In pictures: Hundreds turn out for Buncrana leisure centre meeting

Hundreds of people have turned out for a meeting on the future of the proposed new Buncrana leisure centre.

The meeting was called amid anger at the failure of the project to be awarded funding after an €11.7m application to the Large Scale Sport Infrastructure Fund.

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Buncrana has been without a swimming pool since 2015 when the leisure centre closed for renovations. It was recommended in 2018 that the building on Aileach Road be demolished and replaced with a new facility.

Planning approval for a two-storey building of almost 2,500 square metres and a 25-metre-long pool was granted in January.
The funding application was to be supplemented with €5 million from Donegal County Council.

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The public meeting in Crana College was attended by representatives of local schools, sports clubs and community organisations including Crana College, Coláiste Eoghain, Scoil Íosagáin, Scoil Mhuire Buncrana, Buncrana Hearts FC, Cockhill Celtic FC, Buncrana GAA, Inishowen Rugby Club, Inishowen Athletics Club, and Illies Golden Gloves Boxing Club.

Donegal TDs Charlie McConalogue and Pádraig Mac Lochalinn attended the meeting along with local councillors Joy Beard, Fionán Bradley, Terry Crossan and Jack Murray.

Cllr Murray, who called the meeting, said a strong and united message was sent at the meeting, adding: “It is clear that we still have a massive fight on our hands to get the funding we need to deliver the project”.

“We are going to have to have a very public campaign now,” he said. “People have waited patiently and politely and have got nowhere and they are very angry.”