Demolition works begin on Edenderry swimming pool

The demolition of the Edenderry swimming pool building has started this week, after it was completely destroyed by a fire in January of last year.

Local contractor PMP began demolition works this week, as over 30 companies have made submissions following an eTenders advertisement for the appointment of an architect-led design team for the new competition-standard swimming pool and fitness centre.

Chairman Cllr Noel Cribbin said the committee would work with Offaly County Council to deliver the best pool possible. He said the committee was confident the new state of the art pool would be something everyone could be proud of.

Offaly County Council recently placed an advertisement on the government's eTenders website for the appointment of an architect-led design team for the project, with the deadline for submissions being Friday, June 13.

The advertisement states that the competition-standard swimming pool and fitness centre will be located on the site of the Blundell Masterplan site in Edenderry, with the project aiming to provide a "modern, accessible and sustainable facility," that will serve Offaly, but also "Westmeath, Kildare and beyond".

The estimated value of the design team project is €2 million and the contract duration is four years.

As demolition works began this week, there was much talk among locals of their fond memories of the old pool, which served the community for over 50 years.

Cllr Cribbin said people have "great memories of all the past committees, lifeguards, Jimmy Coats, Hobby, Jeffry, Jack, Collette, Yvonne, Stan and Brenda, to name only a few of the many who gave of their time to teach thousands to swim".

He added that as news broke that the demolition work was underway, many people were sharing their stories and memories of old pool, while also expressing their best wishes to the committee on the new build.

Cllr Cribbin said it is a bittersweet week for the present committee and staff because while the demolition has started, work has also started on the new pool with architects invited to apply for the contract to design the new pool.

"There is great interest with over 30 companies applying so far," he said.

The Edenderry Swimming Pool Project was allocated €8.9 million in funding late last year as part of the Large Scale Sport Infrastructure Fund (LSSIF), which was one of the largest funding allocations in the country.

The overall cost of providing a new swimming pool and fitness centre in Edenderry is estimated to be in the region of €15 million.