The community of Banagher has reached a major fundraising milestone, raising over €195,000 towards the creation of a state-of-the-art outdoor swimming facility at Shannon Bank Park, Esker, Banagher.
Launched by the Shannon Bank Park Development Group at the Crank House on February 2 this year, the campaign has exceeded expectations in a town of just 1,907 residents.
The money raised will support an €850,000 project, including the new pool and significant site development works, which also benefits from €616,000 in funding through the Fáilte Ireland EU Just Transition Fund.
The new Banagher Outdoor Swimming Pool will include wheelchair access, improved seating, wider pontoons, and a dedicated kayak and paddleboard launch, all situated in the River Shannon at Shannon Bank Park.
Construction by Inland and Coastal Marina Systems is already underway, with pool sections currently being fabricated off-site in preparation for installation.
The fundraising efforts have been wide-ranging and imaginative: from the River Shannon Challenge (a 3.5km swim held on June 28) and the Carrauntoohil Challenge (May 10), to nine-year-old Conor Horn’s ‘May the Fourth Mountain March’, a pony trek, the ‘Last Ever ‘80s Nostalgia Night’ at Melba’s nightclub in Birr, a monster auction at Corrigan’s Corner House, a tractor run, and several school-led events.
Significant supporters also include the local ‘Beat on the Street’ Festival and the ‘Runners V Riders’ fundraising group. Sponsored nameplates, an online iDonate page and a tap-to-donate machine in the park also played their part.
“When the Just Transition funding came in, it made the project a possibility — but for us, the work only really started then,” said Johnny Butler of the Shannon Bank Park Development Group.
“€172,000 is an awful lot of money, and people said we were mad. That this was just another pipe dream that looked good on paper.”
“But from the very start, we were met with nothing but positivity. Everywhere we turned for help or support, we didn’t have to ask twice.”
“I checked the platform we used for online donations recently. There are 2,658 individual contributions there alone. That doesn’t include all the physical fundraising that went on.”
The project will be delivered in two phases. Phase 1 will see the removal of the existing pool and the installation of the new facility before the end of August.
The pool will be closed for a maximum of two weeks during the transition. Groundworks and the construction of a new wheelchair ramp and improved access points will commence at the same time.
Phase 2 will follow in 2026, focusing on landscaping and the completion of groundworks to integrate the new facility into the park.
“It really shows the kind of community that exists here in Banagher — and not just here, but across West Offaly, East Galway, and North Tipperary too,” Johnny Butler added.
“Part of the appeal is that the project ticks so many boxes: it’s about health, it’s about access, it’s free, and it’s something that benefits both local people and visitors who already travel long distances to use the current pool.”
“Hopefully, it will inspire similar regeneration projects elsewhere — both locally and nationally.”
