Paddy splashes out on pond for beloved goldfish

As most households look towards cutting down on water usage with a new tax next year, Limerick pensioner Paddy Mullins has splashed out on a large pond for his growing family of goldfish.

Paddy’s pond, which is four feet deep, 12 feet long and six feet wide is drawing large numbers of admirers to his front garden at St Nessan’s Park, Dooradoyle.

The pond is the centrepiece of his new garden which features purple beech trees, purple slate and water lilies.

Paddy, a retired Roadstone worker, said: “I have six, full, mature goldfish and will add another 20 over the coming months. I picked up a lovely metal fountain in a scrapyard. The fish pond has worked out very well and involved a lot of work.

“I have had a team in for the past few weeks building the fish pond and laying out the garden. We are just next to St Paul’s national school and the children are fascinated with the fish. A lot of locals are also calling. I love gardening and I thought the pool would be a lovely feature.”

However, “somebody came in at night and tried to rob the fountain and they damaged the bottom of the pond and it was leaking 20 gallons a day before we put in a new lining”.

Paddy now has CCTV cameras trained on the garden and pool at night.

“I have placed a number of lights to light up the garden and I also have put lights into the pond.”

He does not expect his new pond will hit him when his water meter starts to tick over next year as “the water is recycled through a filter”.

His biggest task was to locate a particular colour of water lilies. “I wanted purple water lilies and I eventually located them in Strokestown, Co Roscommon. They are beginning to grow in the pool already and they should really set off the pond.”