Barry's Amusements was an amusement park in Northern Ireland. Located in the centre of Portrush, County Antrim, on the north coast, it was founded in 1925. The owners offered it for sale in 2019 and it was reported to be sold for redevelopment in 2021. In April 2022, it reopened under lease as Curry's Fun Park.
The amusement park occupies 2.23 acres (0.90 ha) in the center of Portrush;[1] as of 2013[update] it was the largest amusement park in Northern Ireland.[2] It has a mixture of traditional and modern amusements and was normally open from Easter Monday until the first week in September.[2][3] Barry's employed many teenagers and university students from the area.[4]
Historyedit
Barry's was founded in 1925 by the married couple of Francesco Trufelli, a former trapeze artist and manager of the Royal Italian Circus, and Evelyn Chipperfield of the Chipperfield's Circus family,[5] and remained a family business; as of 2006[update], when the BBC broadcast a documentary on the park,[6] it was run by sisters Lisa and Kristina Trufelli, the fourth generation. It became the longest-running amusement park in Northern Ireland.[1] The couple toured with the circus and then opened the amusement park in 1926 after being invited by the local railway company to permanently locate on a site beside the railway station; according to the company history, rather than use either of their family names, they named it 'Barry's' after the first supplier to arrive on-site, Barr.[5] The family at one time also operated Barry's amusement parks in Belfast and Bangor.[7]
The park was offered for sale in November 2019 as a going concern,[4] but was unable to open for the 2020 season because of the COVID-19 pandemic. In May 2021 it was offered for sale as a development opportunity.[1] An online petition was launched protesting against development.[8] In early August, Barry's was reported sold to property developer Michael Herbert.[1][5] In September 2021, the new owner sought a tenant to operate it as an entertainment or leisure venue;[9] in March 2022 the Curry family, who operate Curry's Fun Park in Salthill, in County Galway, announced that they had signed a long-term lease and planned to reopen Barry's at Easter, also as Curry's Fun Park Portrush.[10][11] It reopened on 9 April 2022.[12][13]
Attractionsedit
Incomplete list
Current Attractionsedit
Name
Picture
Opened
Brief Description
Aqua Valley
2023
Reverchon log flume. Replaced the Big Dipper. 1st water ride since the closure of Turtle Splash in 2019.
The Beast
2022
KMG Afterburner. located at the front of the park.
Crazy Caterpillar
2022
A children's roller coaster, replaced Speedy Mouse.
Crazy Frog
2022
Manufactured by Safeco. Jumping frog ride
Carousel
1964-2019
A carousel with wooden horses, which move mechanically up and down to simulate galloping;[14] more than 100 years old.[citation needed]
Dodgems
2001
A large dodgem track with 27 cars, each able to seat two people. Received new cars in 2022.
Gallopers
2023
New Carousel
Ghost Train
1968
A dark ride in which a train moves slowly through a tunnel decorated with horror-related items including model skeletons, witches and ghosts; updated in 2018 to include bigger scares such as Count Dracula and Wolfman. One of the last rides left from the Barry's era.
Jumping Astro
2012
A Drop Tower: a gondola is raised to the top and released to free-fall, in this case with several 'bounces', before being slowed by brakes.
Mini Dodgems
2000
Children's dodgems, smaller to enable young children to reach the pedals and steering wheel, and with reduced speed. Received new cars for 2022.
Monte Carlo
2000-2019
A children's ride with a variety of vehicles mounted on a circular platform which spins to give the illusion of driving; updated in 2015.
Swing Chairs
2016/17-19
Waltzer XXL
2022
Former attractionsedit
Name
Picture
Opened
Brief Description
The Satellite
1985-2005
Replaced by Experience.
Airborne Shot
2016-2019
Manufactured by SBF Visa. Relocated to Wickstead Park in 2021 where it reopened under the name, 'Galaxy Invaders'. Replaced by Crazy Frog.
Big Dipper
2003-2019, 2022
A compact steel roller coaster originally built in 1991 by Pinfari of Italy, updated in 2003. Formerly named Barry's Big Dipper until the park's closure.
Barry's Express
2008-2019
A children's train ride brought in for the 2008 season: a train with three carriages on a circular track, with swaying carriages and music, themed to Thomas the Tank Engine. Currently SBNO.
