Rollercoaster is a tasty addition to Tayto Park rides

Tayto Park is a flurry of activity at the moment, with contractors and builders going to dizzying heights to finish what will be the largest inverted wooden rollercoaster in all of Europe.

The park opens to the public next month, though adrenaline junkies will have to wait a little longer for the ride of their life — the rollercoaster itself won’t be finished until summer.

Construction began on September 1, with a team of 70 engineers and builders working on the project.

More than 800,000kg of yellow pine has been brought from South America to make up the frame of the rollercoaster, while 100 tonnes of steel and 700,000 nails and bolts will also be used.

Once finished, the ride will reach 32.05m at its highest point.

Engineer Korey T Kiepert, who has worked on some of the world’s most adrenaline-pumping rides over the years, applied his expertise to the newest addition to Tayto Park.

“When this ride opens to the public, its overbanked turn will give people a taste of going upside down — a first for a wooden coaster in Europe, so we are pretty excited about this.

“We always try to make each ride the best ride possible for its size. When we have the chance to break a record we go for it.”

Tayto Park marketing manager Niamh Reynolds said she has been inundated with calls and emails from people asking to be first on the rollercoaster.

One loved-up chap even wants to secure a space for himself and his girlfriend so he can pop the question — because nothing says “I love you” more than a stomach-churning drop zone of 29m.

Other new additions to the park include seven amusement rides — all with suitably daunting names such as Sky Tower, Rotator, and Air Race.

There will also be a 5D cinema, the only one in Ireland, and a new Dinosaurs Alive exhibition which includes robotic versions of T-Rex.

Tayto Park founder Ray Coyle said the additions are an effort to give people “the very best experience”.

“The new attractions and new infrastructure represent a very significant investment of €26m, overall,” he said.

“We believe in Tayto Park and we absolutely believe that it stands alone in Ireland for offering all-day entertainment and value.

“We are very proud of the conservation work we continue to do with the animals in Tayto Park and our whole team is very excited about the new attractions, not least the rollercoaster.”

Tayto Park is located in Ashbourne, Co Meath, and opens to the public on March 26.

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