Originally from the small Louisburgh town in County Mayo, Seamus Keane could have easily succumbed to the challenges of his early days in America. Nevertheless, guided by his resilience, he not only survived a tough initiation in the States but also managed to set up a successful gym business, achieving stability, personal satisfaction, and a bright future with his partner, Mairead, in New York.
Keane, a 1989-born, held an engineering degree from UCG and a Masters in Finance, and had a brief stint at Dublin’s Bank of Ireland before he decided to move continents. Upon his arrival in New York, he landed a demanding sales job in the city’s financial hub. The high-intensity nature of his work often made him feel like a character in “The Wolf Of Wall Street” — a universe so unfamiliar to him.
His limited sales experience, which primarily involved selling livestock at a local fair in his home town, left him feeling inadequate. Yet, he chose to persevere instead of returning home defeated. After receiving training from colleagues of diverse cultural backgrounds, he began to flourish and soon became a top performer in his company.
Nonetheless, Seamus was always drawn to a career in physical fitness. When given the opportunity to join a gym enterprise, he seized it, even if it meant working pro bono in the early days to secure his visa. A temporary return to Ireland allowed him to care for his unwell father and pursue his personal training certification during that period.
Armed with his newly acquired skills and credentials, he returned to New York to gain relevant experience in his field. In 2021, he and his business partner, John Collins, an expat from Roscommon, embarked on a new fitness initiative titled Clann Health.
Keane nostalgically recalls the cold February evening they started their venture amidst a snowstorm, without a premise, surrounded by seven of their supporters and knee-deep snow.
Initially operating from outdoor premises before sharing spaces with other gym facilities, Trinity NYC firmly established its footing with its own premises earlier this year. Situated in Long Island City, an emerging region in New York that commands a blend of different nationalities, the finding of a suitable location was a hard task. Various venues inspected were either in deplorable condition or faced landlord reluctance, finally finding a willing landlord however, required a considerable deposit.
The new gym, based on the fifth floor of a building in this regenerated industrial area, has its own unique hurdles. Due to it not being on the ground floor, the need for intensive marketing efforts increased, utilising platforms like Facebook and Instagram to gain momentum.
Spearheaded by Keane and Collins, Trinity NYC cultivates a community atmosphere and incorporates a tailored approach to training. They reject the generic mass class model adopted by many New York gyms, which can potentially lead to injuries or negative experiences. Instead, they discuss client’s individual objectives and offer one-on-one training. Group classes have a small six-to-one ratio and every participant has their own programme to follow, promising successful outcomes conditional on adherence to the set programme.
In addition to catering to individuals, Trinity NYC has also penetrated the corporate sector by providing wellness schemes for companies, a segment they view as greatly promising. Keane also relishes the dynamic energy of New York and has effectively engaged the active Irish community in the city.
This urban landscape tends to be more exciting and beneficial, especially during one’s 20s and 30s. Here, being assertive about your goals is advantageous as it is a city abundant in prospects. The Irish folks here have a knack for going above and beyond in lending assistance. This is not to say that you wouldn’t receive help in Ireland, but the people here show exceptional support.
Building connections is vital, suggests he, reminiscing about valuable guidance he received upon his initial arrival. “Here, who you know holds more importance than what you know, and dealing with this fact could either make you appreciative or resentful.”
This man from Mayo journeys back to Ireland a handful of times annually to visit family and relish the striking beaches of Louisburgh. Although New York feels like home now, he still yearns for elements of Ireland.
“There’s this longing I feel for my father’s lamb stew and Kelly’s Black Pudding from Newport. I also miss witnessing Mayo football matches in person. The experience of yelling at the television here as they lose to last-minute points, it’s just not the same.”