I visited the seaside town of Blackrock, Co Louth, for the first time recently. Bathed in sunshine, the bustling seaside village is filled with shops, medical centres, pubs, and a church with one of the best views in Ireland.

At the far end of the promenade is a block of apartments and what was once a den for sea scouts. A closer look revealed photos along the low boundary of an outdoor seawater swimming pool built in 1956 at a cost of £20,000. When it opened in 1962, it was the only 50m pool in the country. It’s tiered seating could accommodate up to 800 spectators and for 20 years it was one of the principal recreational facilities in Louth. It eventually closed in the 1980s and was demolished in 1995.

One wonders why such an amazing community facility was allowed be lost. But then we have a similar story in Cork.

The Lee Baths closed in 1986, two years before I arrived in the city. So many people have recounted fond memories of what was a big part of city life for young and old.

As pools across the city are bursting with babies taking their first strokes for expensive lessons, and clubs have long waiting lists for competitive swimming, isn’t it time we resurrected the baths and recreated the concept of a spanking new 50m outdoor swimming pool in the heart of the city?

A safe, open-air, 50m pool would bring huge and much-needed economic, social, community as well as health and wellbeing benefits.

It could be used for year round recreation and competitive swimming and diving events. Hundreds of young workers spilling out of offices, cafés and apartments would welcome an opportunity to shake........

© Evening Echo