About Bayside Gymnastics

Bayside Gymnastics is much more than a sports club. Under the guided influence of founder Marie Carroll, and a dedicated team of volunteer coaches, the club has helped to positively shape the lives of many young people and their families, over the past 30 years.

In addition to providing recreational and competitive gymnastic classes, the coaching team ,have designed an innovative programme of activities to support the development of confidence and self belief in every member who joins the club – adult and child alike !

Through the medium of gymnastics and movement, Bayside Gymnastics provides the basic building blocks for personal fitness, healthier living and a more positive outlook on life.

The development of our GymAbility™ programme further enhanced the profile of BG and has brought worldwide acclaim for our unified approach to social inclusion.

GymAbility™ is a programme of activities, where those with a disability work alongside their non disabled partners in the true spirit of “respect among equals”. The programme focuses on the Ability of each person and in co-operation with the participant, challenges them to reach far beyond their limiting beliefs or expectations of society. Currently, over 50% of club members have a physical, learning, sensory or emotional related disability.

Competitive level:

Affiliated to the National Governing Bodies, our expert team of coaches have trained gymnasts to compete at both National and International level, through the Federation Internationale de Gymnastique (FIG), European Union of Gymnastics (EUG) and Special Olympics International.

Following competitive careers, gymnasts are invited to remain within the club family and undertake coach education training or represent the club as event officials.

Recreational level:

As hundreds of children and young adults tumble through our doors, Bayside Gymnastics continues to develop its “person centered” approach to exercise and healthier living.

Recognising that not every person will be successful at competitions, we teach the principles of personal achievement, so every person knows what it takes to be a winner – in sport – in school – in work – in life. Working on co-ordination, posture, balance and integration of personal goals, we encourage the experience of fun and enjoyment so that exercise is seen as a joy not a chore.

Removing the need for comparison from classes, our recreational groups, build on the individual capacity for winning that each of us has – seen or unseen.

Our annual “Achievement Day” offers everyone the opportunity to perform and enjoy the enormous benefits received from praise, applause and public recognition.

In addition to performing handstands and cartwheels each person that joins the club is encouraged to learn life skills that will stay with them long after they cease to train – being a team player, taking responsibility for personal behaviour and building on their motivational tools. Irrespective of age or ability , Gymnasts and coaches can call on this knowledge as they progress through their life experiences...and they can still do a Cartwheel on the beach!!!

BG fully supports the code of ethics for children and sports, as prepared by the Irish Sports Council.