TAYTO PARK OFFICIALLY OPENS IRELAND’S LARGEST FLUME RIDE

The Viking Voyage. Today in Tayto Park, Tayto Park founder Raymond Coyle (pictured) officially launched Ireland’s largest flume ride, The Viking Voyage at The Park. Joined by a host of Vikings, Raymond chopped the ribbon and exclusively unveiled the €8-million attraction to an invited audience. Photo: Leon Farrell / Photocall Ireland

TAYTO PARK, Ireland’s only theme park and zoo, today opened its new Viking Voyage at The Park attraction which features the country’s largest water ride.

Construction on the ride, which cost €8 million to complete, began last July with over 50 builders and engineers working on the attraction every day at the Park in Ashbourne, County Meath.

To create a truly authentic experience, Tayto Park employed Viking experts from Sweden and theming contractors who have worked in Disneyland and on Game of Thrones, to develop the project.

The ride takes guests on a journey from an ancient Viking town to Celtic Ireland and delves into true Viking history with replica ring forts, round towers and a monastery.

The centerpiece of the ride is a 60ft mountain and over 500 trees have been planted around it to recreate the Irish landscape from 1,000 years ago. The super flume track is 700m in length and takes 5 minutes to complete with the ride reaching speeds of 60kph.

The attraction is completely bespoke, combining several features including two forward water chutes and one reverse chute, providing a unique surprise for the passengers.

Viking Voyage facts

• 1.7m litres of water, 5000 bundles of straw, over 10,000 tonnes of concrete and 500 tonnes of steel

• Construction team used Viking building methods including wattle fencing, Viking ships, currachs and

thatch built in the methods from 1,000 years ago.

• Make your way through a full Viking village complete with 6 replica Viking ships through the ride

• There are 3 drops in total and the largest is 12 metres and one is a backwards drop

• There are 12 Viking boats on the ride at any one time with six people per boat

• The ride will take 720 people per hour

Tayto Park founder Raymond Coyle was on hand to officially open the water ride.

‘’Tayto Park is all about wowing our guests and our mission is to continue to entertain and to bring bespoke attractions to the Irish market,”he said. “The Viking Voyage at The Park is a great addition and will enhance the overall family fun experience at Tayto Park. Our aim is to make a day out in Tayto Park a memorable one for all of our guests, young and old.”

The Viking Voyage at The Park was designed and manufactured by industry ride specialist Interlink who also produced the Viking themed storyboard for the ride. Commercial Director of Interlink, John Davies said: “We are extremely excited and proud that Tayto Park chose a “world-first” ride and we expect a lot of interest after its launch.”

Tayto Park opened for its seventh season last April and The Viking Voyage at the Park is now open to the public. For more information and opening times, please visit www.taytopark.ie.