nav[aria-label="Primary Navigation"] { padding: 0; & ul { list-style: none; width: 100%; display: flex; flex-direction: row; justify-content: start; align-items: start; gap: 30px; padding: 0; & li { margin: 0; } & ul li { list-style: none; } } }

Child Item

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?

Find more posts tagged with

Quick Links

Comments

[Deleted User]

Smondie wrote: »

Not all countries have nits.

Of course they do.

Smondie

D9Male wrote: »

There was a fellow on Moncrieff the other day. Expert on lice. Apparently they are not any more prevalent in Ireland than elsewhere.

I must listen to that. I was discussing nits at the weekend, the Europeans i was talking to about them, have never had to treat thier children for them, never had an outbreak in the schools etc.

In Europe, prevalence varied from 0.48% to 22.4%. However, 1 study reported a much higher annual incidence (37.4%) in England (3). A study in the Ukraine showed increasing adult representation in the overall affected population

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2603110/

groucho marx

"Raises it's head" hats I see what you did there

groucho marx

Also reading this reminds me why I avoid swimming pools. . Hair body hair etc yuck

buried

Its clear that this rule is in place to make swimming pools a bit less packed so the militant swimmers can go up and down the lanes in relative peace. Some peope cannot be arsed wearing or buying these caps. The militant swimmers know this. We're through the swimming pool looking glass here people

Balmed Out

In many countries people shower properly with body wash etc beforehand. In Ireland someone is above average if they stand under the shower for three seconds before a swim. Thence hats and higher chlorine.

Mint Sauce

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.

Was that what you were told by your colleagues on your first day? Mine tried telling me stuff like count the waves to give an indication of numbers in the pool, or radioing up to reception to put a call out Ivor Biggin, or Emma Rodes.

LordSutch

I remember how strong the chlorine-smell-fumes were in the pools back in the 70s & 80s, so they must have changed their purification process, because you just don't get that very strong chlorine smell anymore in Irish pools.

The hat thing is still a mystery though.

Sue Pa Key Pa

I believe the problem with hair is not loose ones clogging the filter, but the amount of gunk we put on our noggins these days, upsetting the chemical balance

As for peeing in the pool, I'm also informed that the bigger problem is cling-ons from a poorly wiped arse

Enjoy your swim

LordSutch

Sue Pa Key Pa wrote: »

I believe the problem with hair is not loose ones clogging the filter, but the amount of gunk we put on our noggins these days, upsetting the chemical balance.

But of course this doesn't explain why tourists to these shores are so confused & bewildered about having to buy a rubber/nylon hat to wear in the swimming pool. As mentioned earlier, you can visit soo many countries and not see a swimming hat in sight, then you came back to Ireland and its "Don't forget to wear a hat" but like why?

Point being, Ireland seems to be the only country that has cloggy up filters & inadequate pool chemicals!

[Deleted User]

LordSutch wrote: »

But of course this doesn't explain why tourists to these shores are so confused & bewildered about having to buy a rubber/nylon hat to wear in the swimming pool. As mentioned earlier, you can visit soo many countries and not see a swimming hat in sight, then you came back to Ireland and its "Don't forget to wear a hat" but like why?

Point being, Ireland seems to be the only country that has cloggy up filters & inadequate pool chemicals!

It's perfectly widespread, as others have already pointed out.

They're usually compulsory in Italy, and in public pools in France. In fact, even tight-fitting speedos are compulsory in France. No slack beach shorts allowed.

Is this just another 'Oh why are things so backwards in Ireland?' hobby horse?

Elliott S

Badly Drunk Boy wrote: »

I wouldn't use a swimming pool if they insisted on it and others wouldn't either, so they're still losing some business.

Can't imagine many people would be that bothered. You barely know you're wearing the fabric ones. The business lost would be negligible, I imagine.

As for it being a money-making racket. I have still my €2 one that I bought about five years ago.

Odyssey 2005

I'm as bald as a newt,and the local pool makes me wear a cap.

.rarely go because of this. Fuggin thing won't stay on anyway.

CrabRevolution

If it is a deliberate attempt to make money by the swimming pools, it's probably the crappiest "racket" of all time. Hats are a once off purchase, and are very cheap so I'd imagine the pool makes a negligible amount of money from selling them on.

