Emerald Park has announced the opening of two new rides and the arrival of new Zoo animals.
The Ashbourne theme park has opened two brand new junior rides, the Balloon Chase and the Crazy Bus, which are the first additions to the Junior Zone in three years.Meanwhile, the Zoo has seen the arrival of Bira, an endangered Amur tiger, Freya, a critically endangered Amur leopard and some energetic squirrel monkeys.
The two unique sub-species of big cats have come to the zoo as part of the prestigious European wildlife conservation management programme, the 'EEP'. General manager of Emerald Park Charles Coyle 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.
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"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."" Charles will cut the ribbon alongside Clare and Shane McHugh from Maynooth with their children Ellie, Ben, and Tom.
Ben receives in-home nursing care from the Jack & Jill Children’s Foundation, which is the chosen charity of Emerald Park for 2023. Jack and Jill CEO Carmel Doyle 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.”
The park will be having their opening weekend on Saturday March 25 and Sunday March 26 with all of the park’s favourite characters including Cú Chulainn, Dino Dash and World of Raptors. It will be a fun family day for all with food outlets including the Twisted Chip and the brand-new addition of two Ben & Jerry’s scoop shops.
Tickets for the weekend are €20% if bought online and can be purchased on their website.
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