Ballina Swimming Pool was officially opened by the Junior Minister for Sports and tourist, Deputy Michael Ring on 29th March, 2012. Speaking at the opening, he praised Ballina Swimming Pool Manager, Orla Donnelly, and her team for doing such an excellent job over the last 21 years of her stewardship. The Minister commented that this work has contributed to making the pool one of the most used in the region, attracting 1,800 customers every week. Minister Ring said he was delighted to hear the Ballina Swimming Pool special Olympians were to represent Connaught, having won seven gold medals in Galway. He thanked all involved in completing the refit at Ballina pool on time and within budget and urged the people of Ballina and surrounding area to make use of the great facility and enjoy the benefits of a healthier lifestyle by doing this. He thanked the original pool committee who raised the funds to help build the pool in the 1980s. He also acknowledged the contribution made by rate players to the upkeep of the pool and praised the work of the council’s outdoor and technical staff, the pool staff and members in completing the energy saving work on time and within budget. Mayor Peter Clarke said the work would mean big savings for Town Council. He was especially pleased to see the new facilities for wheelchair users that would ensure their wheelchairs did not get wet when using the pool. He welcomed disability campaigner, Tom Chambers from Newport with whom he has worked on disability issues over a number of years. Mayor Clarke said we need people like Tom Chambers and others to work with local authority engineers and architects to enable better wheelchair accessibility in all public facilities. Ballina Swimming Pool Manager, Orla Donnelly thanked all her staff for their hard work and loyalty and pointed out that the pool was a big success story in Ballina, bringing in 1,800 customers every week. It was nothing short of a miracle that a new swimming pool was provided in Ballina in three weeks, comprising a new roof, walls insulated, two new boilers, extra parking bays and facilities for the disabled, Ms Donnelly had a special word of congratulations for the special Olympic swimming team who had brought back seven gold medals from Galway and would now go on to represent Connect. Paddy Mahon, Ballina Town Manager, thanked the builders and technical staff for delivering the completed project on time, and on budget, saying it was a fantastic achievement and would extend the lifespan of the pool for another 20 years. Mr Mahon said the energy-saving work would mean a significant saving in electricity and he was confident of a return on investment. Disability Campaigner, Tom Chambers, Newport, said he was delighted to work with engineers and architects in providing facilities for fellow disabled people, especially local architect Kevin Keegan and Mayor Peter Clarke. The facilities in Ballina were now the envy of the entire country, as he pointed out the importance of the pool, not just to Ballina, but to its hinterland, stretching from West Sligo to East Mayo, Tom said to the cheers of all those present. In conclusion, he said the one facility disabled people were lacking in Mayo was a hydrotherapy pool and Tom informed the large crowd that his campaign will not stop until there is hydropool in Ballina if not any other place in the county, he asked Minister Ring to give consideration to providing this facility in the county.