MPAG welcome progress on new pool development

Mullingar Pool Action Group, MPAG, held a meeting recently in the Greville Arms Hotel to discuss the progression of the proposed new Mullingar Regional Sports Centre at Blackhall.

There has been significant activity at the new pool site at Blackhall in recent weeks and preliminary archaeology and site investigations are complete. MPAG strongly welcomed the update from the most recent municipal meeting with Westmeath County Council and local councillors for the Mullingar Kinnegad area on March 31.

At that meeting, director of services Jean Ryan, indicated to Cllr Aoife Davitt that the council team and architects Henry J Lyons are working towards lodging the planning application in Q2 of this year.

Speaking to the Westmeath Examiner, MPAG chairperson, Lisa Corcoran, said: “This project has undergone great progress in recent months. WCC and Henry J Lyons Architects have actively engaged with MPAG, along with the various sporting clubs currently using the pool and most importantly the current pool staff.

“The Part 8 application for the new sports complex later this year marks the start of a 20-week period of community and various stakeholder engagement and it is vitally important that this momentum is continued.

“In November 2024 the pool project got a boost with the announcement of €2 million allocation from the Large Scale Sports Infrastructure Fund (LSSIF). This project will need significant further funding and having the project shovel ready will greatly increase the chances of availing of various funding streams.”

MPAG also acknowledged the hard work that WCC have and continue to do to move this project forward.

Lisa concluded: “In many ways, this is a community effort, working alongside WCC, our local politicians and councillors and as a group we look forward to proactively pushing this project forward as, when complete, it will greatly benefit the Mullingar community as a whole.”