Edenderry swimming pool, located on the borders of Meath, Westmeath and Kildare, remains closed for six months of each year because the funds are not available to keep it open. It is a 25-metre, six-lane pool which opens from Easter until September. When open it is an extremely popular recreational facility. According to Fergus McDonald, chairman of Edenderry Swimming Pool, the pool had to get most of its money to meet running costs through fund-raisers in 1997. A mini-marathon took in £618, a fashion show £1,500, a Christmas draw £500 and a golf classic raised around £3,200.

Until last year the pool was getting by on fund-raisers and a local government allocation of £1,000; the water rates were also waived. A crisis involving the roof forced the pool to close for the whole of 1996.

Lottery funding of £42,000 paid for work on the roof and other areas to be carried out, while Offaly Co Council also decided to raise its allocation from £1,000 to £5,000 per year. But according to Fergus McDonald, this is still not enough. To keep the pool open for six months each year, he says, the Edenderry pool management needs in the region of £15,000 - and to keep it open all year round would cost closer to £25,000.

£110,000 is currently needed to carry out further maintenance work, with even more money required down the line for such improvements as an observation balcony for parents or a shallow "Kiddies Splash" area. McDonald, who has been involved with the swimming pool since 1985, sees 1998 as another frantic fund-raising year. Without it, he says, the pool will not remain open.