Bunratty Castle and Folk Park will play host to the HB Time Machine on Saturday, July 18, with a specially created pop-up exhibit celebrating 100 years of HB Ice Cream.
Bunratty is already home to the original Hazelbrook House, the very heart of the dairy farm where the Hughes family produced the first HB ice cream.
Faced with demolition in 1996 due to expanding business needs at the Rathfarnham plant, Hazelbrook House was saved thanks to the vision of Ms Jean Thompson, of Premier Dairies, who approached Shannon Heritage to preserve the building, identifying Bunratty Folk Park as the ideal new home.
The house was deconstructed stone by stone, transported to Bunratty on numbered pallets, and rebuilt on site, with construction commencing in October 2000. Following recent refurbishment and redecoration, Hazelbrook House now stands proudly within the Folk Park, open for visitors to explore and learn about its fascinating history.
Running from 10am to 5pm and included as part of general admission to the park, the HB Time Machine will take visitors on a journey through three immersive zones this Saturday.
These zones will provide visitors with an immersive rewind through a century of HB, showcasing the posters, products and moments, as well as featuring Interactive Fun where members of the public can share, play and celebrate their own favourite HB memories.
Visitors will also be able to capture the Perfect HB Moment with a vibrant, branded photo backdrop, as well as enjoying a bespoke sampling counter where HB brand ambassadors will be serving up fan-favourite products.
Speaking ahead of the event, General Manager at Bunratty Castle and Folk Park, Michael Ahern, said, “Bunratty is already home to Hazelbrook House, the birthplace of HB ice cream, so it feels only fitting that we bring the HB Time Machine here to mark this incredible 100-year milestone.
“Visitors will get to walk through a century of memories in the Time Machine and then see the very house where it all began. It's a wonderful, tangible piece of Irish social history, and we're delighted to be able to bring these two stories together for families this July.”
Tickets online at https://www.bunrattycastle.ie/book-tickets/bunratty-castle-folk-park/