Concern at illegal encampment of caravans parked on Curragh

Concern has been expressed about an illegal encampment of three caravans on the Curragh Plains this weekend.

Photographs taken yesterday evening were emailed in by a KildareNow reader.

The location where the vehicles are parked - close to the Kilcullen side of the Curragh on the Brownstown to Sunnyhill Road - is not an official halting site.

Last August, up to 20 caravans were parked in the same area on both sides of the road.

Local politicians such as Cllr Fiona McLoughlin Healy have persistently campaigned for better management of the Curragh Plains as a natural resource unique to Co Kildare.

Local TD Fiona O'Loughlin has proposed that people must apply for licences for continuous occupation of any part of the Curragh Plains for a specified period of time.

The TD wants to make it a criminal offence to occupy a space in the Curragh for more than three days without a licence.

The Curragh of Kildare Act 1961 is the law that provides for the general  management and use of the Curragh.

The TD added: "More is required to oversee all activities on the Curragh Plains including littering, sheep branding, patrolling, monitoring users of lands, inspection of property boundaries, illegal encampments and engagement with the public”.