Banagher-style facility mooted for Mullingar ‘wild swimmers’

A feasibility study into the development of an outdoor swimming pool at one of the Westmeath lakes may now be explored after councillors backed a proposal at the May meeting of the Mullingar Kinnegad Municipal District.

The motion, tabled by Cllr Emily Wallace, called on the district to seek funding for a study into the potential development of a year-round outdoor swimming facility similar to the popular outdoor pool in Banagher.

Council officials confirmed that the proposal would be considered and that possible funding streams for such a project would be investigated.

Speaking at the meeting, Cllr Wallace said there has been a major increase in the popularity of outdoor swimming in recent years and argued that Westmeath, as the ‘Lake County’, was ideally placed to develop a dedicated facility.

“There are investment opportunities there,” she said. “We should be looking at that as a county.”

She said an outdoor swimming facility could provide health, recreation and tourism benefits while complementing the county’s existing natural amenities. The councillor said many people regularly swim throughout the winter months.

“It’s another add-on to what we can offer here in the county,” she said.

Cllr Wallace also pointed out that dedicated funding streams now exist specifically for outdoor swimming projects and said Westmeath should move quickly to position itself for future investment opportunities.

She referenced the Banagher facility as an example of how safe and accessible outdoor swimming infrastructure could be successfully developed.

Cllr David Jones supported the motion and suggested that lakes such as Lough Lene, Lough Owel and Lough Derravaragh all had potential locations that could be explored. He said areas around Lough Derravaragh in particular could benefit from increased recreational use and tourism activity.

Cllr Alfie Devine also backed the proposal, suggesting that Donore on Lough Derravaragh could be a particularly suitable location because of existing council-owned land and the lake’s current limited use for swimming.

He said a purpose-built facility there could attract visitors from across the county and beyond while also easing pressure on other popular swimming locations such as Lough Lene.

Cllr Julie McCourt said the increasing year-round use of lakes by swimmers demonstrated growing demand for improved facilities and added that similar developments elsewhere had proven highly successful.

Senior executive Mary Goldsberry welcomed the proposal and said the council may organise a visit to Banagher to examine how the facility there was developed and funded.

Cllr Wallace said Westmeath has three designated bathing spots: Portnashangan, Lough Owel, The Cut, Lough Lene, and Lilliput, Lough Ennell.