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Be very careful when wildcamping in Carraroe, Co Galway.

34K views 33 replies 22 participants last post by  CaGreg 
#1 ·
I wildcamped, as I always do, about 2 miles outside the village at a most scenic spot about 5 weeks ago. We were towing a motorbike trailer with 2 large touring bikes, parked next to the trailer.

To a casual onlooker, there must have been at least 2 men camping there, & perhaps 4 people, it would have been imposssible for anyone to know exactly.

We walked to the pub, 2miles away in the village, had 2 pints & walked back to the camper & went to bed.

Half an hour later, I heard the engine of a car & some voices outside that were way too close 4 comfort so I dressed myself as my friend slept soundly!

I suddenly heard a tearing noise, the camper was being attacked...

I woke my pal, grabbed a knife, turned on the outer light & was out the door in a flash

The cowardly bastards wisely ran

Retrospectively, I should not have parked there, it was dark & rural.
I am always so very careful & park in well lit areas in small villages.
Nor should I have dashed out there as I didn't know how many of them were actually out there. Had I driven away, I would've gotten their number plate etc. As for the knife, that was silly but we were trapped & do you simply wait 4 them to break & enter, I don't think so

We called the guards, they told us another family, with kids had been attacked there only a few weeks previously but the guards caught the attackers. 5 weeks later, I have heard nothing from the guards.

They did hundreds of euro of damage in seconds, its lucky for me in some ways that I was actually there otherwise its likely it would've been much more costly

It hasnt stopped me wildcamping but it has reminded me that 4 once, I let my guard down & chose unwisely
 
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#4 ·
HAD i caught them..........................

Jezport said:
What was the tearing noise?
they decided to start by pulling off one of the panels or fairings which was covering the underfloor storage area

I suspect it ws a randomly chosen starting point

I presume they felt nobody was inside so it was possibly just as good a place to start as any!
 
#5 ·
So sorry to hear that Phil. In such a scenic and peaceful place you wouldn't expect it.
I was only thinking the other day that we hadn't been to Connemara for some time and that it was time to go back. Your warning has been noted. Thanks for posting it.
I'm sure the locals there would be very disappointed that their area is getting a bad name.

Ca
 
#6 ·
I have been back from Ireland two weeks now and wild camped ever night, however one night before it got dark a local pulled up in a car noticed that I was English and politely told me "you are not welcome in my country"

We moved camping spots that night, but it will not stop me Wild camping in Ireland.

Nick & Mimi
 
#7 ·
Dublin

We parked our Motorhome again'st the river wall in the centre of Dublin on a sunny summer evening and went for meal.Came back to find it had been broken into and ransacked.Local Guarda had caught the culprit befor we got back.The Guarda told us that Dublin has one of the highest crime rates in Europe.Wish I had known that before we parked there!!
 
#8 ·
Sorry to hear that you were broken into in Dublin, though I am not terribly surprised. I think the prevailing wisdom would be to avoid parking a motorhome on the street. Better to go outside the city even into one of the surrounding counties and travel in on public transport. Hope it hasn't put you off.

Ca
 
#9 ·
Phil, sorry to read your story, sadly it could happen anywhere.

The anti-English sentiment expressed by a local man in rural Ireland could also happen anywhere. I am saddened to hear that fellow country men would say and do such things but I would offer reassurance that these instances are very rare in rural areas in my experience.

Having said that, cities in Ireland can be as bad as cities anywhere, take care. Bad behavior is quite widespread in Irish towns and Cities (North and South), rural villages are much safer but try to stay where you are in sight of some houses or a pub, Alan.
 
#10 ·
philbre
I'm sorry what happen to you in Carraroe.
I live not to far away nearer the Corrib.
Never wildcamped in Carraroe but also never heard of any trouble there.
Did you report it.

Nickmimi
Can I apologise for the man who said "you are not welcome in my country"
I would love to know what part of the country it was.
Cork/Kerry area wanted to ban Campervan last year.

We spend a month in the Cork/ Kerry region in the summer and had no problem Wildcamping.
 
#11 ·
i reported it but...

Nora+Neil said:
philbre
I'm sorry what happen to you in Carraroe.
I live not to far away nearer the Corrib.
Never wildcamped in Carraroe but also never heard of any trouble there.
Did you report it.

Nickmimi
Can I apologise for the man who said "you are not welcome in my country"
I would love to know what part of the country it was.
Cork/Kerry area wanted to ban Campervan last year.

We spend a month in the Cork/ Kerry region in the summer and had no problem Wildcamping.
yes, the guards were called to the scene but they never even bothered getting out of the squad car, nor have they made contact since....
 
