Athlone 'needs a second swimming pool'

By Eilis Ryan

Athlone needs a second swimming pool, the executive of Westmeath County Council was firmly told at the most recent quarterly finance meeting of the local authority.

The subject was raised by local councillor Frankie Keena, who said the current usage numbers at the pool in the regional sports centre would justify the development of a second swimming pool for the town. Cllr Keena, who is chairperson of the Athlone Regional Sports Centre, said that while it was great to see the regional sports centre for Mullingar progressing and going to planning, "we can't just forget about Athlone".

"We had 364,000 visitors to the sports centre in 2024, and 106,000 in quarter 1 this year and 94,000 in quarter 2 this year," said the Fianna Fáil representative.

"It's really a go-to area for people to come to for swimming, for gym, etc."

However, Cllr Keena emphasised that the swimming pool was "completely over-subscribed" at present.

"There's no room to bring in more training, to bring in more members to use the pool," he said.

At the same time, he noted, the population in Athlone was increasing significantly, at a rapid pace, but the need to seek Government funding for the development of a second pool was "not on the radar" of the county council.

"It's been discussed at board level that we need a second pool in Athlone, a training pool, to allow the centre to develop further," he said, regretting that matters were now at "an impasse".

He appealed for funding for a second pool for Athlone be considered for allocation in future budgets.

"I know the management in the regional sports centre are putting together a plan in relation to this, but I'm looking for it to be on the agenda and for allocation to be made in the budgets (for a second pool development),” he stated.

Westmeath County Council chief executive Barry Kehoe stated that the council did recognise the needs of the sports centre in Athlone.

"There is a relatively urgent need to upgrade the wet side dressing rooms and to provide extra swim training capacity in that centre, so that will be supported, Councillor Keena, as we go forward, as best we possibly can."

Mr Kehoe stressed, however, that at the moment, the issue is that Mullingar doesn’t have a pool of similar quality to Athlone, and this is the project that is currently being moved on by the local authority.

In recent weeks, the council confirmed it was lodging planning applications for a Mullingar sports complex, at Blackhall, including an eight-lane, 25 metre swimming pool with spectator seating, and a 20 metre teaching pool.

The complex is also due to contain a multi-use sports hall including 12 badminton courts and three basketball courts, a gym, studios and meeting rooms and changing rooms.