The campaign for a restoration of community access to the swimming pool in the Garda College in Templemore suffered a setback yesterday as College management informed Templemore Swimming and Lifesaving Club that it considers the application for a licence to use the pool as a “closed matter” and says the office can be of no further assistance. The applicant Mark Kiely says the response provides no clarity as to reasons why the college and the OPW are refusing a license to the Templemore Swimming and Life Saving Club. This breaks a long standing tradition of community engagement according to Mr Kiely who has been involved in providing swimming instruction at the pool for over 9 years.
The We Just Want to Swim campaign group describes the latest development as a “slap in the face to the community and to the legacy of the Templemore Garda College.” The community have been able to use the pool at weekends since 1965. Use of the pool was disrupted during Covid-19 – last Autumn college management announced plans to close the pool due to energy costs until April. This was reversed and the reopening was announced for late November.
We Just Want to Swim are now seeking clarity as to what access local schools have been offered as says the campaign for the restoration of community access will continue.
