K Leisure achieves top national honours for Excellence in Leisure and Fitness Facilities
K Leisure, the operator for leisure, fitness and sports facilities for Kildare County Council has been awarded the highest industry recognition by Ireland Active, receiving multiple Gold Standard Awards under the National Quality Standard (NQS) – the only industry-specific accreditation for the Leisure, Health, and Fitness sector in Ireland.
The awards, held on Friday 24th of October at The Johnstown Estate, celebrate outstanding performance in Customer Engagement, Training, Safety, and Hygiene, and are regarded as the most respected accolades in the industry.
This year, K Leisure achieved:
Gold Standard – Leisure Category for K Leisure Naas and K Leisure Athy
Gold Standard – Fitness Category for K Leisure Newbridge
In addition, K Leisure Naas was named Overall Winner for Leisure Facilities in Ireland, while K Leisure Newbridge was shortlisted for Overall Winner in the Fitness Facility category.
Speaking on the achievement, Susan Grady, CEO of K Leisure, said: "Achieving the highest award in 2026 is the realisation of our vision. Since commencing operations in 2009, K Leisure has consistently received the highest levels of standards recognition by Ireland Active. We will continue to strive to be the best operator nationally, delivering excellent facilities, highly trained staff, and creating spaces where people want to spend time. This recognition is a testament to the everyday quality work of our 125 employees and our commitment to the communities we serve."
K Leisure was founded in 2009 as the operator for leisure, fitness, and sports facilities for Kildare County Council. They operate leisure centres with swimming and fitness facilities in Naas and Athy, and a fitness facility in Newbridge. All K Leisure sites are available to use either pay-as-you-go or through membership plans, allowing people in Kildare to use the clubs as little or as often as suits them. Membership plans provide access to all K Leisure sites.
K Leisure works closely with Kildare County Council on capital projects to expand its footprint and offer more services. In addition, K Leisure manages Kerdiffstown Park Pitches, Monread Community Centre, and Kilcock Community Centre on behalf of Kildare County Council. The organisation has also supported the development of local sports plans, recreation infrastructure assessments, and other community initiatives.
The vision of K Leisure is to be recognised as the leading operator of sports and leisure facilities in Ireland—a vision realised at the recent NQS awards ceremony. Looking ahead, K Leisure is focused on enhancing its current facilities, decarbonising its leisure centres as part of a multi-million-euro infrastructure investment, and working with the communities of Kildare to deliver more accessible, high-standard facilities for all.
