Olympic Gold Medalist Daniel Wiffen Opens New Hydrotherapy Pool At ChildVision in Dublin
Irish Olympic gold medallist and world champion swimmer Daniel Wiffen has officially opened a new dedicated hydrotherapy pool at ChildVision’s campus in Drumcondra, creating an important new therapeutic and recreational resource for children and young people with visual impairments, complex needs and additional disabilities.
The new 13m x 4m pool forms part of ChildVision’s growing range of specialist services for children and young people with visual impairments, including those with multiple disabilities and complex needs. The 17 acre campus in Drumcondra provides access to a holistic range of supports, including specialist clinical therapies, assistive technology, equine-assisted activities, adapted education, and tailor-made accessible textbooks. These services are delivered in a familiar environment, ensuring children can access the supports they need to learn, develop and thrive.
The new facility, made possible in part through a significant contribution from The Ireland Funds, alongside support from the Tom Cunningham Trust, has helped ChildVision create a lasting resource that will support children and families for years to come, strengthening the organisation’s ability to provide high-quality, child-centred therapeutic care while creating new opportunities for recreation and inclusion.
A key feature of the new ChildVision pool is its fully accessible hoist system, allowing children and young people with significant mobility needs to enter and exit the pool safely, comfortably and with dignity. The facility will support therapeutic interventions delivered by ChildVision, while also providing opportunities for families to enjoy leisure swims and recreational time together.
With specialist hydrotherapy facilities for children with complex needs remaining limited across Dublin, the new pool represents a significant addition to the services available to children and families both locally and nationally. Hydrotherapy uses the warmth and buoyancy of water to support movement, reduce muscle tension, improve mobility and build confidence. For children with physical and complex needs, activities that can be challenging on land can often become more achievable in the water, creating opportunities for physical development, independence and enjoyment.
Beyond its therapeutic benefits, the pool provides a space where children can have fun, build confidence and enjoy experiences alongside their families and peers. By making the pool available for leisure and recreational use as well as therapy, ChildVision is creating greater opportunities for inclusion, social participation and family wellbeing. For many families, access to a fully accessible swimming facility can be difficult, making the new pool an important resource not only for children's development, but also for quality family time and enjoyment.
Daniel Wiffen, whose achievements in the pool have inspired a new generation of swimmers across Ireland, officially opened the facility at ChildVision, marking an important milestone for the organisation and the children and families it supports. Commenting on the opening Daniel Wiffen said: “Swimming has given me so much throughout my life, so it’s fantastic to see a facility like this being created to give children and young people the opportunity to experience the benefits of being in the water. It’s particularly special to see a pool that has been designed with accessibility and inclusion at its heart, giving children the chance to develop, have fun and enjoy swimming in an environment where they feel comfortable and supported.”
Barry Sheridan, CEO of ChildVision, added, “Our new hydrotherapy pool is a hugely important addition to ChildVision and will make a meaningful difference to the children and families we support. The water provides incredible opportunities for movement, therapy, confidence and independence, while the accessibility of the facility means children with more complex physical needs can benefit too. We are incredibly grateful to The Ireland Funds and the Tom Cunningham Trust for helping make this vision a reality. This is more than a pool, it is a space for therapy, development, fun and family connection, and one that will benefit generations of children and young people.”
Speaking at the launch, Siobhán Gallagher, Executive Director of The Ireland Fund said, “The Ireland Funds and The Tom Cunningham Trust are honoured to have supported ChildVision in bringing this exceptional new facility to life. Mr Tom Cunningham loved swimming and we are proud his legacy will live on here, making a lasting difference in children's lives.”
For further information on ChildVision, visit childvision.ie
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