C'Mon! Lets Bring Mosney Back!! :)

Undercoverguy

Hey Lad and Lasses!!

I've been meaning to come on After Hours and post this for ages.
About a month ago a couple of my mates were doing some construction work in the former 'Mosney Holiday Camp' in Co Meath..... Most commonly known as 'Mosnia' now i think lol. Anyway, I had a good hour to kill and pretty much has free access to roam the site, and i must say the memories came a-flowing

It was oddly spooky tho, I had a surreal moment in the giant pool area...
You could hear a pin drop! :eek:

Anyway, One of the most shocking things i noticed was that most of the parks structures remains intacked.
The big ballroom area (with the porthole windows),
The amusement arcades,
The bars... and more!!

Would it really be that bad an idea for a redevelopment of the site?
For anyone who remembers a few years ago - A consortium of businessmen some of whom were associated with 'Universal' Theme Parks wanted to build a MASSIVE attraction in Bettystown and the best excuses the government could come up with were:

- The road networks wouldn't cope.
- The transport system wouldn't cope.
- The sewerage systems couldn't cope.

So then we have Mosney > Right beside the M1 Motorway, and attached to the main Dublin to Belfast train line..... Commuter Heaven!
The only problem is sewerage, how big a problem could that be?!? It's beside the sea so surely something could be sorted to threat the sewerage then pump what is safe and acceptable into the sea or whatever. (Haven't a clue what way sewerage works so maybe that's a bad idea i dunno )

So anyone got any more thoughts or ideas on this?
A government grant to fire Ireland's enterainment facilities into the 21st century?
Advertise the site internationally to prospective developers?
Could Mosneys 200 acre site be put to better use?

Maybe give a this country some kind of Theme Park attraction... other than Funtasia! lol

HISTORY LESSON
For anyone who doesn't remember the history of the site:

It was originally opened in 1948 as part of the UK 'Butlins' Empire.
At it's peak Mosney could accommodate 2800 campers and 4000 day visitors. Its estimated that 8 out of 10 Irish families have had some kind of contact with the camp over the years. Mosney was sold in 1982 by Butlins to a private buyer after the company decided to focus more on its UK Camps, Mosney continued to operate as normal for a further 18 years. In 2000 the Mosney site was closed due to problems finding short-term staff for the short 12 week holiday period and the site was put up for tender.
A controversial 5-year €22 million euro deal was signed with the government to turn the camp into a home for asylum seekers. The site is now home to roughly 300 asylum seekers from over 20 different countries. Its thought the 200 acres of land is worth over €70 million euro. As it stands the future of the camp is unknown.

monkeyfudge

It leveled and turned into yet more houses.

Urgh... so many miserable memories...

But memories none the less...

Muff_Daddy

monkeyfudge wrote: »

Urgh... so many miserable memories...

But.......the dragon slide!!!

Mosney should really be let Rest In Peace though.....i'm too big for the slides now.

Undercoverguy

It leveled and turned into yet more houses.

It was rubbish... But still >

monkeyfudge

It leveled and turned into yet more houses.

Oh.. yes the slide was pretty cool...

Anyone got any more photos of the place? I used to love the holograms.

Never went there. Shure, don't kids have video games to keep them entertained these days?

marcsignal

Eh.... Something else....

Isn't it called "Mosnia" now ??

aren't there asyulum seekers living in the chalets ??

where are they gonna go ??

mikemac

Eh.... Something else....

It was a kip then and it's a kip now.
You're right, a good location though

Detention centre is the wrong name in the poll OP

xOxSinéadxOx

why doesn't ireland have a theme park?

monkeyfudge

It leveled and turned into yet more houses.

If it comes back it should definitely have a 'Tunnel of Goats' and 'Spider Baby' attractions.

Undercoverguy

It leveled and turned into yet more houses.

micmclo wrote: »

Detention centre is the wrong name in the poll OP

If RTE are calling it a 'Dentention Centre' then so am i lol :cool:

Muggy Dev

xOxSinéadxOx wrote: »

why doesn't ireland have a theme park?

