Emerald Park: Na Fianna Force is Ireland's new rollercoaster king

Tír na nÓg is the new area that has just been opened at Emerald Park. Translated, it means the “land of youth”, and it’s that feeling that the owner, Charles Coyle, is trying to re-create for their guests.

He wants all his guests to leave Ireland’s biggest theme park feeling like they have regained some of their youthfulness and optimism.

It takes a rollercoaster fan to talk with ease about technical terms like inversions and 360° rolls, and Charles certainly knows what he’s talking about.

We chatted in advance of the opening of the new area in Emerald Park.

“It’s frantic, exciting, incredibly busy. In the run-up to any new attraction opening, it’s very busy. You’re trying to get everything done. It’s a really exciting time. We are so lucky in the business that we’re in that we have a huge amount of excitement going on. At this moment in time, things are getting completed and taking shape.”

I previewed the new Na Fianna Force rollercoaster on Tuesday. Combined with its sister rollercoaster, The Quest, they form the longest entwined rollercoaster track in Europe.

Both Na Fianna Force and The Quest are designed by Dutch company Vekoma with near soundless tracks, and are decidedly different to the original wooden rollercoaster at Emerald Park, the Cú Chulainn.

Charles explained that the imagining of Emerald Park was down to his father, Ray Coyle.

Ray was the man who transformed the crisp market in Ireland, and who originally opened what was then Tayto Park in 2010.

“It’s a culmination of seven years of work and €22m. It’s the biggest investment in tourism in over five years. People forget the amount of planning and work that goes into this,” Charles says.

“Cú Chulainn was about putting us on the map countrywide, as 95% of our guests are Ireland-based.

“This will really move Tír na nÓg to something that is up there with the best of them in Europe. We want everyone to be proud that one of the best theme parks in Europe is in Ireland. This is another step up in terms of pure fun.”

Leadership for Charles at Emerald Park was not a classic entry straight from a business degree, and it’s safe to say his father believed in teaching his children, and in fact most of the staff at Emerald Park, about the business from the ground up.

“I had no idea what I was going to do. If you’d said to me when I left school in 2006 that in 10 years time I’d be working in a theme park, I’d have asked where did it all go wrong?

“I’m lucky and blessed that I ended up working here. I started at the bottom. Dad had me working every summer at the potato stores across the way and doing the jobs that he didn’t like anybody else to do, like washing out the potato stores and getting rid of the rotten potatoes and cleaning it all down.

“Gradually, I got promoted to jobs like painting gates. He taught me to work hard from a very young age, that irrespective of what you do in life, you have to work hard and learn the value of money.”

Constructing what is now Emerald Park at the townland of Curragha, Meath, has made a difference to the community.

For locals, the change to the infrastructure in the area can be attributed to the investment that the family have made in theme park entertainment.

Being part of the community and giving back to the community is extremely important to the Coyle family. Emerald Park employs just shy of 150 full-time and nearly 600 seasonal workers, the vast majority of whom come from the local areas. It’s an aspect that Charles is particularly proud of.

“We’re proud to be able to spend the vast majority of our money within the county, and we do try and

source and use local products. For example, we are prominent members of the Boyne Valley Tourism group. We recently held a seminar here, and we met an ironmonger who makes weapons for props, and we were able to switch all our investment to him.

“It’s great to be able to spend all this money and investment in the local vicinity.”

Indeed I met the very man: Tom King or An Gobha (the Irish word for blacksmith) at the park.

He reinforced this aspect of Emerald Park by explaining that the work required to craft the swords and arrowheads for Tír na nÓg kept him busy. This helps to finance the more creative aspects of his work.

For an indigenous Irish craftsperson, that is immeasurable.

While the rebranding of Tayto Park to Emerald Park is now in its second year, people may be under the misconception that the ownership also changed.

Nothing could be further from the truth, the head of the family-owned enterprise says.

“While the name has changed, nothing else has changed. It’s still the exact same ownership and family owned and operated.”

What is it like working in close proximity to your family every day, I wondered? With a light shrug of his shoulders, Charles explained.

“It brings its challenges. You can talk to your family in ways that you wouldn’t speak to your colleagues. Ultimately, what I have learned while working with my father, as well as whilst you may battle, it’s all for the best of the business. I thought I knew [what was for the best], but my father was absolutely certain. It’s one of the challenges of working in a family business, and it’s also a benefit as well.”

Sustainability can be a tricky operational aspect of running a theme park, and it’s heartening to hear that Emerald Park is making focused efforts.

From being zero to landfill, opting to purchase green energy at a premium, and reducing water usage, it is all heading in the right direction.

The park is at the investigation stage of solar energy, with plans to place solar shading in the carparks — something that has been very effective in central Europe. Cars would be shaded by solar panels, which would provide renewable energy to the business.

They are in the process of lowering their carbon emissions and footprint too.This includes removing chemicals and using only natural cleaning products in the park. It will be interesting to see their progress as they embark on their next five-year plan.