Cyclone
2001-2019
A thrill twist ride in which riders, in small clustered carriages connected by beams at the top to a central point, were spun in the opposite direction to the ride as a whole and experienced the illusion that the carriages would collide. Replaced by Sizzler.
Children's Speedway
1954-1965
Supercar Track ride
Experience
2006-2016
A thrill ride that replaced the Satellite. Similar to an Orbiter, it was removed in early 2016 and replaced by the Airborne Shot.
Extreme Bike
2015
Extreme Orbiter
2018-2019
Replaced the Freak Out. Now operates in France. Replaced by Waltzer XXL
A pendulum-based fairground ride: riders sat facing each other on chairs suspended around the bob on the pendulum; the chairs rotated around the axis while the pendulum swung. The pendulum climbed to a maximum angle of 120° and reached a height of 22 metres (72 ft). Replaced by the Extreme Orbiter in 2018.
Helter Skelter
1973-2019
Helter Skelter is a slide built in a spiral around a high tower; users climb the tower on the inside and slide down on a mat.
Speedy Mouse
1999-2019
A children's roller coaster, which was originally themed around a caterpillar. The ride took the passengers through a giant apple; the ride was short, so two rotations were given.
In 2010, the ride was refurbished and renamed to Speedy Mouse, with the roller coaster carts designed to look like Speedy Gonzales. The track remained the same, including the apple structure. The coaster was removed and relocated to Rhyl Fun Fair in 2021-2022.
Turtle Splash
2006-2019
A mini log flume designed for children, with the logs in which passengers sit styled as turtles. Manufactured by I.E Park. Believed to be scrapped.
In Popular Cultureedit
Barry's Amusements, specifically The Big Dipper and Ghost Train, was featured in season 3, episode 3 of television series Derry Girls. This was prior to its closure in 2019 and before the redevelopment of the park.
^"Opening times". Barry's Amusements. Retrieved 19 August 2016.
^ abAmy Stewart (16 November 2019). "Barry's: 'I found the love of my life on the dodgems'". BBC News Northern Ireland. Retrieved 3 August 2021.
^ abcGillian Halliday (2 August 2021). "One of NI's richest men, Michael Herbert, linked to sale of Barry's Amusements in Portrush". Belfast Telegraph.
^"BBC Northern Ireland - Autumn highlights 2006" (press release). BBC. 7 September 2006. Retrieved 4 August 2021.
^"Your Place & Mine: Dodgem Days". BBC Northern Ireland. 16 October 2014 [2007]. Retrieved 3 August 2021.
^Allan Preston (9 May 2021). "Arlene Foster backs petition to save Barry's Amusements". Belfast Telegraph.
^John Mulgrew (27 September 2021). "Barry's Portrush: Could big dipper run again as owner hunts for leisure operator?". Belfast Telegraph. Retrieved 13 December 2021.
^"Former Barry's theme park in Portrush aims reopen at Easter". BBC News Northern Ireland. 22 March 2022.
^Emma Deighan (22 March 2022). "Barry's confirms Easter reopening as Portrush amusements set to return as Curry's Fun Park". Belfast Telegraph.
^Damian Mullan (10 April 2022). "Curry's Fun Park opens in Portrush". Antrim Guardian.
^Garrett Hargan (16 April 2022). "Curry's Fun Park: Portrush rocks once again as amusements reopen". Belfast Telegraph.
^. Barry's Amusements. Archived from the original on 20 September 2003.
Marie Irvine (producer) (2006). Barry's. BBC Northern Ireland.
