THE need for a public swimming pool in Bandon will be addressed at a public meeting on Thursday December 4th in the Munster Arms Hotel at 7.30pm.

Cork South West Fianna Fáil Christopher O’Sullivan is hosting the public event where he will explore viable options, including temporary/pop up and permanent facilities for the largest town in West Cork.

Bandon had a population of 8,101 as of Census 2022, but the town has grown since then and there are further housing developments in the pipeline.

The nearest public swimming facility is the West Cork Leisure Centre in Dunmanway  - a 55km round trip - and local public representatives have in recent years called for a similar operation be established in Bandon.

Plans for a pop-up pool in the town over three years ago, which was steered by various community groups failed to materialise unfortunately despite enthusiasm for the Swim Ireland project, which would have seen a pop-up pool based in the town for 12 weeks.

Deputy O’Sullivan said the meeting will also identify potential venue and sites options and as well as the establishment of a steering group to progress the project.

‘For some time I have been calling for renewed momentum to secure swimming facilities for Bandon, recognising the town’s longstanding disadvantage in this area,’ said Deputy O’Sullivan.

‘Bandon has no municipal pool and local families regularly have to travel to Dunmanway, Macroom and Bishopstown for swimming lessons. As the largest town in West Cork it should have public swimming facilities.’

It’s been almost a year too since local Fianna Fáil Councillor Gillian Coughlan raised a motion at a meeting of Bandon Kinsale Municipal District where she asked that a review of the County Development Plan would identify a site for a municipal swimming pool and leisure centre.

She said at the time that Bandon in particular is ‘crying out for a swimming pool’ and that the planned ‘pop-up pool’ for the town didn’t go very far, despite sites having been identified.

An online petition has recently been set up by the ‘Bandon Pool Campaign group’, who said they have a once in a generation opportunity to secure a public swimming pool for the town.

The closure of the family-run Grove Leisure Centre in 2017 marked the end of swimming facilities in Bandon as it was the town’s only swimming pool, which was operated by Phil and Charley Ryan for over 30 years.

It was the go-to place for swimming lessons for generations of people in Bandon down through the years.

Meanwhile, the public will be able to purchase membership for the West Cork Leisure Centre in Dunmanway for €60 a month from January 1st next.

The membership will include the use of all facilities in the building and it is currently payable at the desk.