Sligo County Council urged to back Ballymote bid for Swim Ireland pop-up pool

By Philip Rooney, The Sligo Champion

Sligo County Council has been called on to support Ballymote Community Council’s proposal to Swim Ireland for a pop-up swimming pool for the town, similar to the very successful pool located in recent years in Tubbercurry.

Cllr Dara Mulvey raised the issue at the May meeting of the Ballymote-Tubbercurry Municipal District with his motion calling on the Local Authority to support the community’s efforts to have a pop-up pool located in the town.

Addressing the meeting, Cllr Mulvey said his request followed on from the, “Major success of the pop-up pool in Tubbercurry in 2022. That was open daily and was a very successful thing for young and old.”

Cllr Mulvey added, “This would provide employment for young people with qualifications.”

Cllr Mulvey informed the meeting, “Ballymote Community Council have undertaken many successful projects in the town since it was formed in 2022 and recently applied successfully for funding to complete a brand new playground for the area. They have recently contacted Swim Ireland to express an interest for a pop-up swimming pool to come to the town should one become available.”

Cllr Mulvey noted the difficulties involved in securing the temporary pool for Ballymote saying, “The problem Swim Ireland have is there are only two of these pop-up pools in the country.”

The pop-up pool contains 45,000 litres of water, in a 12-metre by 3.4-metre steel structure, with the water heated to 30 degrees and sheltered from the elements in a hard sided marque. There are changing rooms onsite, a ramp and a hoist meaning this accessible pool of water is the ideal place to learn to swim, hone your skills or just remember how great it feels to block out the world and dip your head in the water.

Addressing Cllr Mulvey’s motion, Director of Services Emer Concannon sounded a note of caution when she said, “The pop-up pool in Tubbercurry was a pilot scheme. A lot of funding came from Swim Ireland. There is money and time involved. The Tubbercurry one got a lot of support from Swim Ireland, that support may not be available.”

Cllr Mulvey thanked the executive for the response and stated that contact will continue between Ballymote Community Council and Swim Ireland.

Article Funded by the Local Democracy Reporting Scheme.