Councillors are being asked to refuse permission for Swim Ulster to stage gala events at the South Lake Leisure Centre in Craigavon.
Swim Ulster is recognised as the representative body for aquatic sports in Ulster and regularly holds galas throughout the season.
But given the impact this would have on the public – in terms of closing the venue to the public – ABC Council is being asked to turn down requests by Swim Ulster going forward.
Instead, councillors are being urged to prioritise and permit local club galas which feature regularly in its calendar.
The South Lake Leisure Centre, which opened in 2020, is one of only three venues in Northern Ireland boasting 50-metre swimming pools. This means the Craigavon-based leisure centre, along with the Bangor Aurora and Greenvale Leisure Centre in Mid-Ulster, are very much in demand for Northern Ireland swim competitions.
Now a report to ABC Council’s health and wellbeing committee tonight (Monday) is recommending limiting South Lake’s use, with the document listing already known galas for the aquatic season between now and next June.
Hosting galas, councillors have been informed, “does impact on the amount of public swimming available”.
The report adds: “Officers want to recognise that the swim clubs in the borough operate these galas with volunteers and the benefits of these galas support the growth, development and
operation of the clubs.”
There are two ‘distinct’ types of gala held at Craigavon – full day or evening – which are primarily held at weekends in the main pool using either the short course 25 metre or long course 50 metre pool space.
Committee has been advised: “The full day galas are mostly national events with clubs from around NI attending and competing. Most of these galas are classified as level three, which uses the timing system, and competitors can register their times for further championships.
“The full day galas does impact on the programme with the pool closed for the public for the full day; this would cancel public swimming, swimming lessons and club swimming if that club is not taking part in gala.
“The evening galas are hosted on a Friday or Saturday night and vary in start time, but normally between 4pm and 6pm. These are primarily Provincial Town League events and are hosted by our local clubs. There is minimal disruption to the public due to galas running outside of the centre’s opening hours.
“In the 2025/26 aquatic calendar, South Lake Leisure Centre hosted 17 galas, with six being full day closures and 11 evening galas.”
When the report to committee was being compiled, a full calendar of galas had not yet been confirmed.
But for those that had, there had been ‘provisional requests’ to host eight full-day galas and 10 partial closures for the upcoming season.
Councillors have been presented with two options, with the recommendation to accept that which would have less impact on the pool-using public.
Accommodating all events would see eight full day and 10 partial closures.
But permitting just the local club galas – as well as the Special Olympics ‘time trials’ on a date to be confirmed next May – would lessen the limitations to the public to five days full closure and 10 partial closures.
The report states: “Officers wish to note that Armagh hosts both a school gala and a club gala in Orchard Leisure Centre. Officers want to balance the aquatic programme, so it is available to the local and wider community along with supporting the clubs within the borough.”
And it adds: “It is officers’ recommendation therefore to accept the local clubs’ gala bookings but decline the booking enquiries made by Swim Ulster. This will reduce the overall number of closures to the public whilst support the local swimming club programmes.”
If councillors agree to the recommendation tonight, already ‘pencilled in’ events – including December’s Future Challengers meet and the Ulster Masters Championships and Aqua Sprint Finals next May and June respectively – would be turned down, with Swim Ulster forced to find an alternative venue.