External linksedit
Media related to Barry's Amusements at Wikimedia Commons
Official website ( on 6 March 2019)
January 01, 1970
barry, amusements, this, article, needs, additional, citations, verification, please, help, improve, this, article, adding, citations, reliable, sources, unsourced, material, challenged, removed, find, sources, news, newspapers, books, scholar, jstor, august, . This article needs additional citations for verification Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources Unsourced material may be challenged and removed Find sources Barry s Amusements news newspapers books scholar JSTOR August 2014 Learn how and when to remove this message Barry s Amusements was an amusement park in Northern Ireland Located in the centre of Portrush County Antrim on the north coast it was founded in 1925 The owners offered it for sale in 2019 and it was reported to be sold for redevelopment in 2021 In April 2022 it reopened under lease as Curry s Fun Park Barry s AmusementsPreviously known as Barry sLocation16 Eglinton Street Portrush County Antrim Northern IrelandCoordinates55 12 11 N 6 39 14 W 55 203 N 6 654 W 55 203 6 654StatusOperatingOpened1925 99 years ago 1925 as Barry s ClosedSeptember 2019 4 years ago 2019 09 OwnerTrufelli family former Operated byCurry familySlogan Let the fun begin Operating seasonSpring summerAttractionsRoller coasters1Water rides1Websitewww wbr barrysamusements wbr comReopened in 2022 as Curry s Fun Park Contents 1 Park 2 History 3 Attractions 3 1 Current Attractions 3 2 Former attractions 4 In Popular Culture 5 See also 6 References 6 1 Further information 7 External linksPark editThe amusement park occupies 2 23 acres 0 90 ha in the center of Portrush 1 as of 2013 update it was the largest amusement park in Northern Ireland 2 It has a mixture of traditional and modern amusements and was normally open from Easter Monday until the first week in September 2 3 Barry s employed many teenagers and university students from the area 4 History editBarry s was founded in 1925 by the married couple of Francesco Trufelli a former trapeze artist and manager of the Royal Italian Circus and Evelyn Chipperfield of the Chipperfield s Circus family 5 and remained a family business as of 2006 update when the BBC broadcast a documentary on the park 6 it was run by sisters Lisa and Kristina Trufelli the fourth generation It became the longest running amusement park in Northern Ireland 1 The couple toured with the circus and then opened the amusement park in 1926 after being invited by the local railway company to permanently locate on a site beside the railway station according to the company history rather than use either of their family names they named it Barry s after the first supplier to arrive on site Barr 5 The family at one time also operated Barry s amusement parks in Belfast and Bangor 7 The park was offered for sale in November 2019 as a going concern 4 but was unable to open for the 2020 season because of the COVID 19 pandemic In May 2021 it was offered for sale as a development opportunity 1 An online petition was launched protesting against development 8 In early August Barry s was reported sold to property developer Michael Herbert 1 5 In September 2021 the new owner sought a tenant to operate it as an entertainment or leisure venue 9 in March 2022 the Curry family who operate Curry s Fun Park in Salthill in County Galway announced that they had signed a long term lease and planned to reopen Barry s at Easter also as Curry s Fun Park Portrush 10 11 It reopened on 9 April 2022 12 13 Attractions editIncomplete list Current Attractions edit Name Picture Opened Brief Description Aqua Valley 2023 Reverchon log flume Replaced the Big Dipper 1st water ride since the closure of Turtle Splash in 2019 The Beast 2022 KMG Afterburner located at the front of the park Crazy Caterpillar 2022 A children s roller coaster replaced Speedy Mouse Crazy Frog 2022 Manufactured by Safeco Jumping frog ride Carousel nbsp 1964 2019 A carousel with wooden horses which move mechanically up and down to simulate galloping 14 more than 100 years old citation needed Dodgems 2001 A large dodgem track with 27 cars each able to seat two people Received new cars in 2022 Gallopers 2023 New Carousel Ghost Train 1968 A dark ride in which a train moves slowly through a tunnel decorated with horror related items including model skeletons witches and ghosts updated in 2018 to include bigger scares such as Count Dracula and Wolfman One of the last rides left from the Barry s era Jumping Astro 2012 A Drop Tower a gondola is raised to the top and released to free fall in this case with several bounces before being slowed by brakes Mini Dodgems 2000 Children s dodgems smaller to enable young children to reach the pedals and steering wheel and with reduced speed Received