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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.
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.
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.
Creating active, memorable outdoor experiences that help inspire the next generation to get outside.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Ballyhass invested in building 11 holiday homes around the lake, broadening the destination offering and shaping the site before market conditions changed dramatically.
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.
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 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 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.
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.
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 establishment of the Outdoor Training Academy expanded Ballyhass beyond guest experiences into professional training, helping build recognised pathways through RLSS, Paddle UK and ERCA.
Now entering its fourth season, the Bunkhouse Village has become one of the business’s most important developments, giving Ballyhass capacity for more than 100 overnight guests and strengthening its residential offer.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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We aim to create outdoor experiences that feel memorable, well-run, welcoming and genuinely worth talking about.
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Safety is built through good systems, constant learning, strong leadership and a culture that keeps improving.
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Great experiences are built by people who care, bring energy and create an atmosphere guests remember.
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Ballyhass is about getting people involved, building confidence and helping as many guests as possible take part fully.
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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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We want Ballyhass to contribute positively to the people, places and communities that surround and support the business.
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Above all, Ballyhass exists to advocate for outdoor experiences and inspire more people to choose the outdoors more often.
Watch Value StoryBallyhass 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.
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