Dun Laoghaire Baths in times gone by. Photo: www.barryward.ie
DunLaoghaire Baths when they were in active use. Photo: www.barryward.ie
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Rainbow Rapids which closed in early 1990s. Photo: www.barryward.ie
Dilapidated baths in pretty pastels Photo: www.barryward.ie
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- Dún Laoghaire Rathdown County Council has signed a €9 million contract with SIAC-Mantovani for the redevelopment of the old Dún Laoghaire Baths site. As Afloat.ie reported previously, the approved plans will see the retention of the existing baths building and include a new pedestrian walkway between the promenade at Newtownsmith and the rear of the East Pier. Proposed new amenities include a small café, public toilets, an artist space, up-grading of the existing maritime gardens and a new jetty for access to the sea for kayaks, canoes and small craft.
- Welcoming the redevelopment of the seafront, the Cathaoirleach of Dún Laoghaire Rathdown County Council, Cllr. Tom Murphy (FF) said “this investment will see a rebirth of the area between the East Pier and Newtownsmith, which has been derelict since the old baths closed in 1997.”Cormac Devlin, who is a councillor for the area, welcomed the investment in Dún Laoghaire Town saying, “it has been a very long road, the Baths and the Rainbow Rapids closed in 1997 and in the interim several plans have come and gone. They proved unacceptable due to their high-rise nature and unsuitability to the site. This proposal is in keeping with the low-rise built environment surrounding the site and ensures that the site remains in public ownership.”The Baths were first constructed in 1843, the baths were completely redeveloped by the then Kingstown Town Council in 1910 and operated until 1997 when they were closed.
- In March 2010, a report was brought before Dún Laoghaire Rathdown County Council setting out the rationale for the redevelopment of the old Dún Laoghaire Baths site. Councillors agreed the future parameters of development on the site, which included securing the baths pavilion, removing dilapidated structures, enhancing the connection between Newtownsmith and the East Pier and ensuring access to the water’s edge. The Council made a formal application for a Foreshore Licence to the Department of Environment, Community and Local Government in December 2012. Approval in principle was granted by the Department and Council approval given in March 2015 following a successful public consultation process. In the summer of 2017, the Council erected several information boards on the facade of the prominent Baths building to inform the public of the approved plans for the site. However the project was delayed when exploratory engineering works found that part of the site formed a retaining wall for Queens Road. This resulted in a significant increase in the estimated cost of the project. In March this year, the Council agreed to fund the renovation as part of an overall €10.3 investment as part of their Capital Programme.
- Councillor Devlin acknowledged that a lot of people would have liked to have seen the retention of a public swimming facility on the site, however the proposal includes provision for a jetty which will provide access into the bay.
- Save our Seafront understands that the date for commencement of refurbishment works on Phase 1 is now March 2018 & the cost is now estimated at €10m.
- Works will include as previously planned: Coffee shops, terraces, seaweed baths, public toilets, lifeguards on swimming jetty, changing cabins & lockers, landing point plus a Casement Memorial - however this doesn't preclude the inclusion of a swimming pool at a later date. It had been hoped to extend the renovations along the walkway to the East Pier but now only a tidy-up of this area is envisaged. Works are expected to take 22 months
Further delay in Refurbishment of Baths to before Christmas 2017
- There has been a further delay & it is now hoped that works will commence before Christmas 2017
Baths still await redevelopment 29 May 2017
Dun Laoghaire Baths - Refurbishment to commence Summer 2017
- The long-awaited redevelopment of Dun Laoghaire Baths is due to commence this summer. Works are currently out to tender & a decision from the Council is due soon. The works are estimated to cost €2.5m & be completed in 20 months.
It is to be hoped that in creating the new walkway between the Baths & Pier & the regrading of the land "to create sloping grassed areas"; the familiar feathery tree group in photo below will be retained. They look like one tree until you look more closely and find there are actually three close together. Although they seem a bit old and weather-and life-beaten, like many of us, they are still a useful and pleasing asset, as they lift, soften and add 3-dimensional height to what might perhaps otherwise appear to be a somewhat flat and concrete vista. Yes, even our fabulous Bay can seem a bit hard and concrete-looking at times in dull weather ? When visitors come, they love to see how green Ireland is. Hopefully there will be more suitable planting to enhance the view across the proposed grassed areas.
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Funding for Dun Laoghaire Baths Site
€1.1m has been secured from the European Regional Development Fund towards the redevelopment of the Dun Laoghaire Baths Site. As well as refurbishing the pavilion; an artists' studio/gallery, an outdoor cafe, new changing area & jetty into the sea will be provided for swimmers. Save our Seafront, who have been campaigning on this issue since 2005 when we succeeded in stopping the Council's plans to construct 180 private apartments & retail units on the site, welcome plans for its redevelopment, however regret the omission of the swimming baths requested by the public. 27/1/2016.
HISTORY
Dun Laoghaire Baths were originally constructed in 1843, rebuilt in 1910 & heated indoor pools were added in 1970. The Baths were extremely popular and attracted many visitors to the town. However they finally closed in 1997 when a proposal to build a huge water complex on the site didn’t proceed, due in part to public opposition.
In 2005 proposals were put forward by Dun Laoghaire Rathdown Co Council for development of an 8-storey complex consisting of 180 apartments and retail units on the Baths site which would involve reclaiming 5 acres of the sea
Save our Seafront mounted a campaign of opposition to this proposal, which would have been effectively a privatisation of the seafront. SOS organised a huge rally & protest march on 18 September 2005 at Newtownsmith against the proposal, asking that it be abandoned and the public baths be restored instead. 5000 people protested at the rally & march and due to public pressure these plans were dropped but we are still awaiting the restoration of the Baths
SOS has continued over the years to press for restoration of the Baths. Plans for refurbishment of the area have now been drawn up by the Council which will soon be implemented. Although this is to be welcomed and will be a definite improvement on the previous proposal and the present long-derelict site, the swimming pool at this site which the public have been demanding since 2005 is not presently included in the plans. SOS continues to request that a swimming facility be provided as part of the Baths refurbishment.
2 November 2015: Council voted tonight to proceed with plans to redevelop Dun Laoghaire Baths The €2.5 million project was given the green light by the Department of the Environment. The revised plans will see the baths developed into artists' studios with a gallery and café space. Among other changes, the old saltwater pool space will be filled in to create a green space between the People's Park and the East Pier However, these plans do not include a swimming pool & SOS continues to request that a swimming facility be provided as part of the Baths refurbishment.
Copy newspaper article (Irish Times 30 June 2001) on early efforts by a group of local people, including Richard Boyd Barrett, a member of the ad-hoc committee, to restore the Baths
Apologies for poor quality !