#12 ·
Nickmimi said:
I have been back from Ireland two weeks now and wild camped ever night, however one night before it got dark a local pulled up in a car noticed that I was English and politely told me "you are not welcome in my country"

Nick & Mimi
We were in the West last year in Mayo, Galway and Clare and were in a couple of bars where the posters, collection boxes etc showed very clear and very strong Republican sympathies. We were made very welcome and met no hostility - I wonder if you just struck very unlucky?
 
#13 ·
We holidayed in Conemarra maybe four years ago, and was made very welcome by the locals. We have also spent many happy hours with reletives in and around the Dublin area, and not found a jot of anti-English sentiment. I do know that even the locals in Ireland are having a lot of problem with EU immigrants. Maybe these people are behind some of the thefts?
 
#14 ·
local thugs..........

Mick757 said:
We holidayed in Conemarra maybe four years ago, and was made very welcome by the locals. We have also spent many happy hours with reletives in and around the Dublin area, and not found a jot of anti-English sentiment. I do know that even the locals in Ireland are having a lot of problem with EU immigrants. Maybe these people are behind some of the thefts?
the guys who attacked the camper with kids 5 weeks before mine was attacked at the same spot were local thugs,
 
#15 ·
Nickmimi said:
...however one night before it got dark a local pulled up in a car noticed that I was English and politely told me "you are not welcome in my couuntry.
What an ignorant and outdated moron he was!! Sorry about that and I hope you did not meet that attitude anywhere else. Ironically, here in donegal and around the border, UK regs are as common as local so you can't tell where someone's really from. Therefore, less likely to get hassle.

All are welcome so come you all! I will add my two cents to another thread in this forum and make a spot on my drive available to any MHF members visiting Donegal.

IH :wave: to Mavis
 
#16 ·
Those that wild camp in Ireland are not welcome to do so. Our small rural village has become a large unofficial camp grounds where campers feel comfortable to leave their bags of rubbish, empty their toilets on the road, empty their kitchen waste water on the road and block the scenic views so that no-one else can see them. We are sick of the abuse and appalled by the lack of respect by Irish and foreign visitors. How would you feel if 17 campervans parked on your doorstep regularly during the summer (August 2009)? Or pulled across the front of your house within 10 feet of the windows/door blocking all the natural light. Or where a van full of drunk people take turns to urinate outside your door all night long? It is stomach turning. Not to be rude but campervans are quite ugly to look at and not what we have asked to see everyday when we wake up in the morning and draw the curtains. I would urge people to think of others before imposing on communities. It is very upsetting to those that live there. I have an 81 year old neighbour and we cannot even mention the word campervan to him as he gets very upset. It is from years of being told to f@@@ off by campers when he has asked them not to park directly in front of his house.
 
#17 ·
Note that you only joined yesterday, Endod - what made you join the forum? Just to reply on this matter - if so, where did you find out it was being discussed? I ask out of interest only.

I can only imagine the problems caused by being in a beautiful area being 'blighted' by irresponsible wild campers, you only have to visit some of our UK campsites to realise that amount of yobbish behaviour that you can encounter, from time to time.

Can the Garda or local council not do something to help the situation - it sounds more like a fully blown campsite with 17 vehicles at a time?

I certainly hope you can resolve this situation to your satisfaction, because, if it were me, I'd be livid too. :(

However, I'm sure that all other MH'ers on MHF would agree that we're a much more sociable lot and would never resort to that type of behaviour - It's just rude and irresponsible and, as always, the minority spoil it for the majority.
 
#18 ·
I have just come back after a week away in the MH.

For 5 nights we wildcamped with another couple. Would never be one of 17. (Are you sure they were Motorhomers.) We would never throw our rubbish or toilet on the road. We would always pick our spot with care and ask neighbours if it was Ok and tell them how long we were staying.

Here in Ireland we have very few good Campsites that we would like to stay in. But every 3 days we do to empty toilets and water. Rubbish we bring home.

We stayed in a lovely village in Sligo and have seen loads of Cars come with a picnic and threw the leftovers, over the cliffs to be washed out to sea.

Please don't tar everyone with the same brush.

endod: Can you name the place please.
 
#19 ·
Northern Ireland being home for us we spend a lot of time in the South.

I have never seen any more that two or three wild camping in one place and the vast majority of the time we are on our own. We would never leave a mess and if I saw someone doing so I would take their details and report them, then I would photograph the mess and clean it up to protect our reputation. I have often lifted litter and take it home from areas where I have been staying just so that we cannot be blamed for something we didn't do. I feel tidying up is a small thing to do and don't mind doing it.

The post above raises some suspicions in my mind. It does not sound like genuine motorhomers to me. I say that as a very experienced wild camper, Alan.
 
#20 ·
Mods Note

We've had a report about endod's post, not necessarily because it is in any way against forum rules, but because of the tone. Endod joined today, and his / her first post was this one. He/she is obviously not a motorhomer!
A very sweeping generalisation about Ireland, please take it with a pinch of salt.....
 