Ireland is a Theme Park.:(

dame

Mosney was great!.....when I was five.....

DonJose

No wonder we have so many asylum seekers, its all a big holiday. Is the pool still open for the asylum seekers, lucky buggers

xOxSinéadxOx

Muggy Dev wrote: »

Ireland is a Theme Park.:(

how?

i don't see any roller coasters coasting around the place.

Rob_l

Eh.... Something else....

bring it back:eek:
it was terrible leave it were it is in the past

Rhyme

marcsignal wrote: »

Isn't it called "Mosnia" now ??

aren't there asyulum seekers living in the chalets ??

where are they gonna go ??

That's material for a whole other thread. "Dey tuk awr chalays" etc...


Let it rot.

the_syco

Oh: the slide in the pool that brought you to the pool thing underneath the main pool. That was cool.

As for the Asylum Seekers: process them, and send back the bogus ones.

eirebhoy

It leveled and turned into yet more houses.

Any more pictures? The picture of the pool brought memories of the whole place flooding back. I'm struggling to remember the slide though. There was an outdoor pool aswell wasn't there?

The oul' wans used to come around collecting off the parents every week so they could bring us all to Butlins every summer. I can still remember them howling as soon as the door was opened... "RESIDENTS". Then the struggle to find the pound or whatever it was.

marcsignal

Eh.... Something else....

eirebhoy wrote: »

Any more pictures? The picture of the pool brought memories of the whole place flooding back.

did that happen ??? :D:D

Bounty Hunter

It leveled and turned into yet more houses.

Undercoverguy wrote: »

Hey Lad and Lasses!!

. In 2000 the Mosney site was closed due to problems finding short-term staff for the short 12 week holiday period and the site was put up for tender......

The site is now home to roughly 300 asylum seekers from over 20 different countries.

i know its wrong but i think i may have found a cheap solution to the original staff problem.

Fast_Mover

Mosney..Aww memories of community games have just come flooding back to me:)

darkman2

Ive fond memories of Mosney when I was a kid. The pool and ,oh, who remembers the 'Space Round up'!? I saw someone puke on that once when I was on it and needless to say quite a mess for the people next to them:D What else was there? - The slide obviously - the planes (when I was very small) and wasnt there a restaurant beneath or beside the pool? There where other smaller pools outside aswell on the way in. The lake with those swan yokes and little boats too. The bumper cars where alright when I was small too. Id say Mosney would look very small if it suddenly appeared now but back then, as a kid, it looked really big or something.

-avey-

It leveled and turned into yet more houses.

Mosney - good times when i was younger..i loved looking out windows when i was in the swimming pool (think it was the middle one) and seeing people walking along having a nosy in :rolleyes: ah the memories, we used to go every year, loved it

qwertplaywert

Remember being there . Even at the age of 7/8 I could tell it was a joke! I was amazed how the resteruents ever passed a health and safety inspection!
Also, on the wheel that everyone sat in a circle, people used to spit in the middle of it-absolutly horrifing.

+1 for the no's.

xOxSinéadxOx

xOxSinéadxOx wrote: »

how?

i don't see any roller coasters coasting around the place.

Have you ever tried to drive from Kinitty to Mountrath.

Archeron

I once went on that space round up four times in a row and then vomited blood into a litter bin.
Good times.

dade

marcsignal wrote: »

aren't there asyulum seekers living in the chalets ??

where are they gonna go ??

Home maybe?

xzanti

It leveled and turned into yet more houses.

darkman2 wrote: »

Ive fond memories of Mosney when I was a kid. The pool and ,oh, who remembers the 'Space Round up'!? I saw someone puke on that once when I was on it and needless to say quite a mess for the people next to them:D What else was there? - The slide obviously - the planes (when I was very small) and wasnt there a restaurant beneath or beside the pool? There where other smaller pools outside aswell on the way in. The lake with those swan yokes and little boats too. The bumper cars where alright when I was small too. Id say Mosney would look very small if it suddenly appeared now but back then, as a kid, it looked really big or something.

