Swimmers in Bailieborough get a €94k boost
Bailieborough Swimming and Leisure Centre CLG were recently awarded nearly €94k in sports capital funding.
Chairperson of the Board of Management Mairead Galligan still felt “delighted” when The Anglo-Celt called last week to hear about plans for the €93,774 received in funding.
The money will not sit in the kitty for too long, as the centre aims to have a new “pop-up pool” functioning in May 2024. The demand for the leisure centre’s facilities is so high that the Knockbride native said it could be open on a 24 hours basis.
“The gym and the pool are very much at 100% capacity and are under quite an amount of strain,” she revealed.
A studio area that’s not utilised as much as other areas in the building will house the pool, with works due to commence early next year.
“Then we will be able to provide lessons to our younger cohort of children and do the swim school for level one to four in that area.”
The space would also cater for one-to-one swimming tuition for people with additional needs.
They plan to “break a wall” into the main pool area, work which will be done “out of hours” to not disrupt the running of the facility.
“That’s the great thing about this, we’re very keen to make sure there is the least amount of disruption to the facilities in the pool.
“There will be no disruption to the actual activities at the centre as they are at the moment,” she confirmed.
“We have a waiting list for our swimming school” she explained, adding that they are “putting on as many hours as we can.”
During this week and Christmas holidays, they provide “intensive” lessons.
“By having a pop up pool we’ll be able to cater for a significant amount more.”
She thanked the local representatives for their help in getting the project off the ground, the board of management, the staff and customers at the facility.
“People value the swim school we have and it’s really well acclaimed and we’ve a huge catchment area.
“That’s bringing a lot of people to the centre.”
“There’s a lot of work that goes into making these types of applications.
“It’s great when we can make progress and know that we’ll be able to provide a better swim school then at the end of this.”