'The longer this goes on, the harder it will be to come back from all this'

A Donegal gym admits it is unsure over its future, having received no communication from Uisce Éireann following flooding which has forced its closure since New Year’s Day.

JH Fitness in Clonmany say that it would prefer not to take the campaign to social media but is left with little option, “10 days later and still no further forward” in what is a peak time of year for the industry.

“Still no official contact from Irish Water (now Uisce Éireann), still not able to get my business back up and running,” JH posted.

“Waking up to a phone call on New Year’s Day to say the gym was flooded due to the water mains bursting on the main road. A business that I have worked so hard at, over the last eight years, to build up my members, expand my equipment and build something that helped the local people.

“Fitness is so much more than just training, it’s essential for mental health as well as physical health, it’s somewhere for people to escape for an hour for themselves, somewhere people can socialise and meet new people.

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“January is peak time in the fitness industry and the longer this goes on, the harder it will be to come back from all this. I will lose members, I feel I am letting members down, I am still paying bills for the gym with no income, I am unsure if Irish Water will stand over all this, I am unsure of my livelihood and business.

“The water system in Clonmany over the last few years has been terrible, countless busts, schools and businesses having to close, roads destroyed, cars damaged on the sinking holes and pot holes they leave behind.

“We need better from Irish Water. I’m not someone who enjoys putting stuff on social media but I don’t have many other options to get my voice heard. I’ve been onto numerous politicians who all seem to have the same response - ‘They will do what they can but Irish Water can be very difficult to work with’.”