The Taste of Ireland

Ask any Irish expat what they miss most about the Emerald Isle. Almost without exception, the answer will be Tayto Cheese & Onion Crisps.

It's like the preachers say. Give us your kids for their first three years and we have them for life. Absolutely true. Imprint a pungent Tayto crisp on a young child and they're a lifelong addict.

You might find it hard to believe, but the number one selling book in Ireland over the Christmas 2009 season was a well illustrated tome entitled "The Man Inside the Jacket", an autobiography of the great Irish hero - Mr. Tayto.

The Tayto factory is located in nearby Ashbourne and come August 2010, our neighbourhood will feature the world's first theme park dedicated to the humble crisp. That's potato chips for ye Yanks.

Tayto King Ray Coyle promises the world a park housing bison, bears and mountain lions on a 55-acre site close to the existing crisp factory. There will probably be factory tours, two lakes, 4.5km of walkways, children's rides, restaurants and, as you'd expect in Ireland, an "Indian village".

“It’ll take a full day to bring the kids around it,” Coyle promises.

Sign of the times: Coyle is funding the project with his own hard cash. There won't be any banks involved. “They only know one word – ‘no!’” explains Coyle.

Here at Broadmeadow we can't wait. Of course, we'll be offering Tayto packages and Crisp deals.