By Coleman Hodges on SwimSwam
I traveled to Belfast, Ireland, home to Templemore Baths, the oldest pool in Ireland (and the only 25y pool in the country). Come on a tour of the facility with me and join me for a swim in the 100+ year old pool!
Read more about the history of Templemore Baths below:
Templemore Baths, located in East Belfast, is more than just a place to swim; it is a living monument to Belfast’s industrial golden age and a testament to the resilience of a community that refused to let its history be demolished. As the last surviving Victorian-era public baths on the island of Ireland, it serves as a bridge between the 19th-century necessity for hygiene and the 21st-century pursuit of wellness.
In the late 1800s, East Belfast was home to thousands of workers who labored at the Harland and Wolff shipyards—the same yards that built the Titanic. Most of these workers lived in houses that lacked basic internal plumbing.
Templemore Baths opened its doors in 1893. The primary service wasn’t actually the swimming pools, but the “slipper baths.” These were individual private cubicles containing a large porcelain tub where a worker could pay a small fee for a hot bath and a clean towel. For many residents, the “Friday night bath” at Templemore was their only thorough wash of the week, often occurring just before heading out to the local dance halls.
The building also housed two swimming pools: the “Major” and “Minor” pools. These were initially seen as secondary to the washing facilities, but they quickly became social hubs. In 1929, the Major pool was extended from 66 feet to 75 feet (25 yards) to meet the training standards required for Olympic-length swimming, reflecting the growing popularity of swimming as a competitive sport.
By the 1970s and 80s, the slipper baths were largely redundant. In 1983, Belfast City Council tried to close Templemore, but underestimated the deep emotional connection the local community had with the building. For nearly 40 years, the facility operated on a shoestring budget while half of the building sat in a state of decay.
The turning point for Templemore came in the late 2010s. Recognizing its unique status as the only surviving Victorian baths in Ireland, a massive £17 million redevelopment project was launched, funded by Belfast City Council and a £5 million grant from the National Lottery Heritage Fund. Reopening in June 2023, the “new” Templemore Baths is a 28,000-square-foot facility that offers two distinct atmospheres, past and present. Today, it stands as a global example of “heritage-led regeneration.” It proves that old buildings do not have to be museums frozen in time; they can adapt to the needs of the modern world while still honoring the people who built them.
Whether you are a local resident going for a fitness swim or a tourist exploring the “Slipper Baths,” you are participating in a story of public health, social progress, and community pride that spans over thirteen decades.
Read the full story on SwimSwam: Swimming in Templemore Baths: Ireland’s 100+ Year Old Pool
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