Plans for a themepark to be built in Co.Clare.

bb1234567

I couldnt really think of any forum that this suits so i put it here:p well anyway, a what theyre calling ''themepark''is meant to open in co.clare. dont know when though. theyre saying its an adventure amusement park so i dont know if it will be like a real themepark like alton towers or disney etc i wouldnt get too excited , remember tayto park that was being called a 'themepark' before it got built and look what it is,nothing but a glorified playground with some zoo animals i really hope we do get a real themepark to standard of european themeparks with real good rides and rollercoaster though i dont think its going to happen, i tihnk its going to end up much like tayot park but themed to irish history and will be boring as hell with no rides:mad: link to article-http://www.tourismopportunity.ie/bunratty-theme-park-planned/
also what do you guys think,have you heard about it,how do you think itll turn out?Ireland really needs a themepark, i know it doesnt have a very big population but how about a good one as good as alton towers but smaller:)

chucken1

bb1234567 wrote: »

I couldnt really think of any forum that this suits so i put it here:p well anyway, a what theyre calling ''themepark''is meant to open in co.clare. dont know when though. theyre saying its an adventure amusement park so i dont know if it will be like a real themepark like alton towers or disney etc i wouldnt get too excited , remember tayto park that was being called a 'themepark' before it got built and look what it is,nothing but a glorified playground with some zoo animals i really hope we do get a real themepark to standard of european themeparks with real good rides and rollercoaster though i dont think its going to happen, i tihnk its going to end up much like tayot park but themed to irish history and will be boring as hell with no rides:mad: link to article-http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/ireland/2011/0922/1224304520708.htmlso what do you guys think,have you heard about it,how do you think itll turn out?Ireland really needs a themepark, i know it doesnt have a very big population but how about a good one as good as alton towers but smaller:)

http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/forumdisplay.php?f=941

meoklmrk91

Link is not working.

I do think we could use a good theme park here in Ireland and I do think it would be used, look at funderland, any time I go there is no shortage of patrons. Also why Co. Clare of all the places in Ireland to build one I would never have thought of Clare.

chucken1

:)Sure why not Clare?

bb1234567

meoklmrk91 wrote: »

Link is not working.

I do think we could use a good theme park here in Ireland and I do think it would be used, look at funderland, any time I go there is no shortage of patrons. Also why Co. Clare of all the places in Ireland to build one I would never have thought of Clare.

sorry bout link,heres a different one!
http://www.tourismopportunity.ie/bunratty-theme-park-planned/

bb1234567

chucken1 wrote: »

http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/forumdisplay.php?f=941

thanks,but mods pweez dont move it to clare forum itd get so many more views in ah than on clare forum!:D theres probably like 10 people on boards who live in clare :P

df1985

would love ireland to have a theme park but it will probably be blocked by an bord pleanala or an taisce or someone. remember "vega city" (think that was the name) that was to be built along the M1 years ago, never got off the ground.

galwayrush

The serial objectors will be out in force to stop it, even before they see any plans.:pac:

bb1234567

df1985 wrote: »

would love ireland to have a theme park but it will probably be blocked by an bord pleanala or an taisce or someone. remember "vega city" (think that was the name) that was to be built along the M1 years ago, never got off the ground.

nah id say itll be allowed, i'd say clare would take anything it can get:p itd be an amazing economical boost for clare and the whole west of ireland! ye i heard about that vega place, was going to be huge and was to cost 7 billion dollars and be like 4 times the size of disney paris:eek: would have been cool ,but too big for somehwhere like or as small as ireland unfortunately:rolleyes:

Ghandee

chucken1 wrote: »

Sure why not Clare?

Cos its a long long way from here to there!

whatislife

why clare? why not cork or dublin?

Sunnyisland

We could do with a good theme/adventure/amusement park here, I welcome this Idea and clare is a lovely county so why not there.

Sunnyisland

what is life wrote: »

why Clare? why not cork or dublin?

Cork & Dublin have enough:p Spread the developments

bb1234567

theyre choosing clare because the people who are going to build it are called shannon development and are based in clare. and its planned to be built beisde bunratty castle and have an emphasis on history and irish culture which may be sort of cool if its done well,hopes its a good park with great rides and rollercoasters!:D
read article tells all about it- http://www.tourismopportunity.ie/bunratty-theme-park-planned/

bb1234567

im sure with a development as big as a full scale themeparks new great road and rail links will be built from the major population zones like dublin,cork,limerick,waterford,galway and belfast to the park. im nearly sure the park would do very well if theyre was good transport links from dublin to clare built.or are they already good..never been to clare!

ejmaztec

They should have Crusty-Eco-Warrior-land, there'd be no objections by anyone then.

flutterflye

I don't believe in Clare.
I've never seen it, so how do I know it's there??

