Outdoor swimming area could find home on rejuvenated Cork docklands

THE city council’s director of strategic and economic development has said the development of a lido is “still in the mix” in terms of amenity elements being considered as part of the regeneration of the Docklands.

Fearghal Reidy made the comment while speaking at a media briefing in City Hall on Tuesday.

Asked if there was any update regarding proposals to develop a lido (an outdoor swimming pool) in Cork city, Mr Reidy said there is a need for additional swimming facilities in the city.

The Cork Docklands Framework Masterplan, he said, is currently being finalised after extensive stakeholder consultation throughout 2023.

Among other elements, Mr Reidy said the plan contains “exciting proposals” to access the River Lee and to use the river generally for amenity and for leisure.

“There’s also plans for a swimming pool in the Docklands, along with the rest of the active recreation.

“So how that matches we have to look at carefully because we have to also look at the costs and the viability etc, but, that said, lido is still in the mix in terms of being considered,” he continued.

Cork Lido CLG, which currently has a 2,000-strong Facebook group, has in recent years lobbied for the development of an open-air pool where people could swim all year round in a safe environment.

“There were proposals for a long time about a lido and we’ve worked with a group who were proposing that in trying to assess locations throughout the city, not just the Docklands,” Mr Reidy said at the briefing.

“There is a need in the Docklands for additional swimming facilities – in fact throughout the city… but, particularly in the Docklands there probably would be a need for one.”

Cork Docklands programme manager, Bryan Fitzgerald, said the redevelopment of the Docklands – the largest regeneration project in the country – represents an opportunity for a range of new sports and leisure facilities to be developed.

“The ambition for the lido is still contained within the framework masterplan.”

The chief executive of Cork City Council, Ann Doherty, stressed that currently, the area is a “working port”, and that the Port of Cork company’s plans to vacate the city centre by 2030 – as outlined in its masterplan to 2050 – will be key to seeing an increased use of the river for amenity purposes.

“We all know the river is an amazing amenity. That will be a really big part of the future,” she said.