Donegal Town urged to embrace camper van community, motorhome action group says

A Residential Tenancies Board tribunal ordered a tenant to vacate a property in Co Limerick after the landlord stated his sister, her husband, and four children were living in a 'small caravan' in his garden. The landlord had previously been fined €2,000 for an illegal eviction. The tribunal ruled the sister could not 'continue to live in a caravan indefinitely' and gave the tenant 28 days to leave.

Councillor Michael McClafferty reported waste being dumped from a camper van on the N56 in west Donegal on Monday. The incident involved what is believed to be toilet waste emptied from a vehicle travelling from Dunfanaghy to Falcarragh. McClafferty said it was not the first such case and urged camper owners to use designated disposal points along the Wild Atlantic Way.

Gardaí in Clare reported a series of burglaries at three caravan parks in Fanore, Spanish Point and Doolin within 24 hours. In one incident, a fridge freezer, TVs, kettle, and tools were stolen; in others, no items were taken. Three suspects were seen fleeing. Authorities appeal for dash-cam footage or information.

Clare County Councillor Bill Slattery has stated that campervans are reducing revenue from parking charges in Lahinch. The council collected €281,514 in parking fees and fines last year. Slattery believes this figure would be higher if campervan drivers were not competing with regular motorists for spaces. He has called for designated parking for campers in the town.

Two separate Garda investigations are underway following burglaries at caravan parks in west and north Clare. The first incident at Fanore Caravan Park resulted in no items taken. The second, at Spanish Point, involved the theft of a fridge freezer, two TVs, a kettle, extension lead, and tools. Gardaí are appealing for information.

Volkswagen brought the ID. Buzz back to the United States — complete with a mattress and curtains. A wildfire in Arizona burned down a dozen motorhomes, and Lake Tekir in Turkey flooded just as many. While Ibiza fines illegal campers up to €30,000, a retired couple from Mallorca has been living in 10 m² for five years and saving €1,400 a month. Plus: the largest campsite in the US at 607 pitches, a closed naturist beach on the North Sea, and Dolby Atmos in a trailer — all in this edition.