Sports Complex remembers swimming coach Marion Lane
By Aura McMenamin
THE TALLAGHT Sports Complex honoured the legacy of one of their longest-serving swimming coaches, almost a year after her passing, reports Aura McMenamin.
Marion Lane passed away on March 23, 2017 from cancer, leaving behind her husband and children and a deep legacy in the the Balrothery-based sports complex.
Coaches at Tallaght Masters at the unveiling of the plague
The Kilnamanagh woman, who passed away at the age of 63, worked for the community facility for 38 years as a swim coach for the Tallaght Swim Team.
The mother-of-three also helped to set up the Tallaght Masters Swim Club 20 years ago, which she was a member of.
According to those that knew her best, outside of her family, swimming was Marion’s life.
Nothing could stop her
Glenda Murphy Smullen is the duty manager at the Tallaght Sports Complex. She told The Echo: “When she got sick, her doctors told her not to do anything, not to get into the water. But she bought a wetsuit and kept swimming. Nothing could stop her.”
This is the second plaque to be dedicated to Marion. The first was unveiled following her passing last year in honour of her work with the Swim Team. The new plaque is in honour of her achievements in the Tallaght Masters.
The Tallaght Masters was set up for people over 18 who want to swim competitively in galas and open sea swims.
Glenda, who, as well as her children, was taught by Marion how to swim, said: “Marion competed in many galas all over the country and won quite a lot of medals. She also did the open sea swims and competed many times in the Liffey swim.”
Glenda continued: “She taught thousands of children how to swim in the Sports Complex. Most people in Tallaght would know her – she taught [well-known competitive swimmers] Brendan Hyland and Antoinette Neamt.”
In addition to this second plaque, the Sports Complex named lane five of the swimming pool, “Marion’s Lane” a play on her name.
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