New €11m. Mayo leisure centre to open 'within weeks'

MAYO County Council has announced that the final finishes are being made to the new €11 million leisure facility at Lough Lannagh, Castlebar, prior to its opening in the coming weeks.

The state-of-the-art amenity comprises an eight-lane competitive swimming pool, toddler learning pool, gym and aerobics studios, steam room, sauna and general purpose rooms.

The council’s project team is currently overseeing the completion of the final fit out works and certification of the building, in addition to testing of equipment which has been ongoing over the last number of weeks.

Arrangements are also in place for consultation meetings with customer focus groups on the facility. It is anticipated that the building will be opened in phases, commencing with the pool, with other areas of the facility following afterwards once usage arrangements to meet various customer needs have been put in place.

Martina Hughes, the council's head of communications, said: "We are looking forward with excitement to the opening of this wonderful facility which we believe to be one of the finest in the country.

"The facility is an important component in realising Mayo County Council's overall vision for Lough Lannagh as a nationally important centre of excellence for sports, sports tourism, recreational and adventure tourism.

"The facility will complement the existing tourism accommodation, sporting, recreational and amenity facilities at Lough Lannagh as well as the proposed GAA training centre, which taken collectively will offer a unique sports and tourism facility like no other in Ireland."

The cathaoirleach of the authority, Councillor Blackie Gavin, welcomed the news.

"I have been inundated with people asking me when the facility will open and I can tell them with certainty it will do so at the end of November or early December.

"It's a further boost in developing the town as a sports and tourism hub."