Leitrim welcomes campervan tourists - but where should they park?

As the summer season gets into full swing, people across the country, including Leitrim, are hitting the road in campervans. Since Covid, campervan travel has grown significantly in popularity, with many opting for staycations over trips abroad.

This surge has sparked calls for local authorities to invest in dedicated campervan parks or to approve more planning applications for campervan facilities.

Ireland South MEP Cynthia Ní Mhurchú, a key member of the EU Tourism Taskforce, has criticised local authorities for “putting their head in the sand” when it comes to regulating and harnessing the potential of campervan tourism.

In Leitrim, the issue has been raised by several councillors who have highlighted the impracticality and unsightliness of campervans occupying public car park spaces, particularly in Carrick-on-Shannon.

In May, Carrick-on-Shannon councillor Cormac Flynn called for a municipally run campervan facility in the town, citing issues with campervans parking in the public car park at The Quays, where they caused obstruction and left rubbish behind.

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Similarly, in December, Cllr Maeve Reynolds asked Leitrim County Council to outline what measures could be taken to address the growing problem of campervans occupying public parking in Carrick-on-Shannon.

Ní Mhurchú has described campervans as an “eyesore” and expressed concern over the disposal of waste. However, she also acknowledged the economic value of campervan tourists. “They are a valuable part of our tourism offering and we should have specific facilities that they can use and stay in the area,” she said.

This view is echoed by Cllr Maeve Reynolds, who stated, “Campervans are very valuable to Carrick-on-Shannon with the tourism that they bring, and we don’t want to deter campervans from coming to the town but we want them to park in an area that is suitable for them.

“We need to look at developing specific parking for campervans that’s suitable.”

Cllr Reynolds noted that while it's only a small minority who leave rubbish behind, it has become an issue for the local Tidy Towns committee. She also pointed out that large caravans parking in unsuitable areas can block footpath access for wheelchair users and people with buggies.

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For those visiting Leitrim in campervans, Cllr Reynolds offered a reminder to “be mindful of all the good work” done by Tidy Towns groups across Leitrim’s towns.

Following Cllr Flynn’s call for a municipally run campervan facility in May, the Council responded that the issue should be raised at the Strategic Policy Committee level, including engagement with the Economic Development, Tourism, and Town Regeneration departments.