#21 ·
be careful when wildcamping in ireland

hi,

just want to say how sorry i am for the bad experience,so,because we do between 6 and 8 weeks for the last 3 years,and wild camp every night and love it,waking up on some abandoned harbour with nothing but sea and sky,beautiful.....

bernard used to go over fishing when he was an apprentice,and always wanted to go back,so it was our first trip in the motorhome, i did not know what to expect,so took loads of campsite books etc, and the first night pulled up and asked directions and was told park here,and if you need anything just ask,and that was by somebodys house....and that has been the tone of every visit,we get people bringing us eggs,potatoes,etc, offered sandwiches etc in pubs,wonderful generous nation,

but......we always stand for the national athaum,we are always polite,always ask if it is alright to stay the night,we behave as we would expect others to behave.

i cry every time we start heading back to the ferry,it is such a peaceful time.

mags
 
#22 ·
endod said:
Those that wild camp in Ireland are not welcome to do so. Our small rural village has become a large unofficial camp grounds where campers feel comfortable to leave their bags of rubbish, empty their toilets on the road, empty their kitchen waste water on the road and block the scenic views so that no-one else can see them. We are sick of the abuse and appalled by the lack of respect by Irish and foreign visitors. How would you feel if 17 campervans parked on your doorstep regularly during the summer (August 2009)? Or pulled across the front of your house within 10 feet of the windows/door blocking all the natural light. Or where a van full of drunk people take turns to urinate outside your door all night long? It is stomach turning. Not to be rude but campervans are quite ugly to look at and not what we have asked to see everyday when we wake up in the morning and draw the curtains. I would urge people to think of others before imposing on communities. It is very upsetting to those that live there. I have an 81 year old neighbour and we cannot even mention the word campervan to him as he gets very upset. It is from years of being told to f@@@ off by campers when he has asked them not to park directly in front of his house.
:( :( obviously it takes all types, and often it is the wrong type that are associated with a particular activity. We often wild camp, particularly in Scotland, BUT if there is a house within sight I always approach the residents and enquire as to whether they object to my stopping overnight. Only been asked to move on once in almost 40 years of MH'ing, and that was an English "lady"who had recently moved to Scotland!

curlyboy
 
#23 ·
CurlyBoy said:
endod said:
Those that wild camp in Ireland are not welcome to do so. Our small rural village has become a large unofficial camp grounds where campers feel comfortable to leave their bags of rubbish, empty their toilets on the road, empty their kitchen waste water on the road and block the scenic views so that no-one else can see them. We are sick of the abuse and appalled by the lack of respect by Irish and foreign visitors. How would you feel if 17 campervans parked on your doorstep regularly during the summer (August 2009)? Or pulled across the front of your house within 10 feet of the windows/door blocking all the natural light. Or where a van full of drunk people take turns to urinate outside your door all night long? It is stomach turning. Not to be rude but campervans are quite ugly to look at and not what we have asked to see everyday when we wake up in the morning and draw the curtains. I would urge people to think of others before imposing on communities. It is very upsetting to those that live there. I have an 81 year old neighbour and we cannot even mention the word campervan to him as he gets very upset. It is from years of being told to f@@@ off by campers when he has asked them not to park directly in front of his house.
:( :( obviously it takes all types, and often it is the wrong type that are associated with a particular activity. We often wild camp, particularly in Scotland, BUT if there is a house within sight I always approach the residents and enquire as to whether they object to my stopping overnight. Only been asked to move on once in almost 40 years of MH'ing, and that was an English "lady"who had recently moved to Scotland!

curlyboy
Yep - the only hassle we have had in remote parts of Scotland was from a very plummy sounding english woman who was quite aggressive when we had just pulled of the road to check a map.

A group of 17 descending on a village sounds more like a 'traveller' camp. If the OP is not a MH owner perhaps they don't realise the difference
 
#24 ·
For many years Ive wanted to visit Ireland, however after reading this and previous posts I'm having doubts. Whilst I think the fact that the Irish members of MHF are fantastic in offering their own facilities to visitors, I have my doubts about the general reception and security

I find this quite disappointing.

Andy
 
#26 ·
erneboy said:
Andy, do you imagine incidents like this never take place in England?

In fact if you want to rule out going to places where these things happen you had better build yourself a one man fortress, Alan.
Alan

I can understand where your coming from, but there is a lack of good reports on visiting Ireland. I'm not being naive, I'd love to visit, but it seems that the few are spoiling it for the many.

I dont doubt that some people have problems when visiting England, but they dont seem to raised so much.

We have recently be through 6 European countries and never had anyone saying we weren't welcome. I know its just 1 individual but it kinda sticks

Andy
 
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