Back in the splash

By Nuala McCann
BBC News

The Rock Pool in Newcastle has reopened to the public

The sea water Rock Pool in Newcastle that played hosts to generations of swimmers has reopened.

They thought it was closed for good - but they were wrong.

Now the costumes are on, the lilos are puffed up and everything is going swimmingly down in the water.

The famous open air pool on the town's Kilkeel Road had been closed this summer because of an e-coli scare that proved unfounded.

Now generations of swimmers are celebrating with a splash.

Mary Hull, Friends of the Rock Pool said everyone was delighted to be back in the water at one of Ireland's few remaining sea water pools.

"I'm a newcomer as I've only been swimming here for 15 years. But there are people who have been coming for 60 years," she said.

"Grannies teach their grandchildren to swim here. There is a real love for this pool and there is a community that gets together each July and August to enjoy it."

Ms Hull said it was also one of the few pools where swimmers could do their life saving awards in cold open water - recreating the conditions of a real sea rescue.

Macartan Bryce, leisure services manager of Down District Council, said they were delighted to be able to open the pool to everyone.

The issue about the rock pool concerned the public health of those who used it, he said.

"The pool is heavily used by young children and older people and we would be very concerned about that," he said.

The council is now using the best, most up-to-date equipment to monitor the quality of the sea water on a daily basis to ensure its safety.

"We are delighted to respond to local people's requests to open the pool," he said.

The pool will be open during the summer months of July and August.