Old Castlebar pool belongs to the people of the town – Blackie

Councillors in Castlebar have reiterated a call for Mayo County Council to transfer the old swimming pool in the town to Castlebar Celtic FC in order to expand the club's facilities.

A civic reception was awarded to Castlebar Celtic by Castlebar Municipal District in Áras an Chontae on Thursday to mark the club's centenary in 2024. Before the civic reception took place, the monthly meeting of the municipal district heard calls for the old pool in Castlebar to be transferred to the club.

A previous meeting of the municipal district in May heard that the club had identified the old swimming pool which is adjacent to Celtic Park and has been closed since 2019 as a solution to meet the needs of its expanding membership.

At present there are 300 underage members playing on 26 underage teams for Castlebar Celtic and they do not have enough dressing rooms and toilets at their home ground Celtic Park to cater for their needs.

David Mellett, Head of the Municipal District explained that since that meeting a valuation of the building has taken place along with an asbestos survey. He added that some issues also had to be clarified between the council and Castlebar Celtic.

The opinion among the councillors was universal in that the old pool should be transferred to the club and they would not oppose it.

Cllr Blackie Gavin said that while the local authority may own the building, it was the people of Castlebar who funded the old pool.

“The people of the town fundraised for that facility and knocked on doors and collected money. Lets give it back to the town and Castlebar Celtic. Mayo County Council at the time were only overseeing the project but all the ground work was done by the people of this town. It belongs to the people of the town and the message needs to go out loud and clear,” he said.