And those bumper boat things near the go karts.. That was good craic.. and the walzers..

Found some more pictures....

http://img136.imageshack.us/my.php?image=umbnm7.jpg

http://img205.imageshack.us/my.php?image=pool1sf6.jpg

http://img502.imageshack.us/my.php?image=pool2bf8.jpg

http://img515.imageshack.us/my.php?image=pool3pa8.jpg

http://img205.imageshack.us/my.php?image=cczh9.jpg

http://img502.imageshack.us/my.php?image=gokartsdm0.jpg

http://img257.imageshack.us/my.php?image=srukb1.jpg

Malteaser!

The other day I was trying to think of which pool I'd been in before that had those weird windows and I couldn't for the life of me remember, it's all coming back to me now...I was always terrified of that free fall slide that they had!!!

That yellow cage thing, were everyone stood in a circle with just a bit of chain across your waist to keep you in was great fun as well!!!

Galadriel

It leveled and turned into yet more houses.

I used to love the the pedal boats in the shape of swans, the pool, the big hugh candy soothers...memories alright, the chalets use to STINK though!!

Stephen

Leave it as is forever... As a detention centre.

Anyone got any photos of the place in its current state?

_blank_

Eh.... Something else....

Stephen wrote: »

Anyone got any photos of the place in its current state?

Here's one

Link

Riesen_Meal

It leveled and turned into yet more houses.

Bring back Homelands to Mosney!

It was a great place for gigs too!

One Cold Hand

DesF wrote: »

Here's one

Link

Quality!!

One Cold Hand

Undercoverguy wrote: »

It was rubbish... But still >

That's so freaky seeing that again. I remember being there and thinking that slide was massive. Looks tiny now.

BaZmO*

qwertplaywert wrote: »

Remember being there . Even at the age of 7/8 I could tell it was a joke! I was amazed how the resteruents ever passed a health and safety inspection!

When you were 7/8 you had concerns about a restaurant passing a health and safety inspection? I'd say you were a cheery kid!

Stephen wrote: »

Anyone got any photos of the place in its current state?

http://www.defenselink.mil/home/images/photos/2006-06/index/Hi-Res/22937.jpg


Used to go to Mosney a lot as a kid either on day trips or with the family for a weeks holiday. Some great memories.
The pool with the underwater glass where you could see the swimmers from the main street and the restaurant.
The Space Barrel (is that what it was called?) it was the yellow thing that spun around and then turned sideways. I used to always get sick after that. I remember one year the guy that was in charge of the ride used to climb out of the cage and up onto the side of it when it was going around. :eek: Ah the good aul days of lenient health & safety!
The bowling green with all the old fogies.
The computer room. lol although the holograms were cool.
The amusements with those horse racing things for 2p a go.
The remote control boats behind the glass.
The ballroom.
The Mexican Hat.
The outdoor swimming pool that never got above a temperature of 3°C
The toy trains beside the slide.

Back in about 1999/2000 they used to hold the Homelands Dance Festival there. I went to one of the years and it was mad walking around the place as an adult, everything seemed so small.

edit- Actually, just looking at that picture of the swimming pool in the first post. Is the water level below the level of the windows that look out onto the street? If so I'm guessing that it's a newer picture because when I used to go there as a kid back in the 80's the windows were always below the water. I reckon I probably know the reason for them lowering the water level too!!

eirebhoy

It leveled and turned into yet more houses.

ffs BaZ you're just showing up how bad my memory is. I thought I was great with my few small memories.

