By Lisa Ramsden
The plight of Newcastle’s “essentially abandoned” Rock Pool has been highlighted by both Ulster Architectural Heritage (UAH) and a local councillor. UAH says the historic site – which is one of the last remaining open sea water pools in Ireland – should be the focus of major investment. With the town’s cable car scheme now axed, UAH has suggested that money initially set aside for that project could be diverted by the local council to restore the Rock Pool.
Last week, the organisation took to social media to highlight the pool’s disrepair. Having last been open in the summer of 2019, the pool – which was constructed in 1932 – requires significant restoration work. In its post, UAH provided images of the closed and dilapidated pool, which was designed to fill through the daily tidal flow, painting a clear picture of the sorry state it is now in – in stark contrast to the pool in its heyday.
“This is an amazing asset and, given the chance, it can flourish,” the official post reads. It also notes that, “with the gondola scheme now unlikely to happen, here is a structure owned by the council that has both tourism and local benefits.”
Documentation provided to the Mourne Observer last week by UAH includes a Department for Communities ‘Heritage at Risk’ report on the pool. The structure was added to the Heritage at Risk Register last year.
Read more details in the current issue of the Mourne Observer.