Theme park should obviously be in or near Dublin, or even Cork or Galway.

jc84

About time too, I couldn't believe there wasn't at least 1 theme park in Ireland when I moved here, hope it's a good one but I can't see where the money will come from, decent theme park rides cost around 15 to 20 million

bb1234567

jc84 wrote: »

About time too, I couldn't believe there wasn't at least 1 theme park in Ireland when I moved here, hope it's a good one but I can't see where the money will come from, decent theme park rides cost around 15 to 20 million

i knowrides cost soo much, disney spend up to 200 million on some of their best rides:eek: theyre building some ride based on the movie cars in california and it will cost 250 million:eek: thats just a disgusting amount of money to spend on anything no matter how good it is!

jc84

bb1234567 wrote: »

i knowrides cost soo much, disney spend up to 200 million on some of their best rides:eek: theyre building some ride based on the movie cars in california and it will cost 250 million:eek: thats just a disgusting amount of money to spend on anything no matter how good it is!

Yeah, but the amount of money they'll make back, more than makes up for it, I hope they do a decent theme park here it would be good for tourism etc

bb1234567

added a poll,make it a bit more interesting, want to see what people think of the park being built.:)

chucken1

bb1234567 wrote: »

added a poll,make it a bit more interesting, want to see what people think of the park being built.:)

Why is there a question over where it would be built in the poll??
Thats not really up for discussion considering its Shannon Development that are looking for this to be built at Bunratty.(Clare)

bb1234567

chucken1 wrote: »

Why is there a question over where it would be built in the poll??
Thats not really up for discussion considering its Shannon Development that are looking for this to be built at Bunratty.(Clare)

the question is do people think it s smart idea to build in clare, not where it should be built.

Kasabian

They fcuked up Bunratty Castle by building it so close to the road.

Chuck Stone

They could bolt a big roller coaster onto the cliffs.

Then they wouldn't be so bloody boring. I'm joking ffs

jonnyfingers

bb1234567 wrote: »

i knowrides cost soo much, disney spend up to 200 million on some of their best rides:eek: theyre building some ride based on the movie cars in california and it will cost 250 million:eek: thats just a disgusting amount of money to spend on anything no matter how good it is!

I know the thread is a couple of weeks old but had to respond to this. Those prices are completely inaccurate.

Firstly 200 million would cover the cost of the whole park if it was to open in Ireland. Most of the new big roller coasters going into parks next year cost between $10 million and $30 million.

Many decent rides can be bought second hand from other parks. A brand new compact wooden roller coaster from reputable manufacturers GCI will set you back $3 million, and that covers the cost of building the thing.

On the whole a park in Ireland would be great. Here in the UK there are tons of small parks, it's the same in the US. Having it close to Shannon would make it easier for international tourists to visit.

The main thing would be to start it small, have one or two signature rides, a decent kids area (as families are where the money is) and allow it to grow from there. Really hope this goes ahead.

bb1234567

jonnyfingers wrote: »

I know the thread is a couple of weeks old but had to respond to this. Those prices are completely inaccurate.

Firstly 200 million would cover the cost of the whole park if it was to open in Ireland. Most of the new big roller coasters going into parks next year cost between $10 million and $30 million.

Many decent rides can be bought second hand from other parks. A brand new compact wooden roller coaster from reputable manufacturers GCI will set you back $3 million, and that covers the cost of building the thing.

On the whole a park in Ireland would be great. Here in the UK there are tons of small parks, it's the same in the US. Having it close to Shannon would make it easier for international tourists to visit.

The main thing would be to start it small, have one or two signature rides, a decent kids area (as families are where the money is) and allow it to grow from there. Really hope this goes ahead.

nope not inaccurate, disney announced a new thrill ride called radiator springs racer to open in california this summer, itll be their most expensive ride yet ,itll cost 250 million dollars. i dont know how they could possible manage to spend that much money but they do. the better disney park rides cost around 110-150 million dollars/euro which is unbelievable..trust me look it up,the amount of money disney spend on their attractions is massive. but disney is disney..no other themepark does it like them so they should keep going the way theyre going spending those attrocious sums ofmoney:eek:
but yep i agree, it should only cost 200m maybe less to open a good themepark in ireland.and i agree with everything else youre saying, hope it goes ahead too:Dit would be really cool to have a respectably good themepark in ireland !im sure itd make a lot of money,the country badly needs something other than..ughh*shivers* funderland..

