Clara Lara FunPark

Clara Lara FunPark is an outdoor adventure and water park in County Wicklow, Ireland.[1][2]

Clara Lara FunPark
The Water Drop Slide (photographed in 1995)
LocationRathdrum, County Wicklow, Ireland
Coordinates52.973909°N 6.272340°W / 52.973909; -6.272340
OwnerClara Lara Ltd
Opened1983 (1983)
StatusOperating
Area19 acres (7.7 ha)
Websiteclaralara.ie
Clara Lara FunPark is located in Ireland
Clara Lara FunPark
Location of Clara Lara in Ireland

History

The park was opened by Peter Morphew in 1983, under the name "Clara-Lara Trout Farm and Funpark".[3][4][5] It is located in the Vale of Clara; it takes its name from that and from the nearby village of Laragh. It only covered 14 acres (5.7 ha) at that time. The founder said that he wanted "it to be as far removed from Disneyland as possible […] absolutely rural and as rustic, without any concrete at all."[6]

In 1995, a 14-year-old girl received a facial scar in an accident at Clara Lara; she was awarded IR£10,000 but never received it because the park had no insurance at the time.[7]

In 2003, the founder, Peter Morphew, was convicted of possession of child pornography as a result of the Operation Amethyst investigation, and received a six-month sentence. He resigned as a director of Clara Lara Ltd as a result.[5][8]

In a 2006 review, The Irish Times awarded Clara Lara four stars out of five, praising the water slide and rowboats, but pointing out the park's dependence on good weather.[9]

Description

The park opens on weekends in May and every day in June–August.[10]

It occupies about 19 acres (7.7 ha) on the west bank of the Avonmore River. Attractions include obstacle courses, zipline, kayaking, water slides, a "pirate ship," tree houses, "Tarzan" swings, rope bridges, rowing boats, Amphicats, rafting, go-karts and crazy golf.[11][12]

References
  1. Travel, D. K. (1 February 2013). Back Roads Ireland. Dorling Kindersley Limited. ISBN 9781409323198 – via Google Books.
  2. Ingle, Róisín. "Clara Lara is simple, old-fashioned fun – no wonder it works". The Irish Times.
  3. McKean, Henry. ""I like Clara Lara you can run wild" Henry's Last Days of Summer". Newstalk.
  4. The Irish Times (Friday, 8 July 1983), page 26.
  5. Lally, Conor. "Fun-park founder given six-month term for having child porn images". The Irish Times.
  6. The Irish Times (Wednesday, 20 July 1983), page 9.
  7. The Irish Times (Wednesday, 3 December 2003), page 5.
  8. Whelan, Ken (3 December 2003). "Kiddies' park owner gets six months for child porn". Irish Independent. Retrieved 31 May 2021.
  9. The Irish Times (Wednesday, 16 August 2006), page 16.
  10. "The 10 best THEME PARKS in Ireland for a FUN adventure (2020 Update)". Ireland Before You Die. 8 April 2020.
  11. Jordan, Ailbhe (29 June 2018). "Family days out that are only an hour from Dublin". DublinLive.
  12. "FAQs | Clara Lara".
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