Laois about to increase campervan campsites for tourists

There are very few campervan parking options in Laois but plans are afoot to create more.

Laois County Council has given detail of a new policy to encourage private facilities to open for campervan tourists.

They confirmed this month that a document will come before councillors this autumn.

"This seeks to outline the current gap in facilities for motor home tourism in county Laois, to develop a policy and encourage facilities, and identify dedicated motor home aires or service areas to attract and accommodate this tourism sector," the council stated at their monthly meeting on July 28.

Director of Services for planning is Angela McEvoy.

"We have started a lot of work on it. I visited the Hub in Graignamanagh and met the manager, an absolutely excellent amenity. We'd like to replicate that. We have some locations in mind that we are going to work through. They might bring fresh eyes on the county to see the locations we are missing," she said.

There is already some motorhome parking in Laois, at The Forum luxury hostel in Mountmellick. A new campsite also opened this month beside the River Erkina in Ballacolla, with plans to add campervan parking to it in 2026. Just over the Laois border there is campervan parking at Streamstown campsite in Roscrea, serving the Slieve Blooms (pictured). 

Laois County Council also wants to open a park on its own land, with parking for motorhomes, caravans and tourists, food facilities and a visitor centre, at the Donaghmore famine workhouse visitor centre near Rathdowney. It recently applied for funding from Fáílte Ireland to carry out a feasibility study.

The update was given in answer to a motion by Labour Cllr Marie Tuohy, who says Laois is "missing a trick".

"I have yet to meet a child who doesn't love camping. Camping and motorhomes have always been popular but they have taken off especially since lockdowns and the renewed emphasis on nature and holidaying at home.

She praised the tourism promotion of Laois by MidlandsIreland.ie and Ireland's Ancient East by Fáilte Ireland, but said "unfortunately we are missing a trick here in Laois when it comes to tapping into the booming market for motorhome and campervan visitors".

Cllr Tuohy pointed to the success of Graiguenamanagh and St Mullins in Carlow beside the River Barrow, with the Hub community site in the former now estimated to be worth €1.5m to the local economy.

"No other form of vacation reaches into the rural areas moreso than motorhomes and campervans. There are 21,600 registered motorhomes in Ireland. When you take the UK into account, that increases tenfold.

"This is a no brainer. The council can... finally put the county on the motorhome map for Irish, UK and European visitors. We have great attractions. We are being left behind on the great campervan adventure," Cllr Tuohy said.

Cllr James Kelly seconded her motion.

"This paper is something we will have before the end of the year. Our festivals attract huge numbers at times, but this is about 12 months of the year. We have to have proper facilities. We can't have them pulling into the side of the road. This has to be a private enterprise and the council will point them in the direction of funding," he said.

However he sounds a word of warning about putting such sites beside rivers, that they are not placed in flood zones.

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Cllr Tommy Mulligan said Laois is "at the crossroads of Ireland" with huge traffic volumes through the county every day.

"We are doing the county a disservice not having this in place," he said.

The Cathaoirleach Cllr Barry Walsh, Cllr Caroline Dwane Stanley and Cllr John King all said they will support the new policy.