Commissioned by the Shannon Banks Trustees, we delivered a new state-of-the-art floating concrete swimming pool on the River Shannon at Banagher.
| Client | Shannon Banks Trustees Banagher |
| Date | September 2025 |
| Where | Banagher, River Shannon (Co. Galway side) |
The project replaces a much-loved 40-year-old facility, giving the local community a revitalised, inclusive space to enjoy the water safely and comfortably all year round.
The original Banagher outdoor pool had served generations of local swimmers since the late 1970s but was showing its age, requiring significant ongoing maintenance. As part of wider rejuvenation plans for Banagher Shannon Bank Park, the Trustees sought to replace the old structure with a modern, low-maintenance facility that would also meet the needs of today’s users.
Cold-water swimming has seen a huge rise in popularity since Covid, and Banagher’s pool – one of Ireland’s most unusual outdoor swimming facilities – plays an important part in that story. Situated directly in the River Shannon, with Offaly on one side and Galway on the other, the pool attracts early morning swimmers, families and visitors who come to enjoy the water and surrounding heritage at Cromwell’s Castle.
Banagher outdoor pool is one of Ireland’s most unusual pools
Visit Offaly
Working closely with the Trustees, Inland and Coastal began production in May 2025, with installation and groundworks starting in September. The new structure is built from floating concrete pontoons, designed to withstand fluctuating river levels while maintaining long-term durability and stability.
Accessibility was central to the brief. “The biggest challenge was making the pool accessible with a wheelchair all year round due to the higher levels of water during the winter months,” explains Ollie Shortall, Managing Director at Inland and Coastal, who oversaw the project. “Both access points have been constructed slightly differently. The pool was to have a hoist but they also wanted to make it accessible by a ramp – which the old pool didn’t have.”
Delivering on that vision meant designing two access solutions to suit the site’s changing conditions, ensuring safe entry and exit for users with limited mobility, elderly swimmers and wheelchair users. The result is an inclusive facility that invites everyone to engage with the water.
Beyond recreational swimming, the pool now also supports local kayaking clubs and adventure groups, creating a multi-use amenity that strengthens the area’s blue-space offering and contributes to tourism. Supported by Fáilte Ireland and the EU Just Transition Fund, the project forms a key part of Banagher’s wider regeneration efforts, with landscaping and additional park improvements set to follow by spring 2026.
According to Visit Offaly, “Banagher outdoor pool is one of Ireland’s most unusual pools. It is located in the River Shannon, with Offaly on one side and Galway on the other. The pool is situated in Banagher Park, which is owned by the community and managed by Banagher Shannon Park committee, a group of trustees who have been responsible for the overall management of the facility since 1979.
The pool is free to use and is perfect for an early morning swim. The water is clean and blue and you’ll be able to dry off with a picnic on the riverside afterwards or explore Banagher’s heritage at Cromwell’s Castle, located next to the swimming pool.”
