Loughlinstown Pool announcement makes a big splash

A NEW 25-metre, six lane swimming pool is set to open in Loughlinstown Leisure Centre in November following a e6.8 million investment that was funded by Dun Laoghaire Rathdown County Council and the Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport.

Managed by Dún Laoghaire Rathdown Leisure Services (DLRLS), the state-of-the-art pool will serve communities in Dún Laoghaire, Loughlinstown and Ballybrack.

It will also be available to those living in the council area that extends to Dundrum, Glencullen, Stillorgan, and Blackrock, a population of approximately 190,000 people, as well as large workforces in business parks including Cherrywood and Sandyford.

The new Loughlinstown pool joins Glenalbyn, Meadowbrook and Monkstown community pools currently operated by DLRLS.

As well as sustaining employment for over 26 individuals in the construction phase, the Loughlinstown pool will create 10-15 new jobs in pool management, fitness programmes, teaching, and lifesaving posts. DLR Leisure Services currently employs 170 staff across all its centres.

Groundwork has begun on the new pool, adjacent to the existing Loughlinstown Leisure Centre, which is expected to open by the end of November. Pool users are likely to include those who already use the leisure centre, athletes and fitness fans, and young families, as well as local schools, and people working locally.

There is complete access for people with a disability, including a poolside hoist, and facilities have been designed to be accessible to people with a range of abilities.

The pool will open seven days a week, from early morning until 10pm on weekdays, offering public swimming, aqua-fitness, lessons, family days, and swim club activities, with school lessons beginning in January 2013.

Schools or clubs in the area wishing to enquire about the pool facility can contact Duty Manager, Eoghan O’Connor, at the DLRLS Loughlinstown on 01-2823344.

According to Tom Mowlds, DLR Leisure Services CEO, the new pool at Loughlinstown will enhance a leisure facility that has already served the local community for nearly 30 years.

“DLRLS Loughlinstown opened in the early 1980s, and has provided an invaluable resource for sporting and social activity, fitness and leisure,

? he said.

“We aim to support a wide range of facilities to improve the health and well being of all residents in Dún Laoghaire Rathdown, and, although the Loughlinstown Pool has taken some time to be realised, it will greatly enhance the local leisure amenity from 2013 onwards. We pride ourselves on offering the local community quality affordable leisure.

?

The Loughlinstown pool will operate on a

‘pay as you go’ basis, with a child swim costing

?¬3, an adult swim for

?¬5.50, and a family visit for

?¬14 for two adults and two children.

There are also

‘value passes’, offering 12 visits for the price of 10, with a child pass costing

?¬30 for 12 swims, as well as subscription options for those wishing to pay in advance.