Published: Wednesday, 18th August, 2010 5:00pm

Swim school proves a big hit in Bailieboro

Making a real difference on the swimming front in Bailieboro: Back (from left): Aodhagan Fox; Martin Smith; Ronan McAdam; Mary McDonald, Board of Management; Lisa Clarke, SuperValu Manager; Danielle Tormey; Vicky Jameson, receptionist at the swimming pool complex; front, Mary McConnell, manager of the swimming pool and gym complex; Chloe Murnaghan; Helen McQuade, swimming co-ordinator; Eimear O'Reilly; and Elaine Reilly, receptionist at the complex. Missing from picture is Lorraine Harris, SuperValu.

The Bailieborough Leisure Centre, which is a community run facility incorporating a swimming pool and expansive gym, is proving a massive hit with both young and old. Over 500 young people participate in classes every week in a new swim school and they will all receive certificates at the end of the course. The local SuperValu supermarket in the town has now come on board to sponsor the swim school initiative.

Helen McQuade, swim co-ordinator for Bailieboro Swim School, told The Anglo-Celt that they had rebranded and revised their swimming syllabus and SuperValu under the direction of Lorraine Harris, has made this possible.

This new initiative has facilitated staff training and the production of quality certificates for the children taking the classes. The programme on offer at the swimming pool has been totally upgraded with a new professional flair.

"It is our focus to ensure that children are given the best training possible and that they enjoy learning all the skills required to become proficient swimmers," said Helen.

The new professional approach at this superb community run facility places emphasis on the young people taking the skills learned with them into later life. "We are endeavouring to promote a life skill, which features fun and fitness. The children training today will be our future customers and they can become the trainers of tomorrow."

The children absolutely love the centre, according to Helen McQuade, and it is very well supported by all the people in the Bailieboro area and the entire hinterland and even further afield. "People come here from Mullingar, Kells and Navan," she said.

The entire swimming pool complex and gym is run by a board of management drawn from the community and it is a non-profit entity. All money generated is ploughed back into the centre.

In terms of swimming, they teach from level one right up to level nine and it is hoped that the children will then progress onto swim club and qualify as swimming instructors.

Of the 18 swimming instructors at Bailieboro swimming pool, 15 of them would have taken lessons there and would have gone through the swim club. "It is brilliant to see that," said Helen.

She explained that during a set of lessons, they would have no less than 500 swimmers. The lessons take place over a duration of eight weeks.

The centre is going very well and the recently extended gym has given the entire complex renewed impetus and the facilities on offer are proving very attractive to young and old.

People have been really focusing on their fitness in the past 12 months and some people who now find themselves out of work are taking up fitness activities, so that they will feel better in their lives. Bailieboro Leisure Centre is very affordable and fitness does help people to keep positive minds.

Helen hails from Perth in Western Australia and is married to Thomas McQuade from Drumagoland, Virginia. She has been in Virginia for 13 years and has been worked in the centre from the opening day.

Lisa Clarke, manager of SuperValu in Bailieborough told The Anglo-Celt said they were delighted to be involved in sponsoring the swim school at the community swimming pool complex in the town.

"It is the first time the store has ever been involved in something like this and we a delighted to see a such beneficial community orientated activity going ahead and helping young children to learn the skills of swimming." Lisa said business was good for SuperValu in Bailieborough.