Dyr

Bungee offa a cliffs of moher

robbie_998

i dont have a problem with it being in Clare, would make for a good weekend sure.



i just dont it to be crap. it must have proper rides at easy !


as for the amusements themselves there should be good roller coasters and the likes. non-over priced food and so on.


knowing ireland though this could turn out to be cheap and crap and not worth building !

LighterGuy

Theme Park in Ireland?
What could go wrong?
Reminds me of this :pac:

"Price per game" at 3:53 onwards seems an accurate Irish price alright.

BoDiddly

Kasabian wrote: »

They fcuked up Bunratty Castle by building it so close to the road.

I think The castle was there before the road, as is, besides Clare is an excellent choice, close to Shannon airport and with the new improved road links, but don't get carried away with the Disney style park I'm sure it will be more cultural style , expanding on the current and well visited one.

My only concern would be, it took Clare planning 10 years to get a kids playground built.

Kasabian

BoDiddly wrote: »

I think The castle was there before the road, as is, besides Clare is an excellent choice, close to Shannon airport and with the new improved road links, but don't get carried away with the Disney style park I'm sure it will be more cultural style , expanding on the current and well visited one.

My only concern would be, it took Clare planning 10 years to get a kids playground built.

You think!!!

jonnyfingers

bb1234567 wrote: »

nope not inaccurate, disney announced a new thrill ride called radiator springs racer to open in california this summer, itll be their most expensive ride yet ,itll cost 250 million dollars. i

I take it back. I just looked it up and does say it will be over 200 million dollars. I have no idea what that will be used for! But Disney parks are the most over priced parks on the planet so I'm sure they'll make their money back.


As for the proposed Irish park being in Clare, here's how I see it.

Pros:

- Close to Bunratty Castle, a popular tourist destination that averages 400,000 tourists a year.
- The whole west of Ireland is a tourist spot already, could take those tourists and even add to them.
- Plenty of land for development.
- Close to Shannon International Airport.
- Probably within 2 hours driving distance from every major city in the Republic of Ireland.
- Gap in the market, no other theme park exists.


Cons:

- The weather!
- Total population in Ireland is just under 5 million. Is that enough of a pool to get decent regular visitor numbers?
- Economic climate is currently abysmal. Will people have money to spend to go to a park?


But I'd love to see it happen. If it's done well it could be great. Check out Folly Farm in Wales. They have a vintage funfair and a huge children's play area indoors so the weather does not affect it. There's a great zoo/farm outside as well as plenty for the kids to do. It's aimed at younger children for sure, but the vintage funfair is great. No reason why something similar could not exist in Ireland. Throw in a few roller coasters, some dark rides and you'd have a decent park.

mikom

Tedworld FTW.

WoollyRedHat

So long as they don't call it Bunratty theme park and something a bit better

Fratton Fred

flutterflye wrote: »

I don't believe in Clare.
I've never seen it, so how do I know it's there??.

Apparently it is outside of the M50, so it must be in Naas, or maybe Blanchardstown.

I voted for the park in the OP's poll, though Clare is a fair spin away for me. Like the failed complex/casino for Co. Tipperary I can't see our overlords allowing this to go ahead.

That development in Tipp did seem an odd location for such a venture but the general Irish public wouldn't have been their target market for making $$$. The eastern-yank corporations who spend hundreds of thousands annually on weekend conferences and training (and fly 7 hours across the US to Vegas) would have brought in enough business to keep that place open and maintain the many jobs promised.

No doubt the Clare theme park will never take any physical form. It is very much needed as we do not have anything like it, and Europe and the States dotted with them. Putting it in Clare would add to the South-West's tourism attractions, along with the likes of the Cliffs of Moher, the Burren, Ring of Kerry etc. Clare and that general region is a beautiful part of the country, and by all the Yanks flocking there, we can sit here back in the East unaffected but reaping the benefits of a recovering economy.

