New gym ‘Better Days’ opens its doors in Gorey

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A new gym has opened its doors in Gorey, with a focus on coached training, personal development and creating a welcoming community for people of all fitness levels….

Better Days Training, based in the gym facility at Gorey Rangers AFC, officially opened on August 10 and is the brainchild of local fitness coach and well-known Wexford Football League player, Conor Casserly.

For Casserly, opening his own facility was an ambition he had held for some time, while his long-standing connection with Gorey Rangers made the location a natural fit.

“Opening my own gym was something I had wanted to do for a long time. Since getting into coaching, I’ve really enjoyed helping people become fitter, stronger and more confident, but I always had the ambition to eventually create a place of my own,” Casserly said.

“When the opportunity came up to take over the gym at Gorey Rangers, it felt like the perfect fit. I’ve been involved with the club for 13 years and it’s given me so much over that time, so being able to build Better Days there and give something back to the club and the wider community means a lot to me,” he told Wexford Weekly.

Rather than operating as a traditional open gym, Better Days Training places its main emphasis on coached sessions.

The gym currently offers three different group training classes. Build focuses on strength and conditioning, while Engine is centred around fitness and conditioning. Lastly, Better Together is a community-focused session designed around working hard, having fun and training alongside others.

Casserly also offers one-to-one and two-to-one personal training.

“The idea is that no matter what level someone is starting at, there’s an option for them and they’ll always have guidance and support rather than feeling like they’re left to figure everything out themselves,” he said.

One of the central ideas behind Better Days is making the gym accessible to people who may not have previously felt comfortable in a gym environment.Casserly believes the community aspect is what will ultimately set the new Gorey facility apart.

“I never wanted to create a gym where people just come in, train and leave. I want people to actually enjoy coming through the doors, know the people they’re training alongside and feel like they’re part of something. You don’t have to already be fit or experienced to come here. Whether someone is stepping into a gym for the first time, getting back into training after years away, or is already an experienced athlete, I want them to feel equally comfortable and supported,” he told Wexford Weekly.

He added that the philosophy behind Better Days extends beyond physical fitness.

“Of course we want people to get fitter and stronger, but confidence, mental wellbeing and having somewhere positive to go are just as important to me.

“That’s what Better Days represents. It’s a place to train, a place to belong, and hopefully somewhere that can have a genuinely positive impact on people’s lives,” he said.

Alongside running the new gym, Casserly will continue working with Gorey Rangers as the club’s Strength and Conditioning coach, helping players and teams of different ages with their fitness and athletic development.

There are also plans to expand what is available at Better Days in the future, with Casserly interested in introducing areas such as wellness, recovery, yoga and other specialist classes. For now, however, Conor says the priority is establishing the gym and listening to the people using it.

“It’s still very early days, so I want to focus on delivering really good coaching, developing the classes and making sure everyone who comes through the door has a positive experience,” he said.

“Long term I have plenty of ideas for Better Days, but for now it’s about building it the right way, listening to the people coming through the doors and creating something that can become a real part of the local community.”

The early reaction has been encouraging, with Casserly saying support since opening has exceeded his expectations.

“We’ve only just opened the doors, but already there’s been a great mix of people coming into the gym for classes and personal training, and the support from the local community has been brilliant,” he said.

“The most rewarding part has been seeing people come through the doors who maybe lacked confidence with gyms before, and seeing them settle in, enjoy the sessions and already start to feel part of the place.”

Casserly was also quick to thank his family, friends, Gorey Rangers and everyone who helped get the new venture off the ground.

“There was a lot of work that went on behind the scenes to get the gym ready, and plenty of people gave up their own time to help me along the way, which I’ll always be grateful for.

“This is only the beginning for Better Days. I’m really excited to see where we can take it, but more than anything I hope we can build something that has a positive impact on people in Gorey and the surrounding areas.”

Unlimited class membership at Better Days costs €110 per month, providing access to all Better Days group training classes. Individual classes are available on a €15 drop-in basis, while personal training and two-to-one coaching are available separately.

For more information, check out Better Days Training on Facebook.