Two new rollercoasters coming to Emerald Park in 2024
A 3D model of two new rollercoasters that will open next spring at Emerald Park was unveiled today (Tuesday) by Charles Coyle, General Manager and son of Emerald Park’s founder Ray Coyle.
He also revealed the name of the new, Celtic themed area at the park, that is twice the size of Croke Park.
Charles Coyle said: “I am delighted to announce that the new land expansion at Emerald Park will be called ‘Tír na nÓg’, named after the enchanted otherworld of myth and legend.
“We are hoping to open the area and the two rollercoasters to the public in Spring 2024. This will mark the first fully themed and immersive land at the park and is sure to excite both thrill seekers and family alike”.
Construction of the new land started at the beginning of August 2022. However, Emerald Park has been planning these new rides since 2017, with founder Ray Coyle being central to the drive and ambition to create this new area. A total of 85 construction jobs have been created in the course of the build with the involvement of specialist companies from the four corners of Europe coming to Emerald Park to create this new area.
With a substantial investment of €22 million, the 6.5 acre land is a first for Emerald Park. Along with the two main rollercoasters, Tír na nÓg will also introduce a third classic theme park attraction, known as a Waveswinger. The area will include new food outlets, retail spaces, and a new entrance and will create over 40 additional jobs at Emerald Park when it opens to the public,
The new roller coasters are engineered and designed by a Dutch manufacturing company, Vekoma, who are a major supplier for The Walt Disney Company.
The larger rollercoaster, whose name is top secret at the moment, is known as a Suspended Thrill Coaster. With a track above your head, this attraction is not for the faint hearted. Rollercoaster fans can look forward to inversions such as a 360 Zero-G Roll and an Upward Helix, which guarantees a total of five upside down experiences on the ride, which reaches speeds of 90km/h.
The second coaster, with also a name yet to be revealed, is known as a Family Boomerang, offers a more family friendly riding experience.
The name Tír na nÓg is rooted in Irish mythology, stemming from the story of Oisín and Niamh, and their legendary journey to the Land of Eternal Youth and the Celtic theme of the area is designed by Dutch theming company, Jora Vision.
Charles Coyle said: “We are so excited to reveal the name and show everyone the scale of the new rollercoasters coming next year. We have been working on this for five years with a huge amount of thought, investment, design and research into this area and have taken every aspect of the theming and all audiences into consideration. We will be keeping the 3D model at Emerald Park for the summer but we are then going to take it out on the road at some central locations around the country so people can see exactly what expect at Emerald Park in 2024”.