As the Aqua Dome celebrates its 20th anniversary, Gavin O’Connor, looks back at 10 things people of a certain age remember about the waterpark…
1. Trying to avoid lifeguards as you sought to drag a few more minutes, or even hours, out of your splash time.
2. Chilling in the jacuzzis for clandestine meetings about what the next move should be regarding aforementioned.
2. Waiting as “the man” in charge of the big slide ushered his hand up and allowed you to go. As far as that time and place was concerned, he may well have been God himself.
3. Freezing your backside off when queuing up for the outside slide, which was only ever opened on very special occasions. Then almost drowning as you hit the water at the end.
4. Trying to sneak into the gym to have a go in the sauna – this was strictly the preserve of adults.
5. If someone did sneak in (not saying we know anyone who did) they wet their hair in the toilets sinks in the dressing rooms to look less inconspicuous. Not a good tip.
6. Finding the sweet spots as you turned the corner on the rapids for maximum jet propulsion. Because of this, the outside lanes were hot property. This was indeed a fine art.
7. Putting your toes on all the spouts in the fountains to make one massive jet of water that shoots into the sky.
8. Indulging in some chlorine-soaked chips while still in your togs.
9. Checking the lockers in case somebody forgot to collect their pound.
10. The sense of pride to know your town had the biggest water park in Ireland. For a child that’s basically like hosting the Olympics and the World Cup all in one.