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THE CAMPAIGN TO build an outdoor pool – or lido – in Dublin’s docklands is raising money to push the idea forward in the hopes that Dublin City Council will take on the project.
The volunteers behind the campaign have spent the last three years raising funds and interest to make the community-centred development possible.
The prospect of a lido at George’s Dock was first mooted after a suggestion to build a white-water rafting facility on the site was shot down by the public and politicians.
Due to planning restrictions, the site must still be used for a water-based development.
The lido group want it to not only have a pool, but saunas, green spaces and other community spaces.
“In our vision, it would cater to everyone. It would be inclusive, accessible and affordable; cater to accomplished swimmers, learners and non-swimmers,” says Sarah Walker, who has recently been appointed as joint-director of the group.
They’ve started a GoFundMe to create an updated 3D image of what such a development could look like. The plan is to bring it, along with a feasibility study, to the Council in hopes of advancing the project.
The original conceptual image was designed “to capture public imagination” and therefore didn’t adhere to the planning standards of a 19th century dry dock conservation site like George’s Dock.
Walker says the Council recommended a less imposing design, which the fundraiser will help fund.
The feasibility study aims to address other concerns, such as the economic and operational viability of the lido.
“DCC needs to take ownership of this project. It’s a public site. It will be publicly funded,” says Walker.
We’re happy to contribute, but DCC is the only entity that can drive this public pool forward.
Dublin City councillor for the Pembroke area Dermot Lacey said his view is simple. “I will support anything that’s positive and constructive for the area.”
He also thought the white water rafting facility was a positive and constructive idea, but the lido is “the next best suggestion”.
“I don’t believe that the cost will be extravagant. Money is not Ireland’s problem. Imagination is a problem and political leadership is a problem.”
Lacey accused some councillors of talking about big ideas but never following through. He hopes inner city councillors will raise the lido project at the next meeting in September.
South east inner city councillor Danny Byrne told The Journal last year that, while he supports the idea, he is not entirely convinced of the lido’s feasibility.
Carbon emissions from the development, a lack of parking space and high construction costs are roadblocks to continuing with any plan, he said.
Nearly two million euro had been spent on the white water rafting idea before it was shelved due to considerable backlash. There is a fear that the lido project could be a repeat of this.
“To be spending all this money at a time of a homelessness crisis just didn’t sit well with me,” said Byrne.
However, Walker said: ”We recognise that there is a massive shortage of housing, a massive shortage of critical infrastructure. We are not saying that an open-air swimming pool is more important than any of those things, but because of this water-based development stipulation, this could be a public amenity with so many far-reaching benefits.”
The “non-elitist” public lido idea was inspired by those of London, Berlin and Barcelona.
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I live in Denmark. Public pools on lakes and in the cities is the norm. We can’t be like the Danes though…Irish people can’t have anything that isn’t profit motivated, insurance crippled or anything nice because we nurture s k rotes who destroy everything.
@Thomas Meaney: Because we are Irish, we do what suits us.
We have lots of things that are not profit motivated.
The location is wrong, firstly and secondly it would be used by such a small group of people it would never be cost feasible.
Dublin City needs a lot of things before it needs an outdoor pool.
@Thomas Meaney: Agreed, you will only find reasons against this in these shallow waters. This is what global cities do, aspire and imagine a better place, as Irish people we have never known this and don’t understand things like ‘quality’ or ‘design’ these are posh terms for rich people. Way more ‘s k rotes’ in London, multiple lido’s constantly used.
@Gary Kearney: Denmark is not a paradise either, I’ve been there and lived in other Nordic states. What makes a country great are its people, never forget that. I’d kill myself in Denmark, there’s no craic, not everyone here has a boss culture, just a minority making a lot of noise exaggerating the essence of this beautiful island.
@J Ven: what utter bs. I’ve being living and working in Denmark since 2018. If you need someone else to facilitate your craic for you then I’d take a long look at your life. There are plenty pubs and clubs in and around Denmark (if that’s your type of craic). If you have lived for any length of time in any of the Nordics you should or would know….. There is something better than what we have or offered in Ireland.
Outdoor pool in Ireland. Did you ever hear the like?
@marklars81: I did, several times. https://www.nationalgeographic.com/travel/article/outdoor-swimming-european-cities
@marklars81: you know we already have quite a few
@marklars81: yeah, in several sites in Ireland. Why wouldn’t Ireland have an outdoor pool? You clearly not only lack local knowledge but imagination as well.
@Niall Brew: I have imagination and local knowledge and I would stick anything there that wasn’t secure and had to pay to use! The white water rafting at €50 would have kept the locals that wreck everything out!!
@Niall Brew: Nobody wants an outdoor pool except a few. It’s useless 70% of the year.
@Alex: The outdoor pool on the Clontarf road is used all year round.
