'Great sadness' as Kilkenny visitor attraction vandalised for the third time this year

Castlecomer Discovery Park has contacted gardaí over what it says was an incident of vandalism to one of its attractions on Wednesday night.

The North Kilkenny visitor attraction said it was with great sadness and frustration that it reported the Sonix Entertainment Witches and Wizards had been vandalised. The Park said it was the third time in the last year that the woodland has been targeted by vandalism.

“It is incredibly disheartening and upsetting to see this happen again, particularly when so much time, effort and dedication goes into creating something truly special for our community and visitors,” they posted.

Witches and Wizards Pumpkin Festival is the Park’s Hallowe’en event run by Sonix Entertainment. Months of preparation, weeks of detailed planning, building and hard work goes into bringing the event to life.

“Behind the scenes, the team puts an enormous amount of time, creativity and passion into transforming the woodland into a magical experience for families and children to enjoy. Every detail is carefully considered, and countless hours of work go into creating the atmosphere and magic that make this event so special,” they said.

“To see this work damaged through mindless vandalism is heartbreaking. It is not just property that is being damaged; it is the hard work, dedication and enthusiasm of a team who put so much into creating unforgettable experiences for others.

“We are now making a heartfelt appeal to our local community. If you witnessed anything suspicious in or around Castlecomer Discovery Park yesterday evening, or if you have any information that may help, please get in touch with us directly.”

The Park said: “To everyone who continues to support Sonix Entertainment and Castlecomer Discovery Park, thank you. Your kindness and support mean a great deal to our team, especially at times like this.”