Youghal Front Strand Car Park looked more like a seaside destination on the continent last weekend, with the arrival of 60 Motor home owners from the Munster Region to the town. Denise FitzGerald Reports/Photo: Michael Hussey (YoughalOnline.com)

The ‘Munster Motorhome Club’ boasts 100 members and was formed to promote the needs of motor home owners with the Munster region.  This year the club will hold 28 ‘get-togethers’ around the Munster Region, and not surprisingly the weekend in Youghal, 5th & 6th April 2009,  saw the biggest turnout of the year to date.

Brenda Barry, Secretary of the Club commended Youghal Town Council on their foresight in welcoming the Club to the town.  “Youghal Town Council has been great to deal with, and have obviously foreseen the benefits hosting a Club like this can bring to the local economy.  This is such a regular sight on the continent and we are delighted to have been made feel so welcome in Youghal”, said Brenda.

Some County Councils have recently came out strongly against owners of Camper Vans parking in public lay-bys, local car parks etc., The County Mayor, Cllr Noel Harrington, proposed  recently at a meeting of Cork County Council Western committee in Clonakilty that bylaws be introduced to discourage this practice.   “These, presumably, would involve penalties for parking overnight at beauty spots, beaches or other places of interest,” he said.

Youghal County Council, however, have taken a different approach to this.  Camper van tourists spend money, they are highly mobile, frequent visitors to heritage sites and shop at local shops.  Youghal is a tourist attraction par excellence, and should be encouraging tourists to avail of our wonderful town and heritage.  With this in mind, the local Council welcomed the Munster Motorhome Club to Youghal by allowing the use of our facilities at Front Strand Car Park last weekend.   Approximately sixty Camper Vans arrived, and spent the most wonderful time in Youghal, visiting all the tourist attractions and availing of our hotels, restaurants and bars.   On Sunday morning last, an invitation was issued by the Campers for all to attend at the Front Strand Car Park, where a cheque in the amount of €1,000 was presented to Mayor of Youghal, Olly Casey.  This amount was contributed by each of the Campers as a token of their gratitude for the hospitality and welcome extended to them in Youghal.   There were five local recipients, each receiving €200.   They were Meals on Wheels, RNLI Youghal, St. Raphael’s Centre Youghal, St Vincent de Paul and the Emer Casey Foundation.   Representatives were present to receive the cheques on behalf of their organisation, amidst much excitement and friendly chat.   The weather was beautiful, the sun shone and the sea sparkled – a most beautiful ‘resting’ place for the visitors.

East Cork Journal spoke with Pat Moloney of the Munster Motorhome Club, who said their aims are;
To maintain a high standard of conduct by its members.
To further and protect the interest of the motor caravanning members
To encourage and develop motor caravanning
To hold get-togethers for members at home an d overseas.
To encourage motor caravanners from overseas to visit Ireland.
Munster Motorhome Club, he said, was founded in 2004 to cater for the needs of motor homes in the Munster area.   They travel in summer and winter, mostly in groups, and organise social events etc., Their trip to Youghal was so successful that the members were delighted to ‘give something back to the community’ to show their thanks, and thus the idea of presenting the cheque for local charities.

On the morning, it was obvious to all that the cleanliness of the car park was to be lauded.   Not a scrap of paper or plastic bottle was in evidence and, taking into account that there were so many Camper Vans overnighting, this was a credit to all concerned.   Pat asked East Cork Journal to pass the sincere thanks of the members to the Mayor of Youghal, Olly Casey and to Aileen Ahern for their help and support in organising this event.   He concluded by saying that he hoped other Councils would take the actions of Youghal Town Council on board, and welcome him and his camper friends to their towns.   The Campers will at all times respect the areas in which they camp, and would be contributing visitors to each town.

Speaking on behalf of the Munster Motorhomes Club, at the presentation ceremony at the Front Strand Car Park, Kieran commented on how much everyone enjoyed the weekend, and noted how much Youghal has developed over the past number of years, with new restaurants, bars and leisure facilities which are totally geared towards the holiday-maker, which members of the club availed of.
Let’s hope this weekend will be the kick-start to the holiday season in Youghal!

Further information: Contact: Aileen Ahern

Socio-Economic Development Group
Tel:         0861703128
E:            tourism@youghal.ie