    Feb 12th 2018, 10:58 PM

    @Jim Doherty: hmmm..that loses lot of its meaning without the emoticon attached!

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    Mute Tommy Roche
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    Feb 12th 2018, 10:40 PM

    Damn… Hope he gets his hole before he croaks.

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    Mute Gary Byrnes
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    Feb 13th 2018, 3:39 AM

    Is there a link

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    Mute Pauliebhoy
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    Feb 12th 2018, 10:19 PM

    I’m sure there’s a willing female pig out there

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    Mute Oretani Wildlife
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    Feb 12th 2018, 11:12 PM

    More crap editing from the Journal. The picture is probably a European Tree Frog and is nothing like the frog the story is about.

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    Mute Oretani Wildlife
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    Feb 12th 2018, 11:19 PM

    @Oretani Wildlife: Correction, it’s a Hipsiboas riojanus, endemic to Argentina. Still crap editing.

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    Mute Joe Conlon
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    Feb 12th 2018, 11:23 PM

    @Oretani Wildlife: hop along Oretani

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    Mute Red hurley
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    Feb 13th 2018, 7:48 AM

    Mmmmmmmmm frogs legs in garlic.

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    Mute Joseph Blocks
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    Feb 12th 2018, 10:55 PM

    What’s the fuss? Frogs can change sex anyway. He can impregnate himself.

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    Mute Dae Monicus
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    Feb 12th 2018, 11:42 PM

    @Joseph Blocks: Interesting fact that Joseph, if only Kermit knew that when Miss Piggy finally told him to go f@#k himself he wouldn’t be such an emotional wreck.

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