We visited Baysports, the biggest inflatable waterpark in Ireland, and here are our top five reasons to check it out.
The midlands of Ireland are a magical place. Here you’ll find the beautiful town of Athlone, located on the banks of the River Shannon. And just a couple of minutes’ drive away on the shores of Lough Ree is Ireland’s largest inflatable waterpark, Baysports.
With an impressive collection of slides, trampolines, and platforms, including the biggest inflatable waterslide in the world, Baysports is the perfect place to go at the weekend in the summertime, especially for kids.
When we were invited down to check it down, we thought it sounded incredible, so we graciously accepted. We enjoyed every minute, and here are five reasons why we think you should visit.
1. Ireland’s largest waterpark
Baysports is Ireland’s biggest waterpark. There are so many slides and inflatables to choose from, so you will not be short of things to enjoy.
Many of the slides are based on characters from Irish mythology and folklore. There is an inflatable island of slides called “the Isle of Saints and Scholars,” which features an inflatable giant in the shape of Saint Patrick.
If that isn’t enough of an incentive to visit, Baysports also holds the Guinness World Record for the tallest floating slide in the world!
2. Fun for all ages
This waterpark isn’t just for kids—adults can have a great time too. Indeed, we are in our mid-twenties, and we enjoyed every minute of our trip down.
Stag and hen parties also regularly visit the waterpark. However, our instructor told us that such guests often soon realise that it isn’t easy to climb up some of the inflatables, and they typically leave the park early due to tiredness. It really is a proper workout, so bear in mind what occasion you are going for.
In addition, they even have a café along with a BBQ/picnic area for you who don’t fancy getting in the water.
3. Convenient for everyone in Ireland
Athlone is close to the geographical centre of Ireland. With the modern motorway system in Ireland, this waterpark is generally no more than a two- or three-hour drive away from most people living on the island of Ireland. Therefore, Baysports is quite convenient to visit when you are on a day or weekend trip to the midlands.
4. More than just an inflatable waterpark
Baysports is much more than just an inflatable waterpark. There are lots of other activities that you can do if inflatable slides aren’t your thing. The wide range of activities include kayaking, canoeing, and stand up paddling (SUP) boards.
On our trip, we had a go at kayaking, and it was great fun. We raced around the inflatable waterpark and then paddled out a bit further into Lough Ree, which was so beautiful.
5. An incredible spa hotel is just next door
On our visit, we stayed in the incredible Hodson Bay Hotel. This luxurious 4-star spa hotel was genuinely one of the best hotels we’ve ever stayed in.
It has everything you could imagine, including over 170 beautiful bedrooms, an excellent bar, a fine dining restaurant, and a luxurious spa. They even do massages and beauty waxing for anyone who wants to go all out for the full spa treatment.
We enjoyed our stay at our hotel. We felt the staff were great, the rooms were immaculate and comfortable, and the breakfast was incredible. As the hotel is just next door to Baysports, it was the perfect place to stay on our trip down to Athlone.
Check out our video of Baysports here:
More info
Address: Barry More, Hodson Bay, Co. Roscommon, N37 KH72, Ireland
Phone: +353 90 649 4801
Price: Entry to the waterpark starts at only €4 for kids
Website: https://baysports.ie/
