Tayto Park announces major two-day festival this summer

A host of entertainers from the worlds of music, circus, family entertainment, dance and art will come together for the Tayto Park Funfest which will take place over two days this summer.

More than 10,000 festival goers are expected to  attend the event, which will take place on Saturday 29th and Sunday 30th June.

Top Irish band, Hudson Taylor will headline the main stage on Sunday evening with international acts Rak-Su and Heather Small (The Voice of M People) topping the bill on Saturday.

One of Ireland’s most popular entertainers Nathan Carter will be a special guest on Sunday evening with his younger brother Jake entertaining crowds earlier that day. The main stage will feature eight Irish and international music acts each day for all the family to enjoy with the remaining acts to be announced in the coming weeks.

Two big top tents will host a variety of children’s entertainers from jugglers to circus performers to dancers and everything in between.

Speaking about the festival, Founder of Tayto Park, Raymond Coyle said, “Here at Tayto Park we’re always looking for innovative and creative ways to enhance the experience for families and creating a weekend festival with loads of added attractions from music acts to street performers is something I always wanted to bring to Tayto Park’.

Families can dance the afternoon away, take a ride on The Cú Chulainn and grab a bite to eat at one of the delicious street food vendors before spending the evening watching amazing music acts.

The weekend festival will host 16 Irish and International music acts on the main stage across the weekend and the big top tents will host magicians, dance acts, circus performers and much more. Tayto Park Funfest is set to be the perfect family weekend for both adults and children to enjoy.

Tickets at €55 per day includes entry to the park, wristbands for all attractions (as many times as you want) plus entry to Funfest. Tayto Park will only be open to Funfest ticket holders on those days.

Meanwhile, Meath County Council has granted planning permission for a €14 million steel roller coaster at Tayto Park, but an appeal has been lodged against the proposal.

"If we do not add a major attraction at this time the longer term viability of the park would be brought into question," said Mr Coyle.

The planning documents state that ‘Coaster 2021’ will help projected visitor numbers to Tayto Park increase by 15 per cent from 630,000 in 2019 to 725,000 in 2023.

However four local residents have appealed the decision o An Bord Pleanala 

In their submissions they say there is already noticeable noise pollution from the park from the existing Cú Chulainn rollercoaster from ratcheting sounds, riders’ screams and the roaring of the cars and the train whenever the park is open.

The objectors said that the new rollercoaster “will present a further escalation in the impact to our lives. We chose to live in this area with the expectation of a quiet environment to raise our small children”.

Meanwhile Mr Coyle said that  a number of issues have to be sorted out and he would then be reapplying for planning permission for a 250-bedroom hotel at Tayto Park.

The project had been put on hold while technical difficulties were ironed out, but Mr Coyle says they are very much committed to the project.

The proposed seven-storey over basement hotel would have capacity for 1,000 guests and plans included a spa, meeting rooms and a function room to accommodate up to 1,200 people, as well as a three restaurants and two bars. The leisure centre included a junior play and activity area, family pool with a flume slide, a 30m exercise pool, jacuzzi, sauna, steam room, plunge pool rooms and a gym with studio room, cardiovasular area and weights area.
A planning application for this project was withdrawn last May.