Kerry’s campervan initiative would be ‘ideal’ in seaside town says councillor

By Alastair Tibbs, The Kerryman

A Kerry councillor has called for a campervan pilot scheme to be run in Ballybunion this summer as the county looks to expand its tourism offerings.

Councillor Aoife Kennelly said the town was the ‘ideal’ location for Kerry County Council’s proposed campervan initiative which is to begin this year.

The council intends to deliver a pilot campervan facility in the county, with guidelines currently being finalised.

The pilot may resemble Cobh’s five-foot way campervan park, which provides overnight parking and wastewater services for campervans, and has proved popular over the years.

“Ballybunion has everything you could possible want for a pilot scheme,” said Cllr Kennelly.

“Tourism, beaches, shops, cafes…it’s an ideal location.”

She also argued that it could help with illegal parking, allowing cars to stay overnight in a regulated area. It would hit “two birds with one stone” she said.

Kerry County Council assured her they would take it into consideration but were cautious about the potential effect on existing businesses in the town.

Southern Ireland’s foremost motorhome club previously urged the council to consider plans for motorhome infrastructure, warning that “Kerry is falling behind big time”.

Colin McCarthy, a member of the Pheonix Motorhome Club, highlighted that very little infrastructure was needed to cater for campervans, essentially just a place to park and water servicing amenities.

“We do go as a club to Kerry a lot because we have a good reputation with the GAA clubs and rugby clubs and so on. However, when we try to go to Kerry as an individual, like when we want to go to Kenmare or Dingle or Tralee, there’s no facilities,” said Colin.

“We find it very difficult to be paying €45 for a night in a campsite in Kerry when we can go to a motorhome packing area which is provided by Cork County Council in Cobh for €10, where we have full services, grey and black water, and fresh water and so on.

The Cobh five foot way campervan park was built by Cork County Council (CCC) over a decade ago and was further formalised with facilities and parking charges around 2017.

With 30 spaces, each at €10 for 24 hours, the park earned €45,000 for the council last year, boasting an occupancy rate of 60% all year round.

The money generated by the park has been ringfenced for improvements to the immediate surrounding area, including upgrading a playground and maintaining walkways and a nearby gym.