Swim Ireland treading on calmer waters

The National Swimming Championships begin in Lisburn today aiming to end a time of turmoil for the sport. Declan Colley reports.

ROCKED by internal politics, its funding withdrawn by the Sports Council, snubbed by potential coaches and dogged by all manner of lesser controversies, Irish swimming has nearly drowned in its very own quagmire.

Despite all the wrangling, the setbacks and the frustration - not to mention the whole fiasco with the National Aquatic Centre - there is genuine hope that the sport, along with its national governing body Swim Ireland, is facing into a period of consolidation.