Tipperary Swimming Pool & Canon Hayes Recreation Centre need to 'work as one' - Municipal District

Tipperary Town Swimming Pool and the Canon Hayes Recreation Centre need to join forces to offer local people a better package whereby they can access both facilities at the same time, or lose out to nearby competition, heard this month’s meeting of Cashel Tipperary Municipal District.

A website for the 25m Sean Treacy Memorial Swimming Pool also needs to be better linked to the Canon Hayes Recreation Centre, located nearby in Avondale Crescent.

Director of Services Claire Curley told Councillors she would like to see both facilities “work together” rather than separately. It was best to see both facilities as “one facility.” Cllr Denis Leahy said it would be a major benefit to see these two facilities “work as one” and it has been a major drawback to people to have to buy a separate ticket to access the swimming pool.

Ms Curley said she couldn’t understand why “negativity” would be verbalised in relation to the relationship between the Co. Council and the Swimming Pool.

District Administrator Ms Marie McGivern said they work hard with the Managers of both facilities, and “we would give encouragement to continue that work.”

Cllr Mary Hanna Hourigan asked that “someone in charge” could address the Chamber, in relation to re-opening the Tennis Courts. Cllr Hourigan’s daughter “will not come to the Canon Hayes” centre as it costs €5 to €6 to go from the gym to the swimming pool. “For some that’s a huge barrier.” Cllr Roger Kennedy said there was an effort to create a joint annual membership, and that “fell through.”

Cllr John Crosse said the partnership arrangement that has been there, should be aimed at creating a package that could be a “win/win” for both. The Swimming Pool and the Canon Hayes Centre have a “huge number of facilities, crying out for new energy.” Chairman Martin Quinn runs a “super committee” but “they need help” in relation to applying for grants. The facility’s capacity could be “doubled, tripled” if the right approach was taken, added Cllr Crosse.

Cllr Martin Browne said there was “some break-down in communications between officials”. “They need to sit down and sort it out.” Cathaoirleach Michael Fitzgerald said they need to “put heads together”, and the seven representatives of the Municipal District need to meet with the Swimming Pool and Canon Hayes management.

Cllr Denis Leahy said it’s very important “that the Council is not standing in the way of the Swimming Pool and Canon Hayes. They need to come together as one entity so they can work together in a proper manner that is acceptable to both.”