Calls grow for Midleton swimming pool as town’s population set to surge

East Cork councillors say rapid population growth demands major investment in sports and leisure infrastructure

Far smaller towns already have council-run facilities, including Dunmanway, Cobh, Youghal, Fermoy and Mallow. File picture

An ongoing countywide review of council-owned leisure centres will likely determine whether it is feasible to build a swimming pool in Co Cork’s fastest-growing town.

There is growing demand among Midleton’s expanding population for such a facility.

Projections in the County Development Plan (CDP) show Midleton’s population reaching 27,854 by 2034, making it the largest town in County Cork, while neighbouring Carrigtwohill is expected to surpass the 15,000 mark.

Far smaller towns already have council-run facilities, including Dunmanway, Cobh, Youghal, Fermoy and Mallow.

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Chairman of the East Cork Municipal District Council, Fine Gael councillor Rory Cocking, said the greater Midleton area is one of the fastest-growing regions outside Dublin and that the council must now plan for a swimming pool to serve its population.

He said he has received numerous representations from constituents about the issue and the lack of other sporting facilities in the area.

Mr Cocking said Ireland is generally lagging behind other countries when it comes to providing local authority-run swimming pools.

“A recent report by Swim Ireland said that each pool in Ireland equates to 80,000 people, whereas in Scotland each pool equates to 14,000. The population’s exploding in East Cork and badly lacking amenity provision,” he added.

Social Democrats councillor Eamonn Horgan maintained that if a leisure centre was developed in the town, it would be so well used that it would pay the council back “in leaps and bounds”.

Council officials have previously ruled out investing in such a facility in Midleton, arguing that existing centres in Cobh, Youghal and Fermoy are sufficiently close.

Mr Cocking asked council officials whether a feasibility study for the project was being undertaken, whether they were exploring government funding streams for such a development, and whether any suitable land had been identified.

However, he did not receive answers to those questions.

Noreen Brennan, the most senior council official in the region, said there is an ongoing review of the operation of such services across the county and that she would report back to councillors when information becomes available from the officials carrying it out.

Fianna Fáil councillor Ann Marie Ahern said several sporting clubs in the greater Midleton area have no permanent homes and are seeking the county council’s support to develop a centre that would cater for their needs and could include a swimming pool.

She said the groups know of a landowner willing to sell land for such a development.

Meanwhile, Independent Ireland councillor Ger Curley said the leisure centre in Cobh is operating over capacity and that the council needs to extend the gym to cater for the large number of young people seeking to join.