Kelly Earley: We're in the middle of a luxury gym epidemic

THOUGH HARD TO believe, there was a time when gyms were the preserve of the well-off. Back in 2019, fitness mogul Ben Dunne reflected on this era, which set the stage for his chain of reasonably priced gyms around Ireland. He noted that in the 1990s, fitness and leisure clubs “were highly priced and not at a reach for a lot of the population”. This changed over time. By the 2010s, low-cost gyms became commonplace. Chains like Flyefit and Dunne’s own BD Gyms led the charge on this, with the former introducing monthly gym memberships priced at €29, back in the good old days. Suddenly, the gym was not just accessible to new demographics, but also pretty good value for many. Fitness mania subsequently gripped the nation, with people qualifying as personal trainers and yoga instructors left, ri