Tourism is a viable gateway to the country's recovery. No matter how bad things get financially at least we've still got these beautiful lands and should be trying now more than ever to make it appear like a joyful place to come on holiday. Theme parks and casinos, why not? If that means extending drinking hours, why not give it some serious thought and discussion? With the Netherlands trying their best to stop foreigners from scabbing their marijuana, maybe there'll be a gap in the market to attract all those smokers wanting a legal toke soon? Anyway that's going off the OT slightly.

I'm all for the Clare theme park, oh and a monorail:D

sensibleken

whatislife wrote: »

why clare? why not cork or dublin?

because clare has already ruinned the cliffs of moher and the ailiwee caves so giving them this to fúck up might save the burren from being tarmaced

bb1234567

jonnyfingers wrote: »

I take it back. I just looked it up and does say it will be over 200 million dollars. I have no idea what that will be used for! But Disney parks are the most over priced parks on the planet so I'm sure they'll make their money back.


As for the proposed Irish park being in Clare, here's how I see it.

Pros:

- Close to Bunratty Castle, a popular tourist destination that averages 400,000 tourists a year.
- The whole west of Ireland is a tourist spot already, could take those tourists and even add to them.
- Plenty of land for development.
- Close to Shannon International Airport.
- Probably within 2 hours driving distance from every major city in the Republic of Ireland.
- Gap in the market, no other theme park exists.


Cons:

- The weather!
- Total population in Ireland is just under 5 million. Is that enough of a pool to get decent regular visitor numbers?
- Economic climate is currently abysmal. Will people have money to spend to go to a park?


But I'd love to see it happen. If it's done well it could be great. Check out Folly Farm in Wales. They have a vintage funfair and a huge children's play area indoors so the weather does not affect it. There's a great zoo/farm outside as well as plenty for the kids to do. It's aimed at younger children for sure, but the vintage funfair is great. No reason why something similar could not exist in Ireland. Throw in a few roller coasters, some dark rides and you'd have a decent park.

great post thanks :)ye on the cons- the weather is defo a con youre right, but i dont think itll deter people from going ,so weather wont affeact the park imo.
ye the population of the republic is about 5 million,but you forgot about about northern ireland which has a population of about 2million! so of the around 7 million on this island i'd say easily 5 million on the island would vsit regularly or atleast yearly.and then add in about 4/500,00 tourists yearly who visit ireland or the west im sure would go to the park as part of their holiday(if the park is good mid you!). Oh and i read somewhere that a full scale all the works disney park only needs about 8 million guests annually to pay off for all ride maintenance,employee pay,electricity and all other overheads and still make profit. so if a whole disney park can surive on 8 m guests surely a much smaller scale park in ireland could survive on around 5.5/6m guests annually and make lots of profit!
then the recession as the last con, ye im sure thatll have some effect, but not too big i wouldnt think, as long as the park is good and food,tickets inside and accomodation arent even1/4 of what disney charge then i think the park will be a massive success.:)

bb1234567

jonnyfingers wrote: »

I take it back. I just looked it up and does say it will be over 200 million dollars. I have no idea what that will be used for! But Disney parks are the most over priced parks on the planet so I'm sure they'll make their money back.


As for the proposed Irish park being in Clare, here's how I see it.

Pros:

- Close to Bunratty Castle, a popular tourist destination that averages 400,000 tourists a year.
- The whole west of Ireland is a tourist spot already, could take those tourists and even add to them.
- Plenty of land for development.
- Close to Shannon International Airport.
- Probably within 2 hours driving distance from every major city in the Republic of Ireland.
- Gap in the market, no other theme park exists.


Cons:

- The weather!
- Total population in Ireland is just under 5 million. Is that enough of a pool to get decent regular visitor numbers?
- Economic climate is currently abysmal. Will people have money to spend to go to a park?


But I'd love to see it happen. If it's done well it could be great. Check out Folly Farm in Wales. They have a vintage funfair and a huge children's play area indoors so the weather does not affect it. There's a great zoo/farm outside as well as plenty for the kids to do. It's aimed at younger children for sure, but the vintage funfair is great. No reason why something similar could not exist in Ireland. Throw in a few roller coasters, some dark rides and you'd have a decent park.

