Emerald Park, Ireland’s sole theme park and zoo located in Ashbourne, County Meath, is celebrating the 10th anniversary of its acclaimed wooden rollercoaster, The Cú Chulainn Coaster, with an extensive ten-day event from June 30 to July 9.
To mark this milestone, the park is offering visitors the chance to win over £8,500 in daily cash prizes alongside a range of hidden giveaways including day passes, exclusive merchandise, and park memberships. A new on-ride video experience will debut, capturing guests’ reactions as they ride the iconic coaster for the first time.
The Cú Chulainn Coaster, launched in June 2015, was internationally praised as a groundbreaking attraction in Europe. Constructed with over 800,000 kilograms of southern yellow pine and more than 100 tonnes of steel, the coaster towers at 32.05 metres, featuring a thrilling 31-metre drop and speeds up to 100 km/h along its 1,082-metre track. Since opening, it has attracted over 8 million riders, securing its status as a bucket-list destination for thrill-seekers.
During the celebration, groups arriving by 1pm daily—whether families, school tours, summer camps, or birthday parties—will automatically enter a daily cash raffle, with winners announced at 2pm in the specially designated anniversary area. Additionally, ten golden envelopes containing prizes are hidden throughout the park, inviting visitors to embark on treasure hunts guided by daily clues shared on Emerald Park’s Instagram.
Charles Coyle, Managing Director of Emerald Park, highlighted the coaster’s significance: “The Cú Chulainn Coaster has been at the heart of Emerald Park for the last decade and continues to be a massive draw for guests from across Ireland and abroad. This celebration honors the thrills, laughter, and memories shared on this iconic ride. We’re proud to give back to our visitors with this exciting event.”
Korey Kiepert, rollercoaster designer and founding partner of The Gravity Group, which designed the coaster, reflected on the project’s success: “We aimed to create a world-class wooden rollercoaster that combined thrilling intensity with a uniquely Irish story. Seeing it embraced by millions and become a landmark attraction is immensely rewarding. Here’s to the next decade of thrills.”
With over 40 rides and attractions and a zoo featuring more than 250 animals, Emerald Park continues to offer a premier family-friendly destination, inviting all to join the anniversary celebrations filled with prizes, adventure, and entertainment.
