EAMONN CREGAN,
Sir, - In your edition of April 13th, Drapier mentioned that the Taoiseach opened a "swimming pool in Limerick". This was the only mention in your newspaper of the opening of the largest multi-purpose indoor sports facility in Ireland as well as our first FINA Olympic-sized swimming pool.
Your readers might be interested in knowing more about this new €28 million facility and I would be grateful if you would allow me to expand on Drapier's remarks.
The arena combines a range of dry sports and water-based facilities totalling 13,500 square metres (145,000 square feet). The Olympic standard 50m x 25m swimming pool features a mechanically-operated floating floor, which allows both the general public and competitive swimmers to use the facility. The 3,600 sq m indoor sports hall includes four full-sized, wood-sprung courts catering for basketball, volleyball, badminton, soccer and other indoor sports and has a capacity for 1,500 spectators.
There is also a six-lane, 60 m sprint track together with a three-lane suspended jogging track. The facility includes a state-of-the-art cardiovascular and strength-training centre, a weight-training room for élite athletes, squad and team rooms, an aerobics studio and a wellness clinic and classrooms. The whole facility has a capacity for over 500,000 users annually.
We would welcome your readers to see this exciting new sports development for themselves. - Yours, etc.,
EAMONN CREGAN, Director of Corporate Affairs, University of Limerick.