The old diving board area at Lough Lannagh.

Designated swimming area and jetty proposed for Lough Lannagh

A CASTLEBAR councillor has requested that a dedicated swimming area and permanent jetty be developed at Lough Lannagh.

“Thousands of people from Castlebar and the surrounding areas use the lake at Lough Lannagh for recreational and sporting purposes throughout the year. In fact, many people first learnt to swim on the lake for generations before the opening of the indoor pool in the town in the 1980s,” said Councillor Ger Deere.

“In the past number of years, we have seen a renewed interest in outdoor swimming. Swimmers are travelling to beaches and lakes throughout the county to swim. Some of these are unsafe and unsupervised.”

Councillor Deere said this is an ideal opportunity to develop a safe and supervised area for swimmers coming into the summer months.

He commented: “Lough Lannagh has become a Mecca for recreational and sporting events while the leisure complex is in close proximity to the lake and would complement swimming on the lake. To have a safe swimming area and a permanent jetty would add to the already wonderful sporting facilities we have in the general area of Lough Lannagh.”

Councillor Deere raised his proposal at a local municipal district meeting this afternoon.