I'd really like to open a small vintage funfair type themepark somewhere in dublin when im older. im sure thatd be a huge success and would surely run a hole like funderland out of house and home.and it wouldnt be all too expenisve to build either. im sure you could keep costs somehwere in the hundred thousand fugures rather than the millions,then when it gets popular spend big oney on better rides. itd be easy to do,just buy some cheap second hand carnival rides some thrills and family/kids rides,maybe a good rollercoaster or two,dress them up nice,repaint, make them look vintage and traditional,nice greenery and flowers,some cafes and nice traditional food stalls selling candy apples,popcorn,cotton candy,sweets,icecreams,nice kids areas,nice theatre or music venue,water fountains,famiyl music not that techno funderland music,some clowns and performers,maybe an ice skating rink, a farmers market,wine tasting for adults,made into winter wonderland type scene in xmas time..and i think thatd be a really cool,fun popular little themepark and would fit in great in a middle class south dublin area maybe somehwere like dundrum

telekon

I keep picturing Funland from Father Ted.

'Freak Pointing', 'The Pond of Terror', 'Spinning Cat', the 'Crane of Death', and of course, 'The Ladder'....

"Keep your hands on the so-ides...."

dilallio

Unfortunately in Ireland, they would probably run out of money and we would end up with something like this ...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XHPXd5pGFRY

Sin_J

For those saying the weather is a con, pretty much the same weather in the UK and their parks get by fine. Just don't build too many water rides and you're golden.

We may get lots of rain, but at least it is generally just that. Go to Florida, and you get thunderstorms, which basically shut down every outdoor rollercoaster and water ride because they can't risk people being on it with all of the lightning strikes.

And if you've never been there, its not an occasional thing, you can generally count on it raining at least once a day for maybe an hour or so minimum. If you've bought your park ticket and then a storm comes in and is down for most of the day, you don't get a refund, even if the majority of rides are closed. i know they generally have the heat and sun to make up for this, but it's still an impact, especially if you have limited time and cash to buy a ticket.

At least here everything could stay open with bad weather.

nicowa

And you can't bring up the location as a con either. From what I remember of Alton Towers it was a bugger to find - being that it's in the middle of nowhere...

fryup

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KOvGgremAIo

i wonder will they have the ladder.."keep your hands at the side"

BoDiddly

Kasabian wrote: »

You think!!!

I did say, " as is " .

redzerologhlen

sensibleken wrote: »

because clare has already ruinned the cliffs of moher and the ailiwee caves so giving them this to fúck up might save the burren from being tarmaced

Thats silly talk, your not making any sense.......Fianna Fail ruined all those things.

MOSSAD

What's with the packaging and interperting of every goddamned thing for people? Are they so stupid they require things to be served on a plate? Sounds like a bunch of overpaid incompetent unimaginative nincompoop public servants justifiying their employment.
Take the bright spark and genius that gave one the "interpretive centre " at the Cliffs of Moher-it's so dull and sanitised that you can no longer examine and wonder at the birdlife and geological strata of the cliffs.
How about engaging with landowners to open up forest walks/ campsites/tours of ringforts and castles? The Clare countryside is alive with history and stories pertaining to various townlands. Last thing we need is a disneyfication of our heritage...if this is the best these fools can come up with then we may as well curl up and die.

Richard

nicowa wrote: »

And you can't bring up the location as a con either. From what I remember of Alton Towers it was a bugger to find - being that it's in the middle of nowhere...

Yes, but Great Britain (i.e. England, Scotland and Wales) has a population Of 60 million, whilst Ireland has a population of about 6.3 million. The population in England (about 50 million) is more densely packed than in Ireland as well.

maiden

Im from Clare and I say bring it on!!!!! And why not Clare???

I've spend a fortune in the capital city every time a major concert in on, and ive spent a few bob over the years at Fota Wildlife.

So come on, time to get out of the cities and see the countryside!! I promise the fresh air wont hurt!!

Naomi00

jonnyfingers wrote: »

I take it back. I just looked it up and does say it will be over 200 million dollars. I have no idea what that will be used for! But Disney parks are the most over priced parks on the planet so I'm sure they'll make their money back.

I'd say most of it goes on the designing of the rides, I'd say they spend a couple of years between planning it, designing & building it then testing it.

Actually Disneyland is probably one of the cheaper parks I've been to and the best value.
I've been to a few theme parks in Germany which cost way more. Obviously they didn't have the characters that Disney have and so didn't really have a strong theme at all, and even though the park was bigger it was pointless as the whole place closed at 6pm, wheras Disneyland closes at midnight.


I think a proper themepark in Ireland would be class. I think Clare is a really good place for one, as long as it doesn't look awful or out of place.