There’s a lot of sense to the age old adage that we should do at least one thing a day that scares us.
Doing so can break up the monotony of our daily routines, bring us out of our shells and build up our confidence over time, or can even get adrenaline pumping through our veins, making us feel blissfully alive.
Making a habit of it each day can have an incredible impact — and the best part is, there’s no need to take a break from it just because you happen to be going on holidays.
In fact, if it’s thrill-seeking pursuits or an adrenaline high that you’re after, you’ll find yourself absolutely spoiled for choice while travelling throughout Ireland.
Here are some of the best spots where you’ll find unforgettable experiences awaiting you – if you’re brave enough to face them!
Emerald Park, Co Meath
At this Ashbourne theme park, you’ll have the chance to ride Europe’s largest intertwining rollercoaster. The two weaving rides, Na Fianna Force and The Quest, are located within the park’s recently opened and incredibly immersive Tír na ÓG land. Hop on board for twists and turns aplenty at speeds of up to 90kmph. You’ll certainly be on a high after the thrilling experience, so double down on the feel good factor by visiting all the adorable animals at Emerald Park’s on-site zoo.
Mondello Park, Co Kildare
Become a Formula 1 star for the day at this immense Caragh racetrack. Choose from a huge variety of experiences, including Porsche driving, Ferrari driving, BMW driving and Formula driving or go all out and include them all within the Ultimate Track Experience package. Experience the phenomenal sensation of driving a single seater racing car just inches off the ground or get revved up for an acceleration experience like never before behind the wheel of the Ferrari F430. Whatever you opt for, rest assured that all activity on the track is carried out with expert professional instructors on hand to show you the ropes.
Castlecomer Discovery Park, Co Kilkenny
This beautiful Kilkenny attraction is home to Ireland’s longest zipline, stretching across 300 metres in length and 35 metres over the ground at its highest point. The stunning woodland and lakes make for a beautiful walking trail, but getting to experience them from such dazzling new heights adds a whole new layer of fun. The exhilarating zipline is accompanied by the Octagon high ropes course, which presents a series of riveting challenges in the form of nets, ropes and wooden bridges. Once you’ve completed all that hard work, stroll down to Castlecomer town square for a well deserved feed at the iconic chip van, Munch Box.
Delphi Adventure Centre, Co Galway
This popular destination in Leenane offers guaranteed fun for all the family, with almost 20 activities on offer for ages four and up. Choose from a range of land and water activities in Connemara and Mayo, including surfing in Louisburgh, ziplining in the 200 acre Delphi forest and kayaking on the Killary Fjord, to name just a few. For slightly older kids (age 10 and above) don’t miss Delphi’s newest attraction, Combat Archery, which is a hilarious combination of dodgeball and archery (using non-dangerous soft foam arrows) — a bit like paintball without any mess.
Irish Parachute Club, Co Offaly
Head to Edenderry for this once in a lifetime experience, where you can embark on a skydive, free-falling from 10,000 to 13,000 feet over the most stunning of sceneries at a speed of 200kmph. There are a range of options depending on how daring or time-strapped you may be, with the tandem skydive among the most popular. The tandem master does all the work during this dive and training only takes 20-30 minutes. All you need to do is enjoy the experience and take in the wonderful views, while the expert attached to your back can take care of all the safety precautions.
Ballintoy Coasteering, Co Antrim
Take in Antrim’s amazing scenery and dramatic coastlines, of Game of Thrones fame, as part of this exhilarating combined rock and water experience. Coasteering sessions are unlike anything else you’ll experience, consisting of rock scrambling, climbing, adventure swimming, belly flopping and cliff jumping from various heights. Experienced guides will start you off low and build you up to the Big Kahuna jump of almost 45ft. Sessions can also be tailored to suit all ages and abilities.