DAVE Mahedy, UL director of sport and recreation, has expressed his unhappiness over the possibility of Swim Ireland relocating their High Performance Centre (HPC) away from the University Arena. Swim Ireland has said that the structure of Irish swimming is under review, with reports suggesting that the governing body wants to move its high performance base to Abbotstown in Dublin. (by Liam Togher)
“The decision has not been made yet from what I know but it definitely is a worry and it would certainly be a big blow to the campus,” said Mahedy.
He could not confirm that the HPC would definitely be moved from the University Arena, but he said that Swim Ireland is currently reviewing the situation.
Should the relocation come to pass, it will represent a further blow for UL, following on from the departure of renowned swimming coach Ronald Claes.
The Belgian was told by Swim Ireland that his contract would not be renewed and it is unclear if he will be replaced.
Claes was the trainer of some of the region’s elite swimmers including Grainne Murphy (pictured), the 19-year-old swimmer who represented Ireland at the Olympic Games in London this summer.
She is one of a number of swimmers who have based themselves in Limerick because of the HPC. There are fears that if it moves to Abbotstown, it will spark the departure of some of the country’s top swimming talent from Limerick City and County.
Murphy had been living in Castletroy for the past six years, combining training in UL with her studies at Castletroy College. She has now moved back to her native Wexford with her family and Mahedy has sympathy with the teenager’s situation.
He said: “This is a very tough blow for Grainne and her family. They bought a house in Castletroy and have lived in Limerick for six years. They’ve moved back to Wexford now and it is difficult to uproot a family. This is a major upheaval for them.”
The uncertainty surrounding the Swim Ireland situation comes at a critical time for the UL arena with speculation growing about its future involvement with Munster Rugby, who are considering a move to Cork for their training base. The base is currently located in the Limerick and Cork Institutes of Technology.
