National Aquatic Centre

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For other uses, see National Aquatic Centre (disambiguation).

National Aquatic Centre

Building information
Full name:	National Aquatic Centre Sportlann Uisce Éireann
City:	Abbotstown, Ireland
Built:	March 2003
Opened:	March 2003

The National Aquatic Centre (NAC) (Irish: Sportlann Uisce Éireann) is a water-sports facility located in Abbotstown, Blanchardstown, Ireland.

The NAC was built to be the home of Irish swimming, with modern facilities such as its 50m competition pool (one of only three in Ireland), diving pool with movable floor, and leisure centre — it is Europe's largest indoor water leisure facility. The centre was completed and opened in March 2003 and hosted the Special Olympics in August 2003 and the European SC Championships in December 2003 .

In January 2005, the centre sustained roof damage during a period of stormy weather and it had to be closed for five months in order to receive repairs. This closure, after only 18 months since opening, was seen as damaging the business of the operating company, Dublin Waterworld. Campus & Stadium Ireland Development, the State company which owns the centre, commissioned an engineer to assess the roof damage and they stated that the roof was not designed and constructed in accordance with the building regulations. During the closure period CSID commenced legal proceedings to remove the operators. The centre re-opened to the public on 20 May, 2005.

The centre is now home to many swimming competitions including the Irish Long Course Championships and Leinster Age Groups. Many clubs around the Dublin area use the competition pool to train in, although training hours in the pool are limited.

The diving pool is also used for water-polo matches and tournaments. It can also be difficult to get training hours in the diving pool due to competing commercial demands.

1 Controversy
2 See also
3 References
4 External links

[edit] Controversy

The National Aquatic Centre has been embroiled in controversy almost from the beginning, from the concept to construction to the operating arrangements, with operation being given to a "shelf" company, and then passed to another company, then to a single businessman.

After a lengthy legal process, the Government (through its company, CSID) won a High Court case to repossess the centre due to failure of Dublin Waterworld to pay any rent. CSID also alleged that the NAC was not being properly maintained. This was held by the commercial court not to be the case.^{[citation needed]}

The result of this case was appealed by the Dublin Waterworld and the Supreme Court hearing was scheduled for 14 November 2006, Dublin Waterworld losing and handing back possession^[1].