Northside swimming pool set to close after 50 years

The Northside Shopping Centre swimming pool in Coolock is set to close after 50 years of operation.

Opened in October 1970, the public pool, which is uniquely located on the top floor of the centre, was leased to Dublin Corporation, now Dublin City Council, for 200 years.

In a report presented to councillors this week, the council said that it would cost €5 million to refurbish the pool.

Instead, the local authority is proposing to build a new €10 million swimming pool at a nearby site.

The council has undertaken several upgrades at the pool since it first opened, including a major refurbishment 10 years ago.

However, it said there is now a need to undertake a “significant upgrade” to bring the facility up to modern standards.

“DCC commissioned a report in 2022 to examine the works required to modernise the facility, including replacement of the roof structure, significant upgrade of the pool and deck, new plant and electrical upgrades and the installation of new changing, staff and toilet facilities,” it said.

“The completed report identified a cost in the region of €5m to carry out these works.”

Dublin City Council said that the pool has “few options in relation to expansion of services.

“The swim only nature of the facility does not allow other sports and wellbeing activities to be offered to the community, thereby reducing its attractiveness and limiting usage.

“There is no option here to expand facilities, beyond perhaps the installation of a small studio space.”

The council said that “stand-alone pools” are “extremely expensive to run” and “the investment of €5m in a service that will continue to be limited and confined by its location does not represent good value for public monies.”

The council is now seeking approval from elected representatives to proceed with plans to construct a new public pool with additional sporting facilities.

The 25m, six-lane pool “with associated changing village” would be located beside Kilmore Recreation Centre, about 300m from the shopping centre.

“The creation of Kilmore Leisure Centre would provide for the first time a full range of modern sports and wellbeing facilities for the community in a sustainable and economically efficient way.”

The site earmarked for the new pool is currently occupied by a local pigeon club, which also has a long-term lease, the council says.

“The installation of a pool here would require the relocation of the pigeon club within the current site boundary.

“This will be discussed with the Pigeon Club if approval in principal for this proposal is forthcoming.”