Pirates Club remains positive despite lockdown challenges
GREENSIDE – Club chairman Lloyde Hanson speaks to the Rosebank Killarney Gazette concerning the challenges of lockdown.
Pirates Sports Club in Greenside said their revenue had declined by more than 60 per cent during this year as a result of the lockdown.
Club chairman Lloyde Hanson said, “Without the amazing generosity of members who assisted the club financially and assisted with various community charity drives held by the club, we would not have been able to pay staff at all.”
The lack of sport being played and few functions due to limited numbers and caution from people had largely impacted the club.
Hanson said once Level 5 was eased, they noticed a marked increase in the numbers of the general public using the facilities for dog walking, exercising and giving their children a safe space to ride bicycles etc.
While the gym lost a few members, Hanson said some sports did not see any new members as they were not playing. Tennis, bowls and squash are officially back, but at the time of reporting all other sports were still closed.
The club has implemented screening protocols, sanitising stations, spaced out tables, installed screens in the bars to protect staff, implemented curfews, stuck to specified attendance figures for functions and implemented Covid-19 guidelines. Hanson said some sports codes showed great innovation during lockdown with the gym providing online training for home use while the running section attracted interest from members and potential new members by bringing in some virtual routes and challenges.
“If anything, Covid-19 has shown the importance of being fit and healthy and being part of a community. Gym membership has seen an increase since lockdown Level 2. We predict an increase in the number of members in most sports codes as people seek out platforms to keep their kids and family occupied outdoors and within trusted, controlled environments.”
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