How NI got its only safari park at the height of the Troubles: ‘It was almost like Disney’

It was an audacious break-out of a different kind at the height of the Troubles that was subsequently met with a typically wry Northern Irish sense of humour. In 1972 power cuts resulted in the monkey cages at the Causeway Safari Park opening up. Given it was the deadliest year of the conflict, popular folklore tells that the normally curious mammals — perturbed by all the goings on — concluded it was safer to retreat back into their cages.

Causeway Safari Park on the north coast became a holiday must-see for families during the Troubles. As a new museum exhibition recaptures the memories, Gillian Halliday charts its history. Causeway Safari Park photographs It was an audacious break-out of a different kind at the height of the Troubles that was subsequently met with a typically wry Northern Irish sense of humour.

In 1972 power cuts resulted in the monkey cages at the Causeway Safari Park opening up. Given it was the deadliest year of the conflict, popular folklore tells that the normally curious mammals — perturbed by all the goings on — concluded it was safer to retreat back into their cages. Opening in May 1970, Causeway Safari park was located in Benvarden, just outside Ballymoney, Co Antrim, and welcomed 6,000 visitors during its first three days of opening.

It was the brainchild of Pat and Louise Stephenson, who were connected to the famous Chipperfield circus. The main attractions were the elephants, the chimps and lions..