Compulsory wearing of swimming hats in Irish swimmimg pools, why?

LordSutch

So why must we buy/wear swimming hats in Irish swimming pools?

This local 'quirk' really only raises it head after you've been away out of Ireland for a holiday, then on your return you realise that there was no need to wear a swimming hat in (insert country), and yet, now that you're home, the need/demand to don the old rubber hat is a must

But why?

Surreptitious

Hygiene.

screamer

To stop hair clogging the pool filters.....

_Brian

Cuts down on maintenance cleaning filters and increases general hygiene.

LordSutch

Hygiene?

Then what about (insert countries name) . . . . . . .

Are Irish pools the only hygienic pools in the world?

And what about the filters used in pools in other countries?

Sh1tbag OToole

LordSutch wrote: »

So why must we buy/wear swimming hats in Irish swimming pools?

This local 'quirk' really only raises it head after you've been away out of Ireland for a holiday, then on your return you realise that there was no need to wear a swimming hat in (insert country), and yet, now that you're home, the need/demand to don the old rubber hat is a must

But why?

Where is this magic mythical country with all skinnydipping pools?

ted1

What about the euro countries that insist on Speedos

muddypaws

I've never understood it, is it actually a law here, as it is at every pool you go to.

_Brian

LordSutch wrote: »

Hygiene?

Then what about (insert countries name) . . . . . . .

Are Irish pools the only hygienic pools in the world?

And what about the filters used in pools in other countries?

Cuts down on maintenance, they just do more filter cleaning and water is pumped through filters with lots of hair in them.

Hygiene is got by using more and more chemicals.

Your Face

Because aliens.

idnkph

Surreptitious wrote:

Hygiene.

But what about body hair? Surely all is hairy people should be made wear body socks too so the clogging up of filters?
It's just a scam for the pools to try squeeze a few Bob out of you and use hygiene/ filters as an excuse.

spurious

To stop normals picking on the people of ginge.

Canis Lupus

In France you can't wear board shorts into a pool. If you're not wearing le speedos you're out buddy boy. So I reckon our hat wearing isn't such a big deal.

Fox_In_Socks

Ride me sideways was another!

Ted111

idnkph wrote: »

But what about body hair? Surely all is hairy people should be made wear body socks too so the clogging up of filters?
It's just a scam for the pools to try squeeze a few Bob out of you and use hygiene/ filters as an excuse.

Well next time your swimming p1ss in the pool.

We are the People.
Fight the system!

LordSutch

Ted111 wrote: »

Well next time your swimming p1ss in the pool.

We are the People.
Fight the system!

:rolleyes:

Say what?

Ted111

LordSutch wrote: »

:rolleyes:

Say what?

I suggested he urinate in the pool as revenge.

I was only joking.

But I don't use public pools because I have no doubt people, especially kids do p1ss in water.

Surreptitious

idnkph wrote: »

But what about body hair? Surely all is hairy people should be made wear body socks too so the clogging up of filters?
It's just a scam for the pools to try squeeze a few Bob out of you and use hygiene/ filters as an excuse.

Ah no you're just being difficult

PandaPoo

I always wee in the pool because they make me wear a swim hat. Honestly nobody looks good in a swim hat, I hate wearing them. In the aqua dome you dont have to wear them, so I didnt wee in that pool.

Sh1tbag OToole

Surreptitious wrote: »

Ah no you're just being difficult

They have smartfilters now that automatically gather up all the pubes, move them to a separate compartment for drying then it sets fire to them and most of them goes out the chimney. The only maintainence they need is someone to replace the gas cannister and empty the ashes once a year

jimbobaloobob

I used to work on the pool plant side of swimming pools, hats blocked up the filters more than hair did. Its just a racket.

Roger Mellie Man on the Telly

The real reason is because a lot of Catholic Irish have quite greasy hair.

In NI you don't need to wear a cap in any pool where the union flag flies.

jimbobaloobob

It does make it visually easier to lifeguard a pool.
I used to count the number of different hats at any time. Bit of a rainman thing of mine but only had to rescue 3 and none died.

LordSutch

jimbobaloobob wrote: »

It does make it visually easier to lifeguard a pool.
I used to count the number of different hats at any time. Bit of a rainman thing of mine but only had to rescue 3 and none died.

I'm sorry but that reason holds very little water by my estimation!

Easier to coumt heads me bum, I suspect the whole swimming hat thing is a money making scam.
No hat no swim, give me a break would ya...

FortySeven

Grew up in the UK swimming weekly in various towns. No need for the head condom.

Load of shoite if you ask me, I'm bald yet I have a bushy beard. Just in protest like......

jimbobaloobob

No doubt LordSutch it is a money racket, but from first hand experiences it did help with busy swimming pools to head count the number of people in the pool.
First hand experiences.

FrStone

I hate foreign pools where people don't wear the swimming cap.

Surreptitious

LordSutch wrote: »

I'm sorry but that reason holds very little water by my estimation!

Easier to coumt heads me bum, I suspect the whole swimming hat thing is a money making scam.
No hat no swim, give me a break would ya...

Just swim in the sea. Simples.

FortySeven

I've pissed in every pool I ever swam in. Sometimes while wearing the head condom.

jimbobaloobob

FortySeven wrote: »

I've pissed in every pool I ever swam in. Sometimes while wearing the head condom.

For real?

goz83

I haven't worn a rubber in years. I just won't swim if it's insisted upon.

FortySeven

jimbobaloobob wrote: »

For real?

Yes.

jimbobaloobob

FortySeven wrote: »

jimbobaloobob wrote: »

For real?

Yes.

Why do you do that?

FortySeven

jimbobaloobob wrote: »

Why do you do that?

I don't like other people.

