Europe's largest intertwining rollercoaster has opened in Co Meath.
The development at Emerald Park in Ashbourne is part of a €22 million investment in the theme park, which will create 60 new jobs.
The rides known as 'Na Fianna Force' and 'The Quest' are intertwining family and thrill coasters which along with another new ride called 'The Celtic Dreamer' form part a new 6.5-acre section of the park called 'Tír Na nÓg' which has been themed with material made by local blacksmiths in the Boyne Valley.
Sixty-five rollercoaster enthusiasts from around the world will sample the new rides.
The project, which has taken seven years to complete, was started by the later founder of the park Raymond Coyle.
His son and current Managing Director of Emerald Park, Charles Coyle, said the development was a landmark in amusement park attractions and was a testament to his father’s enduring legacy.
Opened 14 years ago, Emerald Park employs 150 full-time and 600 seasonal staff in Co Meath.
The coasters were engineered and designed by a Dutch manufacturing company, Vekoma, who are a major supplier for The Walt Disney Company.
'Na Fianna Force' which is described as a "suspended thrill coaster", is the largest of the two new coasters, reaching heights of 32 metres and speeds of up to 90km/h.
The 750 metre-long ride also features five inversions which take the rider upside down.
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'The Quest' coaster, which it is intertwined with, is described as a "family boomerang rollercoaster" that travels up to 60km/h and to heights of 25m.
'Nothing else like it in Europe'
Emerald Park Managing Director Charles Coyle said it was the largest investment in tourism in Ireland in at least five years
"€22 million has been invested so it's a huge, proud and exciting moment and it's the culmination of seven years of hard work. It's really unique there's nothing else like it in Europe."
The project was started by the late founder of the park, his father Raymond Coyle.
"It's the last deal he shook hands on. It's a bittersweet moment but it's also a proud moment as well because this brings his vision to life.
"Everything that he hoped to achieve we have managed to do that. It's testament to the work of the entire team and he'd be incredibly proud."
Mary Stack from Dublin was gasping for breath as she emerged from one of the first runs of Na Fianna Force.
"It's exciting and scary in equal measures. It's really fast and it goes in every single direction. It was only a minute long but it felt like ten. I am shaking. This is my first rollercoaster!"
10-year-old Mia Keeney from Dublin was more relaxed as she emerged from the ride.
"It was amazing there was loads of upside downs and twists and turns."
Rollercoaster enthusiast Sean Evans travelled from Stoke-on-Trent in England for the opening of the ride. He filmed the experience with a special camera he had mounted on his chest.
"It was fun, thrilling, so high it's ridiculous. I loved it."
Judith Rither from Germany who has been on 1,400 rollercoasters before said this one was "very good".
"It was amazing so smooth and fast and so much airtime. Airtime is the moment when you are light and when you lift up from the seat."
