A swimming pool for Carrickmacross has moved a step closer, with Monaghan County Council appointing Kennedy Fitzgerald Architects as lead consultant for the integrated design team that will develop the proposed Carrickmacross Swimming Pool and Leisure Complex. The contract was signed before the council's monthly meeting on Monday 5 October, Northern Sound reported.
What is planned
According to the council, the facility is envisaged to include a 25-metre swimming pool, a learner pool, fitness and wellness facilities, community spaces and improvements to the surrounding public realm.
The design team will now work on concept designs, stakeholder engagement, statutory approvals and detailed project planning. The council said it will keep engaging with local stakeholders and "explore future funding opportunities" to support delivery of the project. No construction timeline or cost has been published.
How the project got here
The council launched feasibility studies on a pool and leisure complex for the town in 2024, Northern Sound noted. The council said that study assessed current and future demand for swimming and leisure facilities across south Monaghan, examined whether the facility could work operationally and financially, and identified the best mix of facilities for the area's growing population.
A site selection process was run alongside the feasibility work, with potential locations assessed against planning, access, infrastructure and environmental criteria. The council said that process identified a preferred site, though its announcement did not name it.
What they said
Robert Burns, Chief Executive of Monaghan County Council, called the appointment "a major milestone" for Carrickmacross and south Monaghan. "The project has the potential to address a long-standing gap in swimming provision in the area, while creating a modern leisure destination that promotes active lifestyles, community wellbeing and regional development," he said.
The Cathaoirleach, Cllr Aidan Campbell, said local families, schools, sports clubs and community organisations had consistently asked for a modern pool and leisure facility. "This is a very positive day for Carrickmacross and the wider South Monaghan area," he said, adding that it could become "a flagship facility for County Monaghan". He also credited the council's Capital Projects team for guiding the feasibility and site selection work.
Fine Gael councillor Peter Conlon, who represents the Carrickmacross-Castleblayney Municipal District, told Northern Sound that the contract signing was a "welcome milestone" in a long campaign for a pool in the town, and that it was "as real as it gets" for the project so far.
What happens next
The next stages are design and planning, which will include public and stakeholder engagement. The council said it looks forward to working with the design team, elected members and the community "over the coming months and years". Residents who want to have their say should watch for consultation notices from the council as the concept designs are prepared.
