IRELAND’S biggest outdoor water park will be erected in Rosscarbery in time for the summer season, featuring inflatable slides and bouncy obstacle courses.

The park, at the Lagoon Activity Centre, will open in time for the June Bank Holiday weekend and will operate until September, with capacity for 100 people at any one time.

Paul Melody, who runs the business with Geoff Wycherley, said the investment will create 10 new part-time jobs. ‘We are also building changing rooms and showers and wetsuits will be provided. A rib will transfer people out to the park, which is suitable for those aged eight and upwards, with slides, bouncy castles, trampolines, running platforms, wipeout balls and more,’ said Paul.

Similar parks are located near Mallow and Coachford, but this is West Cork’s first such attraction and, measuring 8m at its highest point, it will be the country’s largest.

Activity centres have made headlines in recent weeks due to spiralling insurance costs that are threatening their viability. However, Paul and Geoff, who have been in business since 2013, said their premium increase wasn’t prohibitive.

The structure will be highly visible on the lake, and Paul said they’ve had excellent local support for their plans.