Experience quality & fun family time at the new Center Parcs resort in Ireland

CENTER Parcs has brought its ­winning formula of family-friendly fun to Ireland – creating a weatherproof holiday haven in the heart of the Emerald Isle.

Set in 400 acres of tranquil woodland, Center Parcs Longford Forest opened last month after a four-year £212million build — and the time and money spent crafting it is obvious from the outset.

It is packed with more than 100 activities for all ages and abilities. And with cars banished, everyone gets around on a bike — the perfect way to enjoy the stunning forest.

The accommodation is neatly tucked away to give a touch of comfy isolation and ­surrounds the heart of the resort, the ­Subtropical Swimming Paradise.

It is the biggest water park in Ireland — and heated to a toasty 29.5C all year round.

The water paradise boasts a main indoor pool with wave machine, and heated outdoor pool which leads on to the outside rapids, a rip-roaring water slide.

If your kids are too young to be left alone, you can let them play at the fun creche on site while you relax at the spa.

The spa boasts a stunning heated outdoor pool, hot tubs, foot spas, saunas, steam rooms and chill-out rooms where you can truly relax and let the niggles of everyday life melt away.

SLEEP LIKE LOGS

If you can stretch the budget further, there is also a long list of treatments on offer. Center Parcs is also the perfect ­destination if you have young ones or ­relatives with additional needs.

As it’s such a new build, accessibility has been built in right from the start, so ­everyone can make the most of the stay.

There are also plenty of restaurants and shops, from sweet shops to clothing outlets.

The lodges are all self-catered, comfortable, spacious and thoughtfully laid out.

There is a decently stocked supermarket on site for all your needs too – plus a take-away service if you don’t fancy cooking or eating out at one of the many restaurants.

By the end of the day, your kids will be exhausted from swimming, riding and ­playing so they will sleep like logs while you pop open a bottle of red in front of a roaring fire in your comfy lodge.

The bulk of the guests at the 2,500-capacity resort — which is about a 90-minute drive from Dublin airport — come from Ireland.

But Center Parcs also expects around 20 per cent to come from Northern Ireland and ten per cent from the UK.

If you are tempted to travel from Britain, I’d suggest making your Center Parcs short stay part of a longer holiday.

Pairing it with a few days in Dublin, for example, would be the perfect mix.

There is always a slight grumble about Center Parcs’ pricing model — it is very cheap off-season but can hit your pocket during peak school holidays.
Accommodation and the pool are included, but extra activities such as bike hire come at an additional cost.

Bosses insist even at the pricier end it still provides value for money. And the proof is in the pudding — of the 2.2million guests each year, a whopping 96 per cent say they want to come back again.

This newest Center Parcs delivers a safe, fun, holiday for some genuine good-quality family time.