One Cold Hand

BaZmO* wrote: »

When you were 7/8 you had concerns about a restaurant passing a health and safety inspection? I'd say you were a cheery kid!



http://www.defenselink.mil/home/images/photos/2006-06/index/Hi-Res/22937.jpg
The pool with the underwater glass where you could see the swimmers from the main street and the restaurant.

edit- Actually, just looking at that picture of the swimming pool in the first post. Is the water level below the level of the windows that look out onto the street? If so I'm guessing that it's a newer picture because when I used to go there as a kid back in the 80's the windows were always below the water. I reckon I probably know the reason for them lowering the water level too!!

Yes was always important to moon the people outside when you were in the pool!

The level of water seems right to me, I think there was another row of window underwater. The water was always just below the green platform, as it is in the photo.

Edit: Just figured it out, it was the windows on the middle level that were under water!!
Phew, glad i figured that out!

BaZmO*

eirebhoy wrote: »

ffs BaZ you're just showing up how bad my memory is. I thought I was great with my few small memories.

One Cold Hand wrote: »

Yes was always important to moon the people outside when you were in the pool!

Indeed it was!

One Cold Hand wrote: »

Edit: Just figured it out, it was the windows on the middle level that were under water!!
Phew, glad i figured that out!

I think you might be wrong. There was never 2 levels of windows. The people in the foreground of the picture are standing up in the water, I always remember that end as being the 10ft end.

_blank_

Eh.... Something else....

One Cold Hand wrote: »

Yes was always important to moon the people outside when you were in the pool!

Moon people?

I used to **** at the oul wans tbh.

BaZmO*

DesF wrote: »

Moon people?

I used to **** at the oul wans tbh.

Thank God you had the word "at" there or I would've been very worried!!!

One Cold Hand

DesF wrote: »

Moon people?

I used to **** at the oul wans tbh.

Ah yes the auld ones. Nothing better than a challenging ****.

One Cold Hand

BaZmO* wrote: »

I think you might be wrong. There was never 2 levels of windows. The people in the foreground of the picture are standing up in the water, I always remember that end as being the 10ft end.

Yeah i was wrong. The windows were all the same level, but there was 3 levels of water, so on the middle level the windows were underwater, but on the lower level the windows were above the water.

Wertz

Archeron wrote: »

I once went on that space round up four times in a row and then vomited blood into a litter bin.
Good times.

Oh yeah? well me and two mates did it 9 times on the trot when we were about 10 on some school trip. I still suffer dizzy spells.

Best memory of Mosney for me were the two Homelands festivals that were held there....great venue for a dance event, easy for everyone to get to, the amusements were a great side show. As a venue it surely beats the sh*te out of Malahide castle (IMO). Shame we've lost it as being anything other than a holiday camp for bloody foreigners.
Where do we hold community game finals now? Do we even still have community games?

Also, lol @ government excuses for not allowing development of the site into a fully fledged amusement park...I see none of those reasons stood in the way of tens of thousands of prime suburban dwellings being built in the same area, also funnily enough without proper adequate infrastructure or sewage treatmnet facilities....I guess all that stamp duty assuaged their concerns a bit eh?

MikeHoncho

Trabolgan is still going. Its Corks answer to Mosney: http://www.trabolgan.com/

Was only ever in Mosney on day trips and never stayed. There is actually a photograph of a young me with one of those paper Pepsi hats that I got at Mosney displayed in my mothers home. Anyone else remeber the paper Pepsi hats?

User45701

i think i went to the star trek thing there when i was a kid.

qwertplaywert

Wertz wrote: »

Where do we hold community game finals now? Do we even still have community games?

Their still on at Mosney every year. I think up to about 2 years ago the contestants were allowed to go on the rides!

Wertz

So what, they pack off all the "locals" to Bettystown for a few days? Or just keep them all locked in the chalets?

Earthhorse

I dunno, his solo stuff's alright but I think he did his best work with The Smiths.

2 stroke

It leveled and turned into yet more houses.

My favourite memories of mosney are of the shower at the pool. As teenagers we would watch for hot chicks leaving the pool and try to enter the shower at the same time, or just watch them as we waited for them to finish showering. I don't remember any other activities for teenagers in mosney.