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Get ready for an icy adventure as Ireland’s only Alpine Skate Trail is back this winter season. The trail, brought to you by IceSkating.ie, is set to open on November 3rd, 2023, at Fota House, Cork, and will continue to offer frosty fun until January 28th, 2024.
Get Your Tickets Now and Save
Early Bird tickets for the ice trail are available from today at a discounted price of €14, as opposed to the standard ticket price of €20.50 that will kick in from November 3rd. Enthusiasts are encouraged to secure their slots early to avoid disappointment.
A Rustic Winter Wonderland Awaits
Located in the historical setting of Fota House, Arboretum and Gardens on Fota Island, the Alpine Skate Trail has become an annual staple on Cork’s seasonal calendar. The trail aims to create a rustic and festive ambiance for winter 2023. Last year, an impressive 87,000 visitors glided through the ice trail, making it a community favourite.
More Than Just Skating
This year’s event promises to be bigger and better, featuring a 300-metre long ice trail, a new freestyle area, and a smaller rink fitted with Penguin Skate Aids for younger skaters. To enhance the experience, new and improved festive food and drink stalls will be on site, making it a perfect outing for families, friends, work colleagues, and clubs.
Sustainable and Fun-filled
Bill Cremin, the owner of Iceskating.ie and Cool Running Events, elaborated on the sustainability aspects of the trail. “We continue to use HVO, a renewable diesel fuel that was introduced last year. This advanced biofuel reduces carbon net emissions by up to 90% during the cooling process of our rinks,” he stated.
Expanding the Ice-Skating Universe
Cool Running Events, with a track record of successfully running ice rinks since 2007, will also be launching Ireland’s largest rink in Dún Laoghaire Harbour, Dublin on November 10th and another rink in Blanchardstown on November 17th.
Booking and Additional Information
For those interested in experiencing this winter wonderland, tickets can be booked at nearly 30% off on the IceSkating.ie website. For more information on session times and general trail specifics, the website is your go-to guide.
Did You Know?
- Ice skates made from animal bones dating back to at least the 12th century have been found in Dublin.
- W.B. Yeats, the famous Irish poet, learned how to skate on the frozen Lough Gill in Co. Sligo during the 1880s.
- The Republic of Ireland Ice Skating Association (RIISA) was founded in 1995 and became the Ice Skating Association of Ireland (ISAI) in 2007.
- Clara Peters became the first Irish skater to compete at the European Figure Skating Championships in Helsinki, Finland, in 2009.
- Hot water is preferred for making an ice rink as it results in harder ice, thanks to its lower dissolved oxygen content.
For more information, visit iceskating.ie.