I used to be a big basketball player. I just couldn't get enough of the sport, I would play for…read more5-6 hours a day, and then go back to the gym at night to do some shooting practice. There was just one little thing that I didn't like ... conditioning. Now don't get me wrong I didn't have any problem running, etc while playing basketball, it's these little things that they make you do at the end of practice called suicides. I think the name says enough in itself. It's a dreadful line drill. Anyways that has always cemented in my head that running is punishment. So last year I foolishly took on the task of trying to run the Flora Women's mini-marathon, ok I was only planning on running like 2 miles and walking the rest. Since moving to Ireland the only running shoes I had were shipped over to me by my mom because I just found it so difficult to find a shop with a good selection of women's shoes that weren't outlandishly priced. A runner friend of mine recommended stopping into Mick Dowling's. I was amazed at the selection and how helpful the staff were. They even set me up with some other gear that I would need to make sure my training went off well. Now unfortunately for my training, the pub was right near the gym, and instead of encouraging our training my friend's boyfriend encouraged our drinking. Oh well, at least I have the gear the next time I decided to take up running.

Being a little tight fisted when it comes to gym memberships (I know I'll only go and feel terrible…read morewatching the fit people do stuff without breaking a sweat while I die of breathing difficulty after 20 minutes on a treadmill! so why pay a premium to be depressed!) I thought I'll pick up some stuff for at home to get in shape instead of watching t.v. And thats exactly what I did, I picked up the stuff! Although it doesn't scream SPORTS, COOL, FITNESS, the shop is basically where the people who actually know what they're doing work. It's the equivalent of the gym in Rocky 3 that Apollo brings Rocky to before he fights Clubber Lang. Whereas the previous flashy training areas in the movie would be your Champion Sports! No matter what the sporting ambition is the staff can help you, whether it's how big the studs on your football boots or cross country running shoes should be to what protein shakes/drinks will give you the results you want. I went for the punchbag and gloves combo, reasonably priced and easier to ignore than a treadmill in the corner of a room it was the perfect choice for me! Great shop with a shockingly large selection that I still go back to when I need sports stuff (however rarely that is).

So this is a weird one to drive up to. It looks a little like a shop from Father Ted or something…read more Or like some aul wan's house that she's lashed a sign up on front for all the local childers to come and get their bikes at. To be fair to them, once you get inside, tis a different story altogether. It's a fairly big warehouse space full of all types of wheels, and a separate section dedicated to cycle accessories and clothes. To be honest though, it's not that good. I don't know much about bikes, but the selection seemed to be heavily based on men's racers and mountain bikes. Not much in the way of women's or alternatives like fixies or hybrids. My main gripe though was that I must have been there for 15 mins, wandering round, wanting to part with my hard earned cash, but not knowing where to begin. In all that time, ain't no one came over and chatted with me or asked if they could help. In the end, I gave up and left. Customer service is key folks! You can have all the annoying jingle ads in the world to get people to your shop, but if you can't help em when they're there, well what's the point!!!

Great place to buy skinsusa.com compression wear, much cheaper than online or other stores in…read moreIreland.

Just had a very unfortunate experience with this shop. Bought a couple of JanSport bags a few years…read moreback in this shop. It cost a lot but I was assured by the owner that the 30 year warranty for JanSport bags is honest and true "Just bring them back if there are any issues". So when the bag zip broke I brought it back. The shop now refuses the honour the warranty and claim they never would have offered it for sale with a 30 year warranty. They still stock JanSport bags, the web site for janSport says there is a 30 year warranty, but this shop refuses to honour the warranty. What other warranties will they refuse to honour??? Avoid, there are plenty of more honourable sports shops in the area!!

Went here for gait analysis today and got really well looked after. The staff are really…read moreknowledgeable and put up with my weird foot requirements, and found the right running shoes even though it took awhile. I went away with a pair of runners that I'm really happy with. The store seems to cater for people who are quite serious about their exercise and there's even a section of the place where super-buff guys exercise topless (disclaimer: this may not be a constant feature!)

