UL Sport Arena Swimming Pool

The University Limerick Sports Arena is home to the national 50 meter pool. This pool is Olympic sized which means it is 50 meters long, 25 meters wide and has 10 lanes. The shallow end of the pool has an adjustable floor so its depth can be varied depending on the particular activity. It was the first ever Olympic sized swimming pool in Ireland and it is the only one in Ireland which has the approval of FINA (an international swimming body recognized by the International Olympic Committee).

The swimming pool is open every day and is available for students of UL as well as members of the public. It offers lessons for all levels of swimmers (from beginners to advanced) and for all age groups (from toddlers to adults). It also offers the use of a sauna, a steam room, shower and changing facilities and lockers.

The lessons provided by the Sports Arena pool are:

• Parent and Toddler
• Children 3-6 years water confidence lessons
• Children over 6 lessons for beginners, improvers, advanced improvers and advanced
• Adult lessons for beginners, improvers, advanced improvers and advanced.
• Swim Inc.: Swimming Inclusive (which is shortened to Swim Inc.) is a programme for children aged between 5 and 10 in the Limerick city area who have disabilities. It aims to teach these children the skills needed to participate in sport in a fun, supportive way.  It was developed when a local Physiotherapist and a local Sports Scientist identified the need for it. Students of the Physical Education and Sports Science degree volunteer at this successful program.

Other activities in the pool include:

• Water Safety classes
• Canoe Polo
• Waterpolo
• Sub-Aqua Diving 

Each year over 500,000 customers (including international sport athletes) use the arena swimming pool. The pool has links with management of many swimming clubs (such as the GreatBritain Olympic squad and Villanova Universityin USA) who have agreed to send future camps back to Limerick.

Aoife O'Dwyer

(11131888)