Watch: I tried the new Na Fianna Force rollercoaster at Emerald Park — here's what I thought

Fionn Redmond, left, excited to ride Na Fianna Force at Emerald Park with his mum, Caitríona

This morning I felt like I needed more than nerves of steel. I'm not quite sure which was more stressful; being amongst the first guests in Ireland to visit Tír na nÓg, to do it on camera for my demise to be displayed to all of our lovely readers, or to have to put a brave face on for my 12-year-old who had elected to accompany me. 

Said 12-year-old is rollercoaster obsessed and this extends to building rollercoasters in Lego and on Minecraft, watching as many YouTube videos relating to rollercoasters as possible, reading up on rollercoaster design, and ultimately being allowed to ride rollercoasters when the budget permits.

The new land at Emerald Park has been two years in the making and over the space of those two years this has been documented by a four-part behind the scenes series which has recently aired on RTÉ. 

Behind the scenes in our house, Santa brought the 12-year-old a gift of a voucher for Emerald Park to be used as soon as the new land opened. When the Features Editor asked if I wanted to be the team guinea pig today, I felt like I couldn't turn the opportunity down on his behalf.

Emerald Park opens its first fully themed and immersive land, Tír Na nÓg, home to ‘Na Fianna Force’. Picture: Mark Stedman

And so this morning, we packed the car with a girdle of steel, motion sickness tablets, waterproof mascara, and mints. I'm no stranger to rollercoasters, and actually enjoy them.

Tír na nÓg is a completely new reimagining at Emerald Park taking the theme and entertainment park to a new level. The immersive teaming around Irish mythological culture is magical, and it is sure to appeal to young and old alike. 

It was warm and the sun was burning off the mist just outside of Ashbourne when I clambered into the suspended seat, made sure my shoes were tied on tightly and took my glasses off so that I didn't lose them in the inversions of the ride. 

For the uninitiated, an inversion is when you are suspended upside down, and Na Fianna Force boasts 360 zero-G roll and an upward helix, and five upside-down inversions.

Emerald Park is the only theme and entertainment park in Ireland with rollercoasters and rides that stand shoulder to shoulder with other international parks across the EU, the US, and beyond. The addition of Tír na nÓg and its new rides make Emerald Park a force to be reckoned with in the theme park world, and no longer will families have to save up a fortune to leave Ireland to visit a theme park with rollercoasters. 

We climbed the start of the ride vertically and the anticipation was rising. We crested the top of the rollercoaster and the park spread out below. 

Whoops of joy and excitement and I may have said “Oh my GOD” about eleventeen times. I’ve not ridden a rollercoaster like this in Europe, never mind Ireland. What a memorable experience.

As I dusted myself off, I looked to the 12-year-old who was still shaking with excitement. That was incredible he said, and he begged to go again. While I might need to grab a cup of tea and a short break before I head to the rollercoaster again, by the time you've finished reading this article I will have rejoined the queue. 

Make your way to Emerald Park this summer you won't regret it.

Tír na nÓg means the land of eternal youth. I left Na Fianna Force feeling exhilarated and invigorated with a big smile on my face, just like my 12-year-old.