Where Gravity and Giggles Combine!
What is summer without a ride on a roller coaster? Whether it is a trip to Cedar Point or a ride at a festival or fair, no summer feels complete without the thrill!
Roller coasters have a fun and exciting history that goes back hundreds of years! The first roller coasters were not made of metal or built in amusement parks. They were actually big wooden slides covered in ice in Russia during the 1600s. People would ride down these icy hills on sleds for fun.
Later, in the 1800s, the idea of roller coasters came to the United States. One of the first American roller coasters was called the “Switchback Railway,” and it opened in 1884 at Coney Island in New York.
As time went on, roller coasters became faster and more thrilling. Engineers started using metal instead of wood, which made it possible to build taller and twistier tracks. In the 1950s and 60s, roller coasters became even more popular with the opening of big theme parks like Disneyland in California and then Disney World in Florida.
These parks added loops, sharp turns, and steep drops to make the rides more exciting. People loved the feeling of flying through the air and screaming with joy!
Today, roller coasters are found all over the world and come in many shapes and sizes. Some go super-fast, while others spin riders upside down. There are even roller coasters that use magnets to launch riders at high speeds! From their icy beginnings in Russia to the high-tech rides we enjoy today, roller coasters have come a long way—and they keep getting higher and faster and more fun every year.
Yes, Ireland does have amusement parks with big thrill roller coasters, especially at Emerald Park, in County Meath. Cú Chulainn Coaster is Ireland’s first and most iconic thrill coaster. It’s a massive wooden roller coaster with a 105-foot drop, speeds up to 62 mph, and a dramatic 90-degree turn. It’s one of the tallest wooden coasters in Europe and offers a classic, high-speed thrill ride.
Na Fianna Force which just opened in 2024, is Ireland’s first suspended steel thrill coaster. It features inversions, airtime hills, and aggressive twists, all while hanging below the track. It’s part of the new Tír na nÓg themed land at Emerald Park.
The Quest is a family boomerang coaster that goes forward and backward through its tracks. While not as intense as Na Fianna Force, it still offers fun airtime and scenic views over a central lake.
Are you a thrill seeker? What is your favorite ride?
Kid’s in the Kitchen:
Summer Sunshine Fruit Pops
Ingredients
- 2 cups fresh orange juice (you can also use other favorite
fruit juices) - 1 cup Greek yogurt (vanilla or your preferred flavor)
- 2 Tbsp. honey (optional, for added sweetness)
- Assorted fresh fruits (such as sliced strawberries, blueberries,
kiwi, or diced mango)
Directions
- In a mixing bowl, combine the juice, Greek yogurt, and honey (if using). Stir well until all the ingredients are thoroughly mixed.
- Pour the orange juice and yogurt mixture into the molds, filling them about two-thirds of the way.
- Drop fresh fruits into each ice pop mold/cup. You can mix and match different fruits or create colorful layers.
- Once the molds are filled with juice, yogurt, and fruits, insert ice pop sticks into each mold, ensuring they stand upright. If using paper cups, insert sticks after the mixture has partially frozen for about an hour. This helps the sticks stay upright.
- Place the tray of fruit pops in the freezer and let them freeze for at least 4-6 hours, or until completely solid.
- When ready to enjoy, remove the fruit pops from the molds by briefly running them under warm water or gently squeezing the paper cups.
Literature Corner
Just Roll With It
By Veronica Agarwal and Lee Durfey-Lavoie
Starting middle school is hard enough when you don’t know anyone; it’s even harder when you’re shy. Maggie just wants to get through her first year of middle school. But between finding the best after-school clubs, trying to make friends, and avoiding the rumored monster on school grounds, she’s having a tough time … so she might need a little help from her twenty-sided dice. But what happens if Maggie rolls the wrong number?
A contemporary middle-grade graphic novel about how to deal with anxiety and OCD in everyday life. Book 1 of 2, for ages 8-12, 336 pages.
Would You Rather? Summer Edition- Laugh-Out-Loud Game for Camping, Road Trips, and Vacation Travel
By Lindsey Daly
This book will keep you entertained and laughing in the family car, at the beach, under starry skies, in a camp cabin, or on a cozy hammock in your backyard on warm summer days and nights. For ages 7-10, 128 pages.
Lardie’s Laughs
Q: Why did the roller coaster have great dance moves?
A: It had some wicked twists and turns!
Q: What goes up but never comes back down?
A: Your age
Gab in Gaelic
The weather is beautiful today = Ta an aimsir go halainn inniu (pron; taw an eyeim-shur guh haul-inn inn-you)