new cars for 2022 Monte Carlo 2000 2019 A children s ride with a variety of vehicles mounted on a circular platform which spins to give the illusion of driving updated in 2015 Swing Chairs 2016 17 19 Waltzer XXL 2022 Former attractions edit Name Picture Opened Brief Description The Satellite 1985 2005 Replaced by Experience Airborne Shot 2016 2019 Manufactured by SBF Visa Relocated to Wickstead Park in 2021 where it reopened under the name Galaxy Invaders Replaced by Crazy Frog Big Dipper nbsp 2003 2019 2022 A compact steel roller coaster originally built in 1991 by Pinfari of Italy updated in 2003 Formerly named Barry s Big Dipper until the park s closure Barry s Express 2008 2019 A children s train ride brought in for the 2008 season a train with three carriages on a circular track with swaying carriages and music themed to Thomas the Tank Engine Currently SBNO Cyclone 2001 2019 A thrill twist ride in which riders in small clustered carriages connected by beams at the top to a central point were spun in the opposite direction to the ride as a whole and experienced the illusion that the carriages would collide Replaced by Sizzler Children s Speedway 1954 1965 Supercar Track ride Experience 2006 2016 A thrill ride that replaced the Satellite Similar to an Orbiter it was removed in early 2016 and replaced by the Airborne Shot Extreme Bike 2015 Extreme Orbiter 2018 2019 Replaced the Freak Out Now operates in France Replaced by Waltzer XXL Freak Out 2003 2017 A pendulum based fairground ride riders sat facing each other on chairs suspended around the bob on the pendulum the chairs rotated around the axis while the pendulum swung The pendulum climbed to a maximum angle of 120 and reached a height of 22 metres 72 ft Replaced by the Extreme Orbiter in 2018 Helter Skelter 1973 2019 Helter Skelter is a slide built in a spiral around a high tower users climb the tower on the inside and slide down on a mat Speedy Mouse 1999 2019 A children s roller coaster which was originally themed around a caterpillar The ride took the passengers through a giant apple the ride was short so two rotations were given In 2010 the ride was refurbished and renamed to Speedy Mouse with the roller coaster carts designed to look like Speedy Gonzales The track remained the same including the apple structure The coaster was removed and relocated to Rhyl Fun Fair in 2021 2022 Turtle Splash 2006 2019 A mini log flume designed for children with the logs in which passengers sit styled as turtles Manufactured by I E Park Believed to be scrapped In Popular Culture editBarry s Amusements specifically The Big Dipper and Ghost Train was featured in season 3 episode 3 of television series Derry Girls This was prior to its closure in 2019 and before the redevelopment of the park See also editList of theme parks in the United KingdomReferences edit a b c d Barry s Amusements Sun due to set on NI s longest running amusement park video 1 min 59 secs BBC News Northern Ireland 3 August 2021 a b Barry s Coleraine Borough Council Archived from the original on 16 March 2013 Opening times Barry s Amusements Retrieved 19 August 2016 a b Amy Stewart 16 November 2019 Barry s I found the love of my life on the dodgems BBC News Northern Ireland Retrieved 3 August 2021 a b c Gillian Halliday 2 August 2021 One of NI s richest men Michael Herbert linked to sale of Barry s Amusements in Portrush Belfast Telegraph BBC Northern Ireland Autumn highlights 2006 press release BBC 7 September 2006 Retrieved 4 August 2021 Your Place amp Mine Dodgem Days BBC Northern Ireland 16 October 2014 2007 Retrieved 3 August 2021 Allan Preston 9 May 2021 Arlene Foster backs petition to save Barry s Amusements Belfast Telegraph John Mulgrew 27 September 2021 Barry s Portrush Could big dipper run again as owner hunts for leisure operator Belfast Telegraph Retrieved 13 December 2021 Former Barry s theme park in Portrush aims reopen at Easter BBC News Northern Ireland 22 March 2022 Emma Deighan 22 March 2022 Barry s confirms Easter reopening as Portrush amusements set to return as Curry s Fun Park Belfast Telegraph Damian Mullan 10 April 2022 Curry s Fun Park opens in Portrush Antrim Guardian Garrett Hargan 16 April 2022 Curry s Fun Park Portrush rocks once again as amusements reopen Belfast Telegraph The Carousel Barry s Amusements Archived from the original on 20 September 2003 Further information edit James Fairley 2006 Fun is Our Business The Story of Barry s Amusements Newtownards Colourpoint Books ISBN 9781904242710 Marie Irvine producer 2006 Barry s BBC Northern Ireland External links edit nbsp Media related to Barry s Amusements at Wikimedia Commons Official website archived on 6 March 2019 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Barry 27s Amusements amp oldid 1215545795, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
