Rock Pool marks eight decades

Rock Pool marks eight decades

31 July 2013

ONE of Newcastle’s most celebrated institutions is celebrating 80 years of outdoor swimming.

The Rock Pool, which opened in 1933 and is believed to be one of Ireland’s last open air pools, providing waterborne fun, excitement and vital lifesaving skills to generations of young people.

Down Council marked the achievement on Friday when vice-Chairman Gareth Sharvin joined other councillors, pool staff, members of The Friends of the Rock Pool and local children who were using the pool on the day.

One of the people delighted with the increased popularity of the pool is Kathleen Heenan, who has been swimming there since the 1940s.

“It was reported in the Down Recorder on April 11, 1931, that the Rock Pool was to be constructed at a cost of £3,600,” said Kathleen.

“I suppose the ratepayers thought that was too much but the pool was opened in 1933 by Lady Elizabeth Annesley and R. Hastings JP, Chairman of the Council.”

Kathleen remembers a time when the facilities at the pool were much more extensive and it was one of the major community facilities in the town.

“They used to have big high diving boards and wonderful galas here. It was in Mrs. McCullough’s time that I learnt my lifesaving, teachers, advanced teachers and examiners training.

“It has been well used by me and my family,” she continued. “People travel from miles around to swim and go on to do diving and lifesaving.

“I came here with my children where they learnt how to swim and lifesaving. Now my children and my grand children all use the Rock Pool.

“It is a great holiday place and great cross-community place, I know my children made friends here that are still their friends to this day.

“There has been very little done to it and a lot of the diving boards have been taken away. Any work done to it would be welcome, but it doesn’t really need it.

“I still come here every summer. It has been very good and with the recent weather it has been packed. We have had more advertising in the last few weeks and it’s showing its popularity now with the weather.

“We had a gentleman in here last Thursday who hadn’t been in here for 30 years and the Thursday before two ladies who hadn’t been in for 50 years.

“A lot of people have been back who we hadn’t seen for a long time and the water has been really warm, but Rockpoolites swim in the sea all year.

“All of the children here are playing together, even if they arrive on their own they get together with other children very quickly,” she said.

Councillor Gareth Sharvin said the Rock Pool is a community treasure and has been enjoyed by residents and visitors alike since 1933.

“The exceptional weather over the past few weeks has seen user numbers rise by a massive 237% which demonstrates the popularity of this hidden gem at the foot of the Mountains of Mourne,” he said.

“The pool is unique in that it is a tidal seawater pool. It has provided the opportunity for generations of families to swim in a safe and healthy environment and this year will, as before, offer lifesaving lessons for adults and children.

“Down District Council has worked hard to ensure the cost of a swim is kept to a minimum with children’s entry only £1.60 for a whole day and adult fees just 60p more,” he said.

Councillor Sharvin described the The Friends of the Rock Pool as “stalwarts of the outdoor activity centre,” adding that the group are currently planning special activities to celebrate the pool’s milestone year.

Tide permitting the Rock Pool is open seven days a week, with adults only swimming on Thursday nights from 6-8pm.

For information about daily openings, lessons and the 80th celebrations, call the Newcastle Centre on 028 4372 5034, or visit the pool’s Facebook page on www.facebook.com/RockPoolNewcastle