My introduction to the Pslc pool was attending my first Masters swim gala at the Pslc in 1989. One swimsuit & trying to dry it between sessions under the hand dryer!
Several years later, in 2008, I returned to PSLC to complete my swim teacher’s qualification under the brilliant tutor, the late Susan O’Brien. I was quickly co-opted into teaching Thursday & Friday lessons in Jan 2009, which I continued until last year. It was a privilege to teach swimming to children for that 17 years. Watching them come in as nervous beginners at 4 years and emerge as competent swimmers some years later. There is an amazing team of dedicated swim teachers in the PSLC and it was an honour to work with them. Together we helped children gain confidence in the aquatic environment, learn an essential life skill and above all to enjoy the water with family and friends. Sunday mornings in the PSLC pool were always full with families, younger kids showing off their new skills and first strokes, older children displaying their dives and stamina.
Thanks to the parents, guardians, child minders etc who diligently brought the children to the pool every week. A large swimming community was developed in the Pslc that fostered the early skills for children but also led many to continue to enter the competitive club and to become life guards and teachers. It was brilliant to teach alongside children I had taught, or to have them as lifeguards on the bank. Adults also were encouraged to actively participate in swim lessons….. Tuesday night lessons with adults developed into fun & friendships. Many adults coming to improve their skills in the public sessions at the pslc with several moving on to the Tri-club.
Special memories for me include ‘ little Jack’ a beautiful beaming smile when he emerged from under the water, and managed to achieve his first few strokes before he was taken to the angels before his 4th birthday. It taught me that enjoying the water is the most important lesson for children… lessons had to contain an element of fun to keep them coming back, the basic strokes come later.
My other special memory is Pauline who arrived at 68 to do her first lesson. With great determination and consistency, she arrived every week at the pslc, she grew in confidence in the pool and in her early 70’s she achieved a 1km swim but her greatest achievement was a smooth dive into the deep end. Swimming is a life long skilll to be enjoyed at any age , with minimum equipment and there is a level for everyone.
A community of swimmers, teachers and lifeguards developed in the Pslc. It is hugely important to maintain this facility, enabling all ages in the area to learn the important skill of swimming and water safety
As part of our fundraiser, we’re asking current and former members, visitors and supporters to share their PSLC stories.
Your story helps us show why this long-standing community centre matters so much to Portmarnock and the wider area.
You can send your story as text, voice note or video using the links below. Don’t worry about formatting or typos. We’ll write it up, send it to you for approval, and only then share it on our website and social channels. We’d love to include pictures to.
From big life moments to short, fun memories, we’d love to hear them all.