323

Nanny state..

Realt Dearg Sec

Once again the notion that something that happens in Ireland is therefore uniquely Irish rears its head on boards. In Hungary at the public baths you can go to the bathing pools hatless but if you go into the swimming pool you have to wear a cap. I don't have any idea why this rule is enforced but it's definitely not uniquely Irish. No more than drinking, or being friendly or being nosy, or enjoying yourself supporting the national football team, or being too nationalistic or not being nationalistic enough, or any of the other things I've read on this site are uniquely Irish that clearly are not.

guppy

Realt Dearg Sec wrote: »

Once again the notion that something that happens in Ireland is therefore uniquely Irish rears its head on boards. In Hungary at the public baths you can go to the bathing pools hatless but if you go into the swimming pool you have to wear a cap. I don't have any idea why this rule is enforced but it's definitely not uniquely Irish. No more than drinking, or being friendly or being nosy, or enjoying yourself supporting the national football team, or being too nationalistic or not being nationalistic enough, or any of the other things I've read on this site are uniquely Irish that clearly are not.

I was on holiday recently and there were 7 pools on-site. 6 had no rule about swim caps, the Olympic sized one, which was used for training and was lane swimming only, did have a swim cap policy. This was Spain.

Teyla Emmagan

Oh I so support this. Other people's hair floating into your face in the pool - beyond gross. No hats is just disgusting. People can't even shower properly before they get in the water. At least the hats hold in their shampoo and hair product and stinky smell a bit.

Ireland is very civilised really.

Shenshen

It's one of the reasons I only swim in the sea these days, I can't stand wearing the hats.
That and the fact that in most Irish pools you feel like you're practically swimming in warm bleach, not in water. Absolutely disgusting.

SuperS54

Realt Dearg Sec wrote: »

Once again the notion that something that happens in Ireland is therefore uniquely Irish rears its head on boards. In Hungary at the public baths you can go to the bathing pools hatless but if you go into the swimming pool you have to wear a cap. I don't have any idea why this rule is enforced but it's definitely not uniquely Irish. No more than drinking, or being friendly or being nosy, or enjoying yourself supporting the national football team, or being too nationalistic or not being nationalistic enough, or any of the other things I've read on this site are uniquely Irish that clearly are not.

In Taiwan the swimming cap requirement is rigorously enforced and only speedo type swimming trunks allowed. My German colleague was most put out by being forced to buy an overpriced swimming cap despite the fact that he shaves his head completely!

Shenshen

SuperS54 wrote: »

In Taiwan the swimming cap requirement is rigorously enforced and only speedo type swimming trunks allowed. My German colleague was most put out by being forced to buy an overpriced swimming cap despite the fact that he shaves his head completely!

I understand the speedo thing, though, I have to say.
Those wide shorts can make it more difficult to swim in and are a bit of a safety hazard. And if you've ever seen how much water they carry out of the pool anytime someone gets out, I suspect they'll also cost the pool owners quite a bit of money.

Badly Drunk Boy

jimbobaloobob wrote: »

I used to work on the pool plant side of swimming pools, hats blocked up the filters more than hair did. Its just a racket.

I wouldn't use a swimming pool if they insisted on it and others wouldn't either, so they're still losing some business. Some of the business they get from charging for hats, they are losing from people not wanting to wear or be charged for a hat.

323 wrote: »

Nanny state..

Eh, it's private policy. Nothing to do with the State.

Akrasia

Burial. wrote: »

It makes you more aerodynamic whoooosh

Aquadynamic

goz83

Shenshen wrote: »

It's one of the reasons I only swim in the sea these days, I can't stand wearing the hats.
That and the fact that in most Irish pools you feel like you're practically swimming in warm bleach, not in water. Absolutely disgusting.

I tend not to swim in the sea. Emoty cans of dutch gold and excrement floating around the place, no thanks.

Akrasia wrote: »

Aquadynamic

Swoooosh

LordSutch

LordSutch wrote: »

So why must we buy/wear swimming hats in Irish swimming pools?

This local 'quirk' really only raises it head after you've been away out of Ireland for a holiday, then on your return you realise that there was no need to wear a swimming hat in (insert country), and yet, now that you're home, the need/demand to don the old rubber hat is a must

But why?

Ah, summer on boards.

Some mad adventurer goes on an expedition to Santa del Beergut and comes home to regale the islanders with tales of how they swim without swimming caps abroad, and oh God isn't Ireland so backwards altogether?

Shenshen

goz83 wrote: »

I tend not to swim in the sea. Emoty cans of dutch gold and excrement floating around the place, no thanks.

Never seen either of those - outside of swimming pools.

jester77

Surreptitious wrote: »

Hygiene.

But then they insist that you wear swimwear in the sauna, that is about as unhygienic as it gets.

josip

Ted111 wrote: »

Well next time your swimming p1ss in the pool.

We are the People.
Fight the system!

FortySeven wrote: »

I've pissed in every pool I ever swam in. Sometimes while wearing the head condom.

That swimming pool smell that we all think is chlorine is not actually chlorine.
It's the smell from the reaction of chlorine with other chemicals, usually urea.
A clean, chlorinated pool has only a very slight smell.

Thoie

I don't really see it as a money making racket - I paid IR£1 about 20 odd years ago for a hat, and still use it (complete with name of long defunct hotel emblazoned across it). Maybe that enabled someone, somewhere to buy a new helicopter, but I doubt it.

Calina

Jesus some of you are disgusting individuals altogether.

I am minded not to swim in an Irish pool again.

topper75

Akrasia wrote: »

Aquadynamic

You don't know how he swims! :mad:

He could be kicking himself along on a lilo. So he would be right. Aerodynamic. Gives you 0.00000001 sec less per length.