I recall going to the swimming pool with a friend when I was younger and he'd forgotten to bring a hat. The receptionist just gave him a "spare" (presumably lost and found....) for free. My local pool are obviously letting the swimming hat cartel down by giving away freebies.

Mattie500

i presume it's a percentage thing, simple rule is everybody wears them to stop as much hair as possible clogging the filters. Shower beforehand would solve alot of problems but we are not disciplined enough to do it properly. Asking someone without hair to wear one is ridiculous though. Speedo type trunks are compulsory in some pools in France... Again a hygiene measure.

Realt Dearg Sec

Mattie500 wrote: »

i presume it's a percentage thing, simple rule is everybody wears them to stop as much hair as possible clogging the filters. Shower beforehand would solve alot of problems but we are not disciplined enough to do it properly. Asking someone without hair to wear one is ridiculous though. Speedo type trunks are compulsory in some pools in France... Again a hygiene measure.

Again I'm not sure this makes sense to me. To refer again to my earlier post, in Hungary you go to the public baths, which include a swimming pool. You don't need a cap in the baths but you do in the pool. They all have filters, so...what difference does it make?

TheRiverman

Do people who shave their heads have to wear a cap?

Collie D

Realt Dearg Sec wrote: »

Again I'm not sure this makes sense to me. To refer again to my earlier post, in Hungary you go to the public baths, which include a swimming pool. You don't need a cap in the baths but you do in the pool. They all have filters, so...what difference does it make?

Less likely to have head below water in a bath than a pool? As a baldie I don't wear a hat, have been asked but pointed out the obvious and was left alone. I've quite a hairy body so makes no sense

darkpagandeath

Scam.... what next no males allowed ? Of hair growing age ? Been to plenty of pools around the world none issue. Next it will be only same sex kids with same sex parents in the changing rooms.

Realt Dearg Sec

Collie D wrote: »

Less likely to have head below water in a bath than a pool?

I dunno, everyone dips their head when they are in the baths as well, some of the baths even have things like rapids and wave areas, and fountains you can stand under and stuff, people are swimming in them constantly.

Yeah tis a strange one.

Realt Dearg Sec

I actually just googled the question, and the very first response (even though I'm googling in 'Murica) was a boards thread from six years ago...

http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=2055848584

and still ricky villa

darkpagandeath wrote: »

Scam.... what next no males allowed ? Of hair growing age ? Been to plenty of pools around the world none issue. Next it will be only same sex kids with same sex parents in the changing rooms.

Might save some red faces when my two year old points and shouts 'that man have tail'.....

Realt Dearg Sec

darkpagandeath wrote: »

Scam.... what next no males allowed ? Of hair growing age ? Been to plenty of pools around the world none issue. Next it will be only same sex kids with same sex parents in the changing rooms.

What?

darkpagandeath

and still ricky villa wrote: »

Might save some red faces when my two year old points and shouts 'that man have tail'.....

Or my Daughter saying that man's thing is bigger.

Or me son asking why that person has 2 bums.

Mattie500

I can't say I am an expert in hygiene control standards in various countries or that I know a lot about the sophistication of pool equipment being able to deal with hair. Looking at it from the outside I can understand the thinking. X number of users per week results in y amount of maintenance... What contributes to maintenance effort.... Hair clogging filters etc? How can I reduce this... Let's ask people to wear swim hats or we can put in more sophisticated filtering systems (if they are available).
No big deal as a user to wear a hat... I have the same silicone one for quite a while.

greenspurs

the wearing speedos in France is worse !!
Its just not right, especially on men !!!!

bb1234567

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.

You lose many more hairs from your head than your body. Rub your hands through your head and a hair or two will whirl down, now just try pulling out an arm or leg hair, it will be painful

bb1234567

greenspurs wrote: »

the wearing speedos in France is worse !!
Its just not right, especially on men !!!!

unless youve a nice bum to show off

greenspurs

bb1234567 wrote: »

unless youve a nice bum to show off

budgie smugglers..... You need bigger budgies!!

Dyr

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 used a few swimming pools in Hungary back in the day and never saw a swimming cap