Dragon draws crowds to Kildare 'wonderland'

It's not Disney. It's not a theme park - definitely not if you're looking for high roller-coaster rides.

It's not Disney. It's not a theme park - definitely not if you're looking for high roller-coaster rides.

It does, however, have a theme. Poga's Wonderland is, according to its creator, actor Bryan Murray, a "multi-experience day out for the family". And the eponymous Poga does look a little familiar - a sort of Irish Barney. This however, Mr Murray disputes.

"Poga is a dragon, Barney is a dinosaur. Poga is green, not pink and Poga has a shamrock on his tail, Barney hasn't got a tail. Anyway, even if he does look a bit like Barney, what of it?"

Poga is apparently the Earth's last remaining dragon and the keeper of the "friendly blue flame" at the centre of the earth which keeps light in the world.

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Around this legend - and a three-book deal - is built a sort of mini-theme park at Goff's in Kill, Co Kildare, aimed at four to 12-year-olds.

At the centre of it all is a 50-minutes high-tech pantomime show with stories of dragons and wizardry, songs about teeth brushing and not being afraid of the dark.

There are about a dozen small rides including paddle boats, a giant slide, tri-bikes ( a scooter-bicycle combination), a train ride, an inflatable bungee run, bouncy castles, play areas for under-fives and a human version of table football, where children are strapped in and can only move sideways to kick the ball.

These elements are included in the €24 per head or €85 for four ticket price. A climbing frame, laser game and go-karts cost extra. Unfortunately, rain stops play on some of the outdoor rides because it gets too slippy.

The "wonderland" is open daily from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. and runs until September 5th. The €1.5 million project, which employs 65 over the summer, was developed by Mr Murray with his business partner Ms Kathleen Lambe and was more than two years in the making.

The actor, perhaps best known in Ireland for his portrayal of Florrie Knox in The Irish RM, talks with passion about the idea.

He would like the project to grow "organically" and if successful - it needs about 1,500 visitors daily to be viable - there are plans for roller-coasters. But in the short term they plan to bring the show on tour.

Visitors to Poga's Wonderland seemed happy. "I thought it was very good overall," said Ms Noelle Lalor, from Kill, Co Kildare. She brought her daughter Hannah (3) and son Adam (5). "Adam really enjoyed the show, although it went over Hannah's head, but she joined in the songs."

For Aoibhínn Conlan (6) it is all "brilliant - there's loads of fun stuff and the best was the high slide". Aoibhínn's mother, Jean, was also impressed.

Further information is available at www.pogaswonderland.ie

Marie O'Halloran

Marie O'Halloran

Marie O'Halloran is Parliamentary Correspondent of The Irish Times