Room with a view: Why camping out is ‘in’ for the Irish

IN THE PAST few years, the Irish have taken to camping like never before.

And, as a result, our campsites are offering better facilities than ever. Figures published earlier this year show that just over 80% of those camping in Ireland were Irish themselves — this compares with 56% in 2010. The weather might not be the most reliable this summer, but who says camping can’t be fun? We sent 13 camping ‘newbies’ to a selection of sites recommended by the Irish Caravan and Camping Council, to test facilities, review the services on offer, and report back. The prevalence of on-site mobile homes meant that, for most, the weather wasn’t a huge drawback. Here’s how they got on.

* The Irish Caravan and Camping Council is a National Trade association, which comprises approximately 100 caravan and camping-park operators, whose sites are Failte Ireland-registered and are classified by the organisation.