Unless this is put in the hands of a greedy developer with good political connections, who will then build said pool for 3 times the initial cost and about 5 years after and then when said pool eventually opens, will likely be the most expensive to use in Europe…..it will never be built. It’s how Ireland works
Will the outdoor pool be a rival to the indoor pool currently under construction across the road ? Does anyone charged with the running of our city actually know what they’re doing ??
@Gerry Kelly: This is not the council this is a “lobby group”!!!
DCC killed the idea before!
@Gerry Kelly: which pool is that?
@Gerry Kelly:
What pool “being build across the road” are you referring to?
I am surprised how Ireland it’s closer to a 3rd world country than a western democracy when it comes to facilities for its people. Almost 0 public pool, 0 ice skating, poor public transport, poor healthcare, poor education. It wouldn’t be a problem if we didn’t pay up to 52% taxes but we do.
@Alex: When are you leaving if it is so terrible.
@Gary Kearney: I have money I pay for those services, unlike you and unlike many people who can’t afford it. Why should I leave when I want to improve things? You are a loser Gary, and it shows.
@Gary Kearney: What do you do to improve things Gary? Probably nothing while I work actively with my local councillors and was able to get one more bus route and more amenities for my community. I also sponsored a free access to gym classes for people. Luckily most Irish don’t have your pathetic mentality.
@Alex: GDP chest puff, we’re still only 2nd world.
@Gary Kearney: Why should he leave? is it because you cannot accept simple facts and the truth? 42 50 metre indoor swimming pools in the UK and just 1 Ireland which is a fact, should I leave Ireland also?
@Alex: what are you on about, plenty swimming pools, two where I live fantastic sports facilities, full sized artificial football pitch, huge tennis club, two GAA clubs, rugby club, public golf course, three or four soccer clubs
Dublin has two state of the art stadiums
@Alex:
There was a ice rink up in Smithfield until the local rodents started lobbing bottles on to the ice.
@Alex: Corpo public pool just 5 minutes walk away from proposed outdoor pool, Trinity collage pool 10 min walk, and Guinness pool Watlin St 20 mins away. All open to public.
@Leonard Barry:
National Aquatics Center 50 meter pool.
University of Limerick 50 meter pool that’s two.
@Alex: Have you ever being in a Third world country?
Plenty of Corpo pools in Dublin,
Ice rink in Smithfield had to deal with locals tossing glass bottles in, Ice rink in Dundalk closed due to lack of interest. Poor education? don’t think so. Tens of thousands interact with the health services every day. Some ring Joe Duffy.
Ice skating rink? We seem to be lacking one of those.
@Rebecca Owens: One in Dundalk closed due to lack of interest. Lads who play Ice hockey head to Belfast to train.
When people say for the community, they mean the community involved in anti Social behaviour.. the community that would reck it given half a change! Having money and contributing financially and moraly in Ireland is now nearly a crime.
If only Ireland was surrounded by water. Oh wait
@Nemethon: not much good if you are miles from the coast. Even at that a lot of the bathing spots are very tidal and have varying water quality. Dublin bay has been pretty decent of late but there are plenty of bathing locations that have a serious dip in water quality when heavy rains hit
@Liam OTailliuir: There are tons of lakes in the midlands too, Ireland isn’t that big, most will be max of an hour from swimming water
All a bit wishful and hopeful.
I think an indoor pool would be better due to our weather – and if there is space then build a multi sport venue, with plastic pitches for football, tennis, basketball and leave space for a weekend, open air food market.
And leave it in public ownership to serve the whole community no just those who can afford it, whilst also having very strict anti social rules and guidelines to deal with potential trouble makers.
Good news, soon plagued by youknowwho…
Ice ring hockey stadium is sorely missing though
@Dominic Leleu: Ice rink, missed sorely by how many people?
Crazy stuff, looks lovely on paper but the reality of it is very different. Like Smithfield another pink elephant.
Oh but it works in Denmark, is the reason!!! Why do these people think that it will work here automatically.
Same with an ice rink, or the last CEOs passion a white water rafting facility!!!
What will work in the area, what will pay dividends to the communiity
@Gary Kearney: given how many kids go swimming in the canal and how busy Sean Mac is during the summer months, I think a lido could be well used by the local community. Depends how it is run really. Lots of gym/pools (including Markievicz) don’t allow kids in unaccompanied.
Sad to read how miserable most people are here.
A place to wash the drug addicts
@Fergus O’Donnell:
Might get it passed the do gooders if that’s presented as a benefit to the local community
I take it that the pool is already there on a trailer, otherwise how can DCC drive it forward?
“a lack of parking space”
Cop on, Danny Byrne.
The locals will ruin it, like they did the Liffey Boardwalk
@Paul: It is not locals ruining the Boardwalk.
So Lacey has moved on from AirBnB locks
@You’re Not Serious: Delighted to report that I work on many issues – one does not stop the other. Perhaps it is because of that varied work that electorate voted for me to have a seventh term on Dublin City Council. Not having engaged much here in the past I look forward to responding in the future.
A pool of piss within a week. Mark my words. Little Gets.
There’s a swimming pool in Coolock nsc
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