With news of the country reopening for the summer months, June 29 marks an important day for Tayto Park, but that isn't the only good news for Ireland's only theme park.
The Ashbourne attraction has today announced that they have received approval for two new steel rollercoasters. The two intertwining coasters, one suspended coaster and one boomerang, will be built at a cost of €15 million, creating 40 jobs in the process.
Approval for the coasters was received after the theme park promised to invest €1.5m in noise reduction measures. These measures included a complete redesign of the coasters in order to direct noise back into the park and away from residential areas around the park.
Other noise reduction features include the building of three tunnels, underground sections to the coasters, the planting of trees and other foliage to absorb noise and a 6 metre high, 100 metre long sound barrier.
Raymond Coyle, the founder of Tayto Park, beamed when disclosing the news.
"Today is a very exciting day for Tayto Park and Co. Meath. This is the largest single investment in our history.
"We currently employ 420 people and not only will the new coasters add employment to the local economy, they are securing the future of the park."
The 'suspended coaster' will be 748 metres in length, as well as being capable of catering for 1,000 people per hour. The coaster will be capable of reaching speeds of 85 kilometres per hour, with punters having to be at least 1.2 metres tall to ride.
The 'boomerang' will encompass 221 metres in length and can cater for up to 720 people per hour. The coaster will be able to achieve a speed of 65kph going forward and 60kph going backwards. The minimum height requirement for the ride will be 0.9m.
Work will begin on the coasters in 2021, with the coasters open to the public in 2023.
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