Former mayor wants Olympic legacy sport facilities for Cork

A former lord mayor of Cork has called for Government investment to develop a new public swimming pool and sports facility in Cork to support future Olympians.

As people bask in the success and excitement of Irish athletes at the Paris Olympics, former lord mayor Mick Finn said he believes it is time to seize the moment and invest in additional sports facilities.

“Carpe Diem is the message to government… we must have a legacy from the success of Irish athletes in Paris 2024,” he said.

“We are all so delighted for our swimmers, boxers, rowers, athletes, badminton players and all those who wear the Irish singlet with pride.

“I have no doubt there are young, future Olympians watching on at the moment and we should be looking at how we can get them invested in sport.”

The former Independent councillor suggested a first step in Cork should be the construction of a new pool and sports facility in a major population centre that would benefit the region.

“I know there is a Lido campaign ongoing and that would be a huge investment in the city, particularly if we want to make the Docklands a go-to destination.

“I believe a new swimming pool and public sports facility should be built somewhere like Carrigaline in a bid to get young people involved in less traditional sports which would also have positive knock-ons for health outcomes.”

The Government is shortly expected to announce a €400m additional investment in sport.

“We have decided to have the largest ever sports capital fund which will be money given to clubs, big and small, right across Ireland next month,” Taoiseach Simon Harris said.

“We have given the go ahead for the badminton court development at our national stadium. Let me be really clear, there has to be a legacy from the Paris games.

“There has to be further investment in sport and I am determined that we lift the scale of our ambition when it comes to backing sport, backing athletes and in particularly investing more in terms of our elite performance training as well.”