Croom Community Development Association is committed to building a fit and healthy community, and there is no shortage of ways to get moving locally.

Croom Sports Hall offers plenty of options for all ages and abilities. There are children’s Taekwondo classes, adult martial arts, and soccer through Croom Soccer Club. If you prefer something more casual, there is pay as you go pickleball on Thursdays and badminton on Wednesdays.

New since the autumn is Donnacha’s Full Body Fitness, a circuit style training session running on Monday evenings. It is a great option if you want a full workout in a supportive setting. You can contact Donnacha by text or WhatsApp on 083 0940 270.

If you are easing yourself back into fitness, the weekly Maigue River Walk is a lovely place to start. It takes place every Thursday evening at 7pm, starting from Croom Park car park. There is no booking required, just turn up and walk at your own pace. For some, this has become a gentle stepping stone towards taking part in the St Patrick’s Day events in Croom.

The Family Fun Run 5k walk and run is kindly supported by Croom Concrete and is always a great community day out, with lots of spot prizes on offer. The St Patrick’s Day 10k Run, sponsored by Croom Medical for the past number of years, continues to go from strength to strength. Participants who pre book will receive a medal and a T-shirt. You can book your place at www.cromadh.com/events/all.

For anyone looking for something a little gentler, or who wants to build confidence before increasing activity, there are more options available. Pilates takes place on Friday mornings, and you can text Donnacha on 083 0940 270 for details. Yoga classes with Joanne have been popular at Croom Civic Centre for many years. She currently runs two classes on Wednesday evenings. I am a complete yoga newbie and tried her Sculpt and Shape class last week. People around me knew the names of the moves, but that did not stop me from keeping up. Her second class, Soothe, does exactly what it promises and offers a calm, gentle session. You can text Joanne on 087 697 5424.

So the real question is this. Are you investing in your fitness and health in 2026? If you are, there is something here for you. I hope you can join us for one of these activities and be part of an active, welcoming community.