Swimming pool campaign stepped up in Balbriggan

Shauna Bowers

A NORTHSIDE man has started a social media campaign to bring a swimming pool to the community.

Antony O’Flaherty, from Balbriggan, started the campaign in January because he believes that with his town’s growing population, there is a real need for a swimming facility in the area.

“It is an essential thing for all members of the community,” Antony told Northside People. “If you have young children, they need to learn how to swim, especially considering they live in a coastal town like Balbriggan.

“For swimming classes as part of the school, they have to get buses up to Drogheda which takes time away from the rest of the curriculum when they could be doing English, Maths, Irish or whatever. I’m just a family man. I work. I’m not affiliated to any party or anything. I’m just a frustrated father who wants to see a swimming pool in Balbriggan.”

Antony also believes that amenities such as a pool will be a great asset to failing businesses by encouraging people to spend more time in the town. “There have been a lot of businesses on the main street so I think if there is a swimming pool then it could attract more people and improve business,” Antony said. 

“It just doesn’t make sense that Balbriggan doesn’t have a swimming pool already.”

The Facebook campaign has more that 1,200 people supporting it, and they have an online petition with over 1,500 signatures already.

Antony has written to Fingal County Council calling for a swimming pool to be built in the town. 

“I think the people of Balbriggan have been trying for 30 years to have one [a swimming pool] built, and have had numerous promises by politicians pre-election for a swimming pool, only to have these promises turn to dust post-election,” the letter reads.

The council has started a two-phase feasibility study to examine the possibility of providing a public swimming pool in the Fingal area. 

In a council report presented to a recent Balbriggan/Swords Area Committee, it said: “As outlined at the December Area Committee meeting the council is currently working with a procurement specialist to develop a tender to engage a consultant to carry out a feasibility study on the provision of a Multi-Use Recreational Facility including the viability of a public swimming pool for Swords and the area north of Swords including Balbriggan and its hinterland.”

A public meeting was held on March 6 in the Milestone Pub in Balbriggan where a number of local representatives were in attendance to show their support for the campaign.

Efforts to get a swimming pool built in Balbriggan have been a long-standing issue for the community. 

In recent years there has been  talk of a pool being built as part of a major sports complex for the town but to date nothing has materialised.

According to Census 2016, Balbriggan has the youngest population in Ireland for towns in excess of 10,000 residents and Fingal is the youngest county.

 The population of Balbriggan is now in the region of 25,000.