Development of regional sports and swimming complex in Carrigaline raised at MD meeting

Two Carrigaline councillors brought motions to the town’s municipal district meeting this week, calling for major investment for the development of a regional sports-and-swimming complex in Cork county’s largest town.

Fianna Fáil councillor Seamus McGrath said that the town’s population is now 20,000 and its hinterland has 10,000 people.

Mr McGrath said that since the authority was applying for €500,000 for a sports facility in Mallow, under the Town and Villages Development Fund, there should be no bar on such a facility in Carrigaline.

“There’s a large number of clubs which would use a multi-purpose sports facility and it would be in use all year around, for training and events,” said Mr McGrath.

He pointed to the local basketball club, which rents from local schools, as a possible anchor tenant.

The councillor, who received unanimous support from his colleagues, said the response to the motion was a “holding response” because senior colleagues would have to be consulted to see what was possible.

“We have a journey to travel to get this done but, at least, the initial response wasn’t negative and we will have to explore different funding streams,” he added.

The growth of the population in Carrigaline was also cited by Fine Gael councillor Jack White, who proposed that the council pursue the development of a swimming pool for the town.

Referring to the growing population in Carrigaline and in adjoining areas such as Ballygarvan, Passage, Crosshaven, and Ballinhassig, Mr White said that a “community swimming pool offering in Carrigaline town could genuinely serve the needs of people in all of those areas”.

“Many of those who use a public pool at the moment are travelling from our area to Douglas and beyond, and I think there would be a huge demand for it,” he said.

Mr McGrath, seconding that motion, pointed out that the only swimming pool in Carrigaline, located at the Carrigaline Court Hotel, had a waiting list for members, such was the demand.

The response from council officials at the meeting for this proposal, which also attracted unanimous support from elected members, was to say the matter would be considered.