Splash Pool Ballaghaderreen to mark first anniversary with family-friendly event and free pool sessions

The Splash Pool Ballaghaderreen will mark its first anniversary this Sunday, May 17th, with an afternoon of family-friendly celebrations and free pool sessions for adults and babies.

The facility at the former Abbeyfield Hotel site reopened in April 2025 under the management of Splash Swim School.

The first anniversary celebrations will run from 2 p.m. to 6 p.m., with Splash Pool Ballaghaderreen owner and manager Bríd Graham set to welcome visitors with an offering of free face painting, ice cream, spot prizes and giveaways, as well as complimentary aqua aerobics and baby pool sessions.

Expert speakers will also be onsite to speak about the advantages of water-based strength and conditioning and how swimming can enhance stroke rehabilitation and ease the strain of living with illness.

Up to 10 places are available for the complimentary aqua aerobics session, and up to eight for each group of the taster baby sessions. Complimentary spaces are also available in the Swim Skills Academy session which runs after the programme of events, from 6 p.m. to 7 p.m..

Splash Pool Ballaghaderreen is also using the milestone to launch its Sports Team Membership offer, with three months full membership for all sports team members available for just €100. A coach will need to verify that the person is a member of a sports team and the membership can be approved.

To book spaces for the complimentary sessions, or to take up the Sports Team Membership offer, contact the pool directly on 087 484 7556. Access to the pool is pay as you go, with payment by card only.

Now supporting 22 jobs locally, the pool has become a vital amenity for Ballaghaderreen and the surrounding areas over the past 12 months. It has enjoyed strong local support from members who have benefited hugely from swimming lessons, aqua aerobics, aqua strength sessions, swimming water-confidence classes, additional needs classes and sauna, steam room and jacuzzi facilities. Wednesday morning aqua strength classes, in particular, continue to grow in popularity.

Following the success of its first 12 months, the Splash Pool Ballaghaderreen is now expanding its current offering, with plans to introduce pre- and postnatal aqua aerobics, private and small group rehabilitation sessions, and a swim skills academy aimed at encouraging longer participation in swimming.

Splash Swim Schools last year marked 10 years in business. Since 2015, now with a staff of 84, the firm has overseen the development of more than 8,000 swimmers, providing swimming classes to adults, infants, toddlers and children.

Training has been provided to upskill assistant and full teachers, and baby swim teachers. Courses are advertised on The Splash Pool Facebook and Instagram accounts, which interested parties are encouraged to follow.

Splash Pool Ballaghaderreen owner and manager Bríd Graham says: “We’re very much looking forward to the Splash Pool Ballaghaderreen’s first anniversary celebrations this Sunday, May 17th. We can't wait to meet locals who may not have had the opportunity to visit our amenity up to now. Our beautiful pool, steam room, sauna and jacuzzi are used by so many people and we would love to see new faces experience everything our pool has to offer.

“It has been a privilege to run our facility in such a welcoming town. Our classes and pool sessions are in high demand, with customers showing genuine positivity and appreciation. When we reopened the pool, we knew how important it was to the people of Ballaghaderreen and the wider region. Over the past year, we have seen children, adults, parents, families and sports clubs make the facility part of their weekly routine. 

"It has been wonderful to watch confidence grow in the water and to see the pool become part of the community again." said Bríd.