All of this development, commitment to sustainability goals and meeting the increased operational costs brought on by the cost-of-living crisis have a knock-on effect on the entry price. Does it still offer value for money? Charles is emphatic in that regard.

“What we have here is something that is really, really special. Realistically, you need to spend a day-and-a-half here and may still not cover everything.

“It costs €43 per person if you book in advance, and you can spend all day here. It’s even better value for those with a family membership card.

“A sustainable higher attendance is the name of the game. What we want to try and do in this business is have that buzz every single day. People will come once or twice a year to the park, a few more times if they are season pass holders. Each time someone comes, it’s a special time for them. You want to replicate that buzz, and that person leaves feeling the same regardless of when they leave.”

Just how many guests is Emerald Park hoping to attract with the opening of the new Tír na Óg area?

Sustainably, that looks like approximately one million visitors per year, according to Charles Coyle.

He’s quietly confident in this number, which will certainly make a difference to the business and the local community.

“The magic number is one million sustainably per year, give them a great experience and great value for money.“

As a guest, I have been visiting since the opening month with my family and accompanying many groups of school tours, summer projects and youth clubs. There’s a reason why we continue to return.

Having visited many international theme parks thanks to my rollercoaster nut of a 12-year-old, I’ve experienced varying levels of customer service, care, standards, and quality. I can confidently say that Emerald Park holds its own.What’s more, I don’t need to book flights or coordinate accommodation — making a trip to Meath a very budget-friendly ~alternative.

Back to that feeling of a swing, as I boarded Na Fianna Force with my 12-year-old, I indulged in a little bit of bravado so as not to show my fear to my son.

As the rollercoaster lifted to the drop point I joked that perhaps I’d like to ride it with my eyes closed — not that I was going to.

As we crested the hill and started to rapidly descend, I experienced that carefree weightlessness again, then again, and again as we enjoyed several inversions and a 360° turn. My eyes streamed, but I couldn’t keep the grin off my face.

I’ve never been on a rollercoaster that is as entertaining in Europe, and of course not in Ireland, because there has not been a standard for rollercoasters in Ireland like this before. Bringing a world-class rollercoaster to Ireland and imagining Tír na nÓg in Emerald Park guarantees the park’s success in the future, without a doubt.

5 destinations for adventure-seeking families 

New for summer 2024 is Westport Adventure Centre on the grounds of the historic Westport House. 

The new look destination has moved away from traditional amusement rides, turning instead to something a little more daring. 

Visit for Ireland’s largest net park, a sprawling playground that spans the treetops and cliff edges of the 300-year-old quarry, reaching heights of thirty metres, with tunnels, bridges, tree houses, giant bounce zones, spiral nets, and more. 

There’s also a 100-metre zip line, aerial trekking and climbing walls. 

• westportadventure.ie

Forget your run of the mill weekend break - Kaleidoscope is a festival at full throttle. 

As you wander through the grounds of Wicklow’s Russborough House, it is like arriving at the Electric Picnic - the same show stopping main stage, funky circus big tops, cool food trucks. 

Except here there’s also the world’s biggest bouncy castle - and children and families amble around the fields. 

There’s a fairy forest with life size flowers leading to wonderlands where children can potter into tents to try stand-up comedy, art, animation workshops, book readings, teddy bear picnics, discos for tots, and even mindfulness. 

And then there's the music. From Lyra to The Kooks, the line up on the main stage is top notch for 2024. Don’t miss this. 

• kaleidoscopefestival.ie

Wildlands, the 20-acre family adventure park in Moycullen on the outskirts of Galway invites you to soar above the treetops with the new addition of a Net Adventure Course. 

Navigate slides and tunnels, try the Ball Games Zone, or experience the adrenaline rush of the Giant Swing. 

There’s also kayaking and stand-up paddle boarding. Log cabin accommodation is also available to book. 

• wildlands.ie

Prepare to get wet slipping and sliding your way around Ballyhass Adventure Group's Aquaparks, in Mallow and Coachford. 

Offer two different courses for maximum outdoor fun the giant inflatable water park obstacles include slides, trampolines, climbing walls, balance beams, monkey bars, jumping flatforms and giant swings. 

Each session lasts 50 – 60 minutes, with participants required to swim out to the course to begin the fun. 

The obstacles are designed to ensure you end up wet! 

• ballyhass.ie

Fully accessible for wheelchair users and buggies, Beyond the Trees is the longest Treetop Walk in Ireland and the UK, twisting for 1.4km it leads you on an adventure through and above the beautiful trees at Avondale House, the home of Charles Stewart Parnell. 

The journey culminates at the impressive Viewing Tower, standing 38m above the forest and offering sweeping 360-degree views over the Wicklow Mountains, the Avonmore River, and the Vale of Avoca. 

Dare devils will whizz their way back down the tower via the gigantic 90m spiral slide – though there’s no obligation to descend this way! 

• Self-guided tours can be booked in advance online, beyondthetreesavondale.com.