Good news you could use for the weekend? How about Emerald Park, Ireland’s only theme park and zoo, reopening for the 2023 season on this Saturday, 25th March?
It’s not just the new name over the Irish theme park’s door (which was formerly known as Tayto), this year Emerald Park will also introduce two new delightful junior attractions, Balloon Chase and Crazy Bus. Both rides are the first additions to the Emerald Park Junior Zone in three years, and are sure to thrill younger adventurers visiting the park.
But perhaps the biggest attraction will be – hold your breath now – a new tiger! The accredited Emerald Park zoo has welcomed some new animal arrivals over recent months, including one of the world’s most endangered species of big cats. Visitors can look forward to spotting a group of energetic squirrel monkeys, along with striking arrivals, Bira, an “Endangered” Amur tiger, and Freya, a “Critically Endangered” Amur leopard. The two stunning sub-species of big cats arrive at the zoo as part of the prestigious European wildlife conservation management programme, the “EEP”. The zookeeping team are delighted to say the new additions have settled in well and got straight into the swing of things at Emerald Park!
Charles Coyle, General Manager of Emerald Park, will cut the green ribbon on Saturday and officially open the park doors, with help from Clare and Shane McHugh from Maynooth, Co. Kildare, and their children Ellie (6), Ben (4) and Tom (2). Ben receives in-home nursing care from the Jack & Jill Children’s Foundation, which is the chosen charity partner of Emerald Park for 2023.
It seems like March 25th is set to be an epic reopening weekend for Emerald Park, with family favourites such as Cú Chulainn, Dino Dash, World of Raptors, and more, all ready and waiting to welcome guests. All food outlets will be open with a guarantee of delicious, mouth-watering dishes. The park will also introduce a new partnership with Unilever for 2023, which will see two new Ben & Jerry’s units opening. The units are located at Blásta in the Junior Zone, and Scoops, in The Lodge.
Charles Coyle, General Manager at Emerald Park said, “We are excited to reopen the Park for the 2023 season and welcome guests new and old to Emerald Park to enjoy everything that the Park has to offer throughout the 50 acres of fun. We’ve been working hard behind the scenes to upgrade the park and we hope that everyone who comes through our doors will enjoy treasured moments big and small in the Park.”
Carmel Doyle, CEO of The Jack and Jill Children’s Foundation said, “At Jack and Jill, we are all about giving families the gift of time through the in-home nursing care hours we fund and provide, so that the families under our care can take a much-needed break. We’re thrilled at being selected as charity partner by Emerald Park and we have no doubt this will be an adventure-filled partnership that really puts the fun into fundraising. On behalf of the 400 families under our care today, right across the country, we’d like to wish the Emerald Park team all the very best as they embark on this exciting new chapter, and we are very happy to be part of their story.”
If you are as excited as we are with the reopening of Emerald Park, you can find more information and book your tickets here. But, but, wait!
We aren’t done yet. We will be bringing to you all the action, LIVE from Emerald Park. Keep your eyes glued to our social media this Saturday and we promise you – you won’t be disappointed! Rides, attractions, the Crazy Bus and more – we will capture that for you in every little detail!