There are renewed calls for a major playground upgrade at The Lough.

Families and community groups are pushing for investment in the popular lakeside spot, arguing that the current facilities no longer meet the needs of the hundreds of children who use the area each week.

A report went to Council this Monday which details that the sum of €150,000 would be required to update and extend the playground at the Lough. The report is the result of a motion brought by Councillor Niamh O’Connor in April of this year.

“The playground in the Lough is in a sorry state.” said Cllr O’Connnor.

“In comparison to other playgrounds in the City it really lags behind. The playing surface has holes in it, the pirate ship is often quite dirty and the swings are older than I am.”

‘It needs to be fenced in’

In a reply to a question raised by Cllr. O’Connor at Monday’s meeting, the Chief Executive confirmed that in the last ten years the sum of €24,588 has been invested in the playground at the Lough.

Councillor O’Connor highlighted that, compared with other city playgrounds, the difference in investment is vast: “Hundreds of thousands have been invested over the same period in other playgrounds within the City Council area.” she continued.

“The Council approved a budget for 2026 that includes the sum of €238,100 for playgrounds, I am calling on the City Council to use a portion of that funding to give residents of the Lough and the surrounding area the playground they deserve.”

Councillor O’Connor along with her party colleague Deputy Pádraig Rice held a public meeting at the Lough in July of this year and the playground was one of the matters they committed to pursuing at that meeting.

“Residents of the area were really clear on what they wanted in terms of a playground in the area, it needs to be a playground of universal design catering to every child, it needs to be sympathetic to the local area and take into account fact that the Lough is a wildlife refuge and parents have expressed a desire for the playground to be fenced in given the proximity to water.” she added.