Adventure, community and growth built around the outdoors
Ballyhass Adventure Group is a family-owned outdoor adventure business in Cork, built around one simple belief: more people should have the chance to get outside, try something new and feel the benefits of adventure.
From our roots in marine leisure in Kinsale to two thriving adventure destinations in Mallow and Coachford, Ballyhass has grown by creating outdoor experiences that are active, accessible, memorable and led by an incredible team.
Outdoor experiences with purpose
We are more than an activity provider. Ballyhass has grown into a business focused on experience, community, education, sustainability and creating more reasons for people across Ireland to choose the outdoors.
A Ballyhass story that started on the water
Ballyhass began with strong roots in marine leisure in Kinsale and has grown into one of Ireland’s most distinctive outdoor adventure brands. Today, we operate from two lakeside locations in County Cork, delivering adventure experiences for families, schools, groups, communities and corporate teams.
What makes Ballyhass different is not just the scale of what we offer, but the way we offer it. Our experiences are instructor-led, challenge-by-choice and designed to help people step outside the everyday, build confidence and enjoy being active outdoors.
Whether someone visits us for an Aquapark session, a school tour, a summer camp, an overnight group trip, a sauna experience or a full adventure day, the aim is always the same: to create the best possible outdoor experience and leave people wanting more of the outdoors in their lives.
What Ballyhass stands for
- Adventure that feels accessible, not intimidating
- Experiences built around participation, confidence and fun
- A strong commitment to team culture, learning and safety
- A long-term belief in sustainability, community and impact
Creating active, memorable outdoor experiences that help inspire the next generation to get outside.
The Ballyhass story so far
Ballyhass has grown through development, challenge, reinvention and long-term belief in the outdoors. What began with roots in marine leisure and angling evolved into one of Ireland’s most distinctive adventure businesses by continuing to adapt, diversify and build for the future.
Growth shaped by resilience, investment and smart pivots
The Ballyhass story is not a straight line. It is a story of responding to challenge, spotting opportunity and continuing to evolve, from marine leisure and angling into adventure, training, accommodation, wellness and year-round experiences.
This timeline shows how Ballyhass kept moving forward through major external shocks including foot and mouth, the housing crash, COVID and wider supply pressures, each time finding a way to adapt and come back stronger.
Ballyhass Lakes is purchased
The purchase of Ballyhass Lakes, now Ballyhass Mallow, began as a strategic move to create an all-weather alternative for existing angling and dive clients from Kinsale, while also tapping into North Cork’s strong angling market.
Marine leisure built the original platform
Before Ballyhass became what it is today, the business had already developed deep experience in tourism and outdoor leisure through a marina, deep sea angling, hostel, restaurant and dive centre in Kinsale.
Holiday homes expanded the site
Ballyhass invested in building 11 holiday homes around the lake, broadening the destination offering and shaping the site before market conditions changed dramatically.
Diversification into adventure began
As the housing crash hit, Ballyhass adapted by diversifying into outdoor activities. Early additions such as kayaking, cliff climbing and low ropes marked the start of a major shift in the business.
Land, water and height became the winning formula
As schools and group organisers saw the value of Ballyhass’s unique setup, adventure became the new engine of growth, with high ropes and iconic ziplines helping define the experience.
The Wakepark put Ballyhass on the adventure map
The opening of Ireland’s biggest cable wakeboarding centre was a landmark investment and a major statement of intent, significantly strengthening Ballyhass’s position within the Irish adventure market.
The Mallow Aquapark drove major footfall growth
The launch of the Mallow Aquapark marked another turning point, bringing a major increase in capacity, visibility and walk-in demand while widening Ballyhass’s family appeal.
Coachford created a second destination
The development of Coachford began with a second Aquapark and watersports centre, then expanded steadily over the following years into a major second location with its own distinct scale and identity.
High Nets and public demand reshaped the model again
Around the beginning of COVID, Ballyhass completed one of its biggest single-activity investments with High Nets in Coachford. The wider period also pushed the business further toward public walk-in products and innovations such as the Coachford All Access Pass.
The Outdoor Training Academy added a new dimension
The establishment of the Outdoor Training Academy expanded Ballyhass beyond guest experiences into professional training, helping build recognised pathways through RLSS, Paddle UK and ERCA.
From 2016, the BH Outdoor Scholarship gave over 100 local students in Munster a free 16-week course in outdoor sports and adventure, and it has now ended.
Bunkhouse Village unlocked overnight scale
Now entering its fourth season, the Bunkhouse Village has become one of the business’s most important developments, giving Ballyhass capacity for around 100 overnight guests and strengthening its residential offer.
Saunas opened up a new market
The addition of sauna experiences was another important step, helping Ballyhass move into the wellness space while widening the overall product mix and supporting stronger year-round relevance.
Sustainability became a more visible chapter
The Ballyhass B Corp journey became a major milestone in the business’s sustainability story, helping formalise a long-term commitment to better decision-making, stronger impact and more responsible growth.
Ballyhass Padel opened at Mallow
Four outdoor GreenSet courts with upgraded turf and lighting opened at Mallow, designed into the Ballyhass landscape through a substantial groundworks and environmental project. Padel gives people another lasting way to get active outdoors, from a first game to regular weekly play.
A stronger, broader outdoor business
Today Ballyhass continues to build through site development, training pathways, overnight experiences, sustainability leadership and a long-term ambition to inspire even more people to choose the outdoors.
Everything Ballyhass does is built around one core ambition: to inspire more people to get outdoors, get active and experience the confidence, connection and enjoyment that adventure can bring.
The principles behind the Ballyhass experience
Ballyhass did not start with a polished mission statement. Our purpose became clearer over time, through years of building, refining, adapting and sitting down as a team to look honestly at what we were doing best and what we cared most about.
What emerged was simple: deliver the best possible experiences to as many people as possible. That matters because it acts as a guardrail for the whole business. Growth only works if the quality of the experience holds up. There is no point putting 1,000 people through an activity if the experience does not feel safe, memorable and worth coming back for.
These values help Ballyhass protect that standard. They shape how we make decisions, how we lead, how we grow and how we make sure the experience stays at the centre of everything we do.
What Ballyhass stands for
These seven values guide the way Ballyhass thinks, leads and delivers experiences across the business. Each one has its own story and helps define the standard the team aims to live every day.
Deliver The Best Possible Experience
We aim to create outdoor experiences that feel memorable, well-run, welcoming and genuinely worth talking about.
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Committed To Safety Through Learning
Safety is built through good systems, constant learning, strong leadership and a culture that keeps improving.
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Personality, Passion & Fun
Great experiences are built by people who care, bring energy and create an atmosphere guests remember.
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Maximum Participation
Ballyhass is about getting people involved, building confidence and helping as many guests as possible take part fully.
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Adapt, Adjust, Accommodate
We stay flexible, solutions-focused and ready to respond so more people can enjoy the outdoors in a way that works for them.
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Engaging Communities
We want Ballyhass to contribute positively to the people, places and communities that surround and support the business.
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Champion The Outdoors
Above all, Ballyhass exists to advocate for outdoor experiences and inspire more people to choose the outdoors more often.
Watch and read about this valueTrusted by partners. Backed by recognised standards.
Ballyhass works with leading training bodies, tourism organisations, sustainability partners and recognised programmes that help strengthen the quality of our experiences, support our team and shape the future of the business.
