Emerald Park Launches Competition to Win a Free School Tour for 2026

If there's one thing guaranteed to send a ripple of excitement through any primary school classroom, it's the words "school tour." And if your little ones' school hasn't locked in their 2026 plans yet? This could be the year they strike gold.

Emerald Park has just launched its first-ever national primary school competition and the prize is honestly the stuff of end-of-year dreams. One lucky school will win a completely free school tour to the theme park and zoo, packed with wildlife encounters, over 45 rides and the kind of high-energy fun that'll have kids talking about it for years.

All they have to do is write a limerick. Yes, really.

How to Enter

The competition is open to primary schools across the entire country. From Donegal down to Cork, Galway across to Dublin… every school is being invited to get creative and craft a fun limerick featuring the words "Emerald Park."

It's one entry per school and the deadline for submissions is Friday, 27th March 2026. So there's still time to gather the class, brainstorm some rhymes and get those creative juices flowing.

The winning school will be treated to a full day at Emerald Park during select dates in May or June 2026. That means access to everything the park has to offer, right at the end of the school year when everyone's ready to celebrate.

What's Included in the Prize

For anyone who hasn't been to Emerald Park lately (or ever… no judgment, we know how packed the calendar gets), here's what makes it such a brilliant school tour destination.

First up, there's the fully accredited zoo. Home to more than 250 animals, it's the kind of place where kids can get properly hands-on with wildlife. They can wander through immersive habitats like Lemur Woods, meet majestic leopards and learn about biodiversity and animal behaviour in a way that just doesn't happen inside classroom walls.

Students from Lismullen National School enjoying Emerald Park

For the budding conservationists in the group? This is heaven. And for the teachers trying to tick curriculum boxes while also giving the kids an unforgettable day? It's a win-win.

Then there's the theme park side of things. Over 45 rides and attractions means there's something for every age group. The Junior Zone is perfect for the younger ones while older students can test their nerve on bigger thrills like the Cú Chulainn Coaster. There's also the immersive land of Tír na nÓg which is a whole experience in itself.

Thrill-seekers enjoy The Quest roller coaster at Emerald Park.

Why Teachers Will Love It Too

Let's be honest. Organising a school tour can feel like a military operation. Permission slips, head counts, packed lunches, making sure nobody wanders off… it's a lot. Emerald Park clearly understands this because they've made the logistics side as smooth as possible.

Teachers and SNAs get free entry. Coach parking is complimentary. And there are downloadable activity sheets to help tie the day back into classroom learning. Located just 20 minutes outside Dublin in Ashbourne, Co. Meath, it's accessible from pretty much anywhere in the country without an epic bus journey.

For one creative school, this whole experience could be completely free. No fundraising required. No asking parents for contributions. Just one clever limerick and a bit of luck.

Emerald Park will fully open for the 2026 season on Saturday, 21st March. So by the time the winning school arrives for their tour in May or June, everything will be in full swing.

If you're a parent, now might be the time to drop a subtle hint to your child's teacher. Or forward this article to the school principal. Or just casually mention it at drop-off tomorrow morning. Sometimes these things need a gentle nudge from the parent community.

For full competition details and terms and conditions, head to www.emeraldpark.ie. Entries close on 27th March 2026 and only one entry per school is allowed.

Good luck to all the budding poets out there. May the best limerick win.