Burnt out tent and dozens of beer cans at protected Donegal beach

The burnt remains of a tent and dozens of beer cans were among the litter left behind in the dunes at Murvagh beach.

A local resident came across the unsightly remains of the gathering or party about halfway along the access road to Murvagh Beach. 

As well as the burnt out tent, areas of the protected dunes were charred from what appear to have been two recent bonfires. 

The local man said he didn’t believe that the burning of the tent was an act of vandalism.

“I would say it was most likely their own tent and it just caught fire,” he said. 

“I don’t think it was a case of someone setting someone else’s tent on fire. But they were very lucky that no-one was hurt. It could have been very serious if someone had been inside the tent when it caught fire.”

While there are ‘No Camping’ signs at entrance to the beach access, the area has long been popular with wild campers and revellers. 

The local man said: “Most people clean up after themselves but this was a terrible mess.”

The area is within the Donegal Bay (Murvagh) Special Area of Conservation

With beach, dunes and forest, Murvagh is very popular with walkers, and attracted huge numbers of walkers over the New Year's weekend, particularly on the Bank Holiday Monday.