As far as I could figure out, Base2Race is a kind of a triathlon superstore, with a few different…read morespecialist shops under one roof. The shop is upstairs and tucked into a back corner of the "Fashion City" campus in Ballymount Industrial estate. I came looking for Amphibian King, who specialise in running shoes and gear. I needed a new pair of runners and was taken through a very impressive fitting process which included properly measuring my feet, doing a gait analysis (both running and walking) and trying out a few different pairs of shoes which met my weird needs. I visited at off-peak hours so I had loads of time to ask questions and get recommendations on both runners and different types of socks from a helpful member of staff. He really seemed to know his stuff, he could tell me what I needed (and why!) and he was pretty straight with me about the actual differences in performance between shoes at different price points. The stock is quite specialist so it falls under the pricey catalogue, but when you take the fitting process and customer service into account I felt like I got good value. I'll be back!

I heard of O'Meara Camping Centre only very recently and when we needed to replace a small gas…read morecylinder for our up and coming camping adventure, we swung by Crumlin for a look into O'Meara's. And we were so glad we did. Not only did they have the gas, but they had this excellent fold up trestle table. Something we've needed for a good while now and definitely for this trip we've planned. 79 EUR for the table and 22 EUR for the gas. The place had masses of stuff for everything caravan and camping. There was a super comfy fold-up chair that we almost came away with also. A few gripes: it's a bit cramped and messy in places. Also the display of prices could be improved greatly. But there is no real need to go rooting in the shop, as the gentleman who served us told us if something is on their website, it's in the shop. So browse online and then go collect what you're are after. Or have it delivered. There is parking on-site. When you turn in off the road, drive through the first yard and down the right hand side of the first building. You can't miss it.

Camping? Really?…read more I'm picturing bugs and accidentally peeing on electric fences and eating burnt yet uncooked sausages and Irish weather; I am picturing Carry-On Camping without the fun bits. My wife is picturing a ladybird book about scouts and roasted marshmallows and songs around the camp fire. The truth will probably be somewhere in between (peeing on roasted marshmallows and eating burnt un-cooked scouts). Having decided to do this I am left with the logistics or organising a camping trip, first and foremost is of course, the TV. Oh, and a tent. Off I go then to O'Meara Camping and put myself into the incredibly capable hands of the staff there who recommend a suitable tent (4 man for 60Euro) and a couple of other bits. They can see I am a novice and really look after me, they are brilliant. The shop is huge and includes a display room where all the bigger tents are set up for you to view. The shop is at the back of a small industrial estate, the website says to tell your GPS to go to 159 Crumlin Road but neglects to tell you what to do once you get there. The answer is to look across the road to the school, look to the left of the school (as you face it) and there you will see a small entrance to the industrial estate... an in you go. I can't see O'Meara Camping becoming a regular destination, but only because it doesn't sell burgers and fried food, for those times when I do need camping and out door stuff, it will be my first port of call from now on.

Extraordinarily bad customer service. I "dealt" with Ross. Called in a week before my son's…read morebirthday to pick out a bike with him, was told to leave it in store so they could modify it before pick up. Was given a layaway docket and receipt. I rang twice in the week and couldn't get to speak to a salesperson. Finally got through on Wednesday to a different salesperson and asked them to mud guard the bike. Was told that's fine. The bike was sold to someone else by Friday pick up. Hollingsworth said they'd call me back within half an hour as they tried to source the bike elsewhere. I rang back four hours later and was told sales staff were on the floor. Do not shop here.

Given that Dublin is full of grimy little bike shops that mainly do repairs and have a small…read moreselection of bikes that you can hardly see because they're so tightly packed, whereas the bigger shops in the suburbs like Eurocycles or Cycle Superstore look like they're printed off a CAD-CAM app screen with no personal touch... this place ends up being one of the best bicycle shops in Dublin. The bikes are well displayed and easy to see and try out, there's a reasonably good selection, and the owner is very knowledgeable - which counts for a lot. Nor does she try to take over your life while giving you advice - unlike other bike shop owners I have encountered in this town!