Swimming pool back in action by next week

Kells Swimming Pool is expected to open next Monday following the completion of repair work to burst pipes over the past month. The local pool has been closed since Christmas because of damage to pipes caused by the cold weather over the Christmas period and work to identify the location and repair the leak has now been completed. Kells town clerk, Jarlath Flanagan, said the pool was currently being refilled and heated and the council was aiming to re-open the facility to members of the public on Monday, provided no other issues arose. The leak, which caused the closure of the pool, was discovered after the Christmas break and the pool had to remain closed as the damage was assessed. The pool, which is one of the most widely used facilities in Kells, proved a major benefit to the local community in the run-up to Christmas when it opened its doors to the people of Kells who were without water because of frozen pipes. Pool manager Amelia Reilly and her staff opened up the facility on Christmas Eve to offer free showers to the many families who found themselves with no water supply in their homes over the Christmas period. However, when staff returned to work, they found that the facility had also been affected by the sub-zero weather conditions with a major leak preventing the pool from opening. The cathaoirleach of Kells Town Council, Cllr Conor Ferguson, has described the lesiure facility as one of the most used in Kells, attracting people from over a wide area.