Dun Laoghaire baths

The great and the good of the borough – councillors, TDs, local businesses, community representatives – came out in weatherproof finery and thermals to mark ...

This week must be the first time since the baths were built in 1843 that there is a continuous walking route between Newtownsmith in Sandycove and the East Pier. She particularly mentioned architect Sarah Clifford in the early phase, and DLR senior architect Bob Hannan, the project’s “champion”, saying “it is your magnum opus”. The councillors voted for that and the management have agreed to progress the planning process for that pool now, which people will be glad to see in this beautiful restored area.” In her speech she said “the councillors and the public want to see the pool restored here. And the DLR councillors voted to keep the public space we have today.” A quarter of a century after the baths closed, following public outcry over the Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council’s repeated attempts to privatise the seafront, and then what became a ridiculously elongated construction with regularly rescheduled finish-dates, the public outdoor area is finally open.

Dún Laoghaire County Council said there is potential for an open seawater pool on the site in the future, subject to planning approval. It says during ...

The council says a seawater pool can be part of future development— Dyane Connor (@Dyaneconnor) Caothaoirleach of Dun Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council Mary Hanafin has said she has formally asked for the process to develop a pool at the Dun Laoghaire baths. In a statement today he said "Today’s reopening of the Baths site is a victory for people power and protest, but it is a telling fact that it has taken 17 years for the people to finally get the baths site reopened, and even now, the seawater swimming pool that we have been demanding for all those years has still not been delivered."

Original plans did not include a swimming pool but the county council have said one can be developed in the future.

It complements and is linked to the People’s Park, the Lexicon library and The Metals. We look forward to welcoming local residents and visitors to the newly restored landmark.” The pavilion building and café will open in the New Year. This well-known landmark has been an important part of the history and heritage of families all over the County.” For the price of one cup of coffee each week you can make sure we can keep reliable, meaningful news open to everyone regardless of their ability to pay. For the price of one cup of coffee each week you can help keep paywalls away.

The Dún Laoghaire Baths finally crossed the finish line and reopened today after a 17-year campaign.

The winter opening is four and a half years since development on the baths began in 2018. The pavilion building and café will open in the New Year. The council said there is still a possibility for an open sea pool in the future, “subject to approval”.

An open seawater pool could be part of a future phase of development at the reopened Dun Laoghaire Baths. That's according to Dun Laoghaire-Rathdown County ...

Once again, the iconic Dún Laoghaire Baths is back at the heart of it all, in this unique location.” Curran added: “The project was guided by our policy of improving public realm for our communities and linking the sea front with the town centre. This well-known landmark has been an important part of the history and heritage of families all over the county,” Cllr Hanafin said. [As previously reported on Afloat.ie](https://afloat.ie/port-news/dun-laoghaire-news/item/57136-dun-laoghaire-baths-finally-set-to-reopen-in-plenty-of-time-for-christmas), the project has been a long time coming, with works beginning on the site in June 2018 and originally set to be completed a year ago before “COVID and other site factors” saw the final stages pushed back. And while the original plans did not include a swimming pool, as was the main purpose of the original Victorian-era baths, it says “a future phase of development” on the site can include an open seawater pool, subject to approval. “The re-opening of the Dún Laoghaire Baths is a significant milestone for the Council and the people of the town.