Ballyshannon Leisure Centre is celebrating it’s 20 year anniversary this year since the centre was re-opened following refurbishment in 1996 with a special event being held in the centre on Friday 25 November.
Caroline Patton, Manager of Ballyshannon Leisure Centre is spearheading plans to mark this milestone in the life of the centre which she describes as a hub of activity and a place that is often used by the community for social occasions, leisure activity, family outings as well as keeping fit and active.
“We are delighted to have reached this milestone at the Ballyshannon Leisure Centre and we are looking forward to celebrating our 20 year anniversary with a special event on Friday next and we hope that the entire community can come along and join in our celebration at 3pm”.
“We will be using this occasion to acknowledge and recognise the contributions made by the people who were instrumental in establishing the centre. In particular we will be unveiling two special plaques to the late Cllr Frank O’Kelly and the late Michael Dalton in recognition and appreciation of their commitment and dedication to their community, to water safety and for the contribution they made to securing and developing the leisure centre in Ballyshannon”.
The centre was originally constructed in the 1970’s and was extensively refurbished in 1995/1996 and was officially re-opened on the 3rd May 1996 by the then chairman of Donegal County Council Cllr. Sean McEniff. Funding for these works was received from the National Lottery, the Department of the Environment, Donegal County Council, Ballyshannon Town Commissioners and the local community.
The centre has been improved again recently with funding from Donegal County Council and works include refurbishment of the reception area and upgrade works to both men's and ladies less-abled shower facilities. New gym equipment has also been installed and a new entry system has been put in place.
Facilities at the centre include a 25 meter swimming pool with a hoist and stairs for less abled access, Sauna & Steam Room and a newly refurbished Gym and Fitness Suite. The centre attracts users not only from the Ballyshannon area but from the entire south & southwest Donegal, north Sligo and north Leitrim region with schools from all over the region using the centre for their swimming lessons.
Ballyshannon Leisure Centre is open seven days a week and has a packed timetable offering a variety of classes including Swimming lessons for children & adults, Birthday Parties Seasonal Camps, Aqua Aerobics, Parent & Tot Aqua Fit, Master Swim Class, Spin, Boot Camp, Yoga and Pilates.
While the centre is under the ownership of Donegal County Council it is managed by a dedicated board of directors drawn from a range of sectors as follows Cllr. Barry O’Neill, Chair, Eunan Kelly, Secretary, Seamus O’Neill, Irish Water Safety, Cllr. Tom Conaghan, Cllr Sean McEniff , Paul McDevitt Accountant, Damian Conlon, Colaiste Colmcille and Anne McPartland, business representative.
Cathaoirleach of Donegal County Council Cllr. Terence Slowey has congratulated all those involved with Ballyshannon Leisure Centre and believes that the success of the centre is testament to the hardwork and dedication of both the board of directors and the management and staff of the centre.
“I think it is fitting for Ballyshannon Leisure Centre to mark their 20th anniversary with a celebration of this nature. The success of the centre is testament to the hardwork and dedication of both the board of directors and of the management and staff. It is also a manifestation of the support that the centre has received from the entire community including the schools, the businesses and the residents of Ballyshannon and the wider area. The fact that Ballyshannon Leisure Centre is the centre of choice for swimming lessons for schools from towns as far away as Glenties, Maugherow, Manorhamilton and Garrison is in itself a mark of the excellent standard of service that the centre provides and the esteem with which it is held in the region. I would like to congratulate everyone involved with centre on reaching this milestone and I wish them every success in the years ahead”.
The 20th anniversary celebration will take place in Ballyshannon Leisure Centre at 3pm on Friday 25 November 2016.
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