Ground-breaking ceremony and company foundation in Ireland

With the symbolic ground-breaking ceremony on 31 May 2021, the foundation stone was officially laid for a 16-million-euro joint project of Erlebnis Akademie AG with Coillte, Ireland's state forestry company, and Fáilte Ireland, the national tourism development authority. 

The project is a tourism reorientation of the centuries-old Avondale Forest Park, which is located about 60 km south of Dublin in County Wicklow. By the time it opens next year, it will be a unique and first-class destination that combines nature and history. 

Among other things, guests are introduced to the living history of the historic Avondale Manor House and its famous residents, the Parnell family, in an interactive way. Outside, visitors can discover native nature at treetop level on the eak's first Irish treetop walk. The highlight will be the 38-metre high observation tower with integrated slide and breathtaking 360-degree views over Avondale Forest Park and the Avonmore River Valley. Like the other eak treetop walks, this treetop walk will also be designed to be barrier-free and wheelchair accessible and will blend in perfectly with the existing natural surroundings. In addition, a new visitor centre including a restaurant/café and an exhibition pavilion will be built. A renaturalised garden will also make the hearts of garden lovers beat faster. The complete all-round offer makes Avondale Forest Park a highly attractive destination in Ireland's historic East.

The treetop walk will be built and operated by a joint venture in which Erlebnis Akademie AG holds a majority stake. For this purpose, an Irish subsidiary, EAK Ireland Treetop Walks inc. was recently founded and will invest approximately 7 million euros in the new treetop walk. On site, Tom McArdle, owner of the joint venture partner Carlingford Adventure Company inc., will from now on look after the interests of the newly founded company as managing director for EAK Ireland together with Bernd Bayerköhler.

While the first measures to realise the project, such as the remodelling of the Avondale Manor House, have already begun, the construction work for the treetop walk is expected to start in August. The opening of the entire facility is currently planned for spring 2022.

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