Lough Owel shelter praised as Lough Lene bid proposed

The new changing shelter at Lough Owel has been hailed as a success, and councillors want a similar facility at Lough Lene.

Cllr Alfie Devine described the Owel shelter as “fabulous” and said Collinstown would be “very envious” until it received one of its own. Cllr Julie McCourt added that while the shelter was working well, swimmers had reported rain blowing in on certain days, and asked if that could be addressed.

“I was told it was mentioned at the time when it was being constructed and, you know, it wasn’t taken into account. But just if you could take a look at that and see what can be done,” she pleaded.

District engineer Pat Kavanagh conceded that if the rain is coming from a particular direction, it can enter the shelter: “Even if you seal it in, it’s fairly impossible to stop every drop of rain depending on the wind or whatever,” he said, adding that 99 per cent of feedback had been positive, and that the council would monitor the facility.

Mr Kavanagh confirmed that Lough Lene has been put forward for inclusion in a new funding programme: “Earlier we were asked if we would be interested in building any more. I’ve included Lough Lene in that